PSYC 2130 Lecture 7: Behavior Genetics
9 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
If something has a genetic basis it renders it unchangeable. Natural experiments with humans: identical twins reared together- problems, identical twins reared together vs. fraternal twins reared together- problems, adoption studies- problems. Amount of time spent with biological parents before adoption: identical twins reared apart- problems, bouchard minnesota twin project. This finding leads us to believe that the similarities between twins are due to genes, not environment. Different hormonal experience based on where rat baby is in the womb, female surround by two brothers change they are better at spatial recognition, ore aggressive. Definition: ratio of variances - vg/ vp. Does not tell you the average of the trait but the variability. Problems- overestimates genetic effects if environments correlated. Overestimate (pumped up inflated) inherited estimate if twins raised together. H2= (rid - rfr) x 2 (where identical and fraternal twins are raised together) Bouchard, t. j. (2004) genetic influence on human psychological traits.
