SOC 1305 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Twin, Tabula Rasa, Steven Pinker
Document Summary
Modern day social science (e. g. , sociology, psychology, political science, etc. ) endorses the blank slate (i. e. , nurture) theory of human nature and behavior. He believes that the blank slate theory is completely wrong and he offers a strong critique of it by providing evidence that biology (i. e. , nature) plays an important role in human behavior. Universal beliefs, practices, and feelings exist in diverse cultures around the world: language, religion, art, heroes and villains, emotions. These universal aspects of human life are probably not the product of cultural similarities biology is likely involved. Every thought, feeling, and intention we have is merely electrophysiological activity in the brain. Any alteration of the brain (damage, disease, etc. ) has severe consequences for behavior. Psychoactive drugs, which alter brain function, also affect behavior. Natural variations in brain structure are associated with differences in behavior. Three laws of behavioral genetics: first law: all human behavioral traits are heritable (i. e. , influenced by genetic factors)
