PSYC 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Epigenetics, Natural Selection, Physical Attractiveness

• School: Emory University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 110
• Professor: Kazama Andrew

Document Summary

Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution. 50% of our dna is shares with bananas. Behavioral adaptation: modification as a result of changed life circumstances. Do not produce or control behavior directly. Directly contribute to the development of various brain systems via their ability to create various proteins. Always an interaction between genes and environment. Genes + season (environment) = growth in memory area. Genotype- what genes are specific to you. Phenotype- which of these genes get expressed. Inheritance of behavioral traits: a balance of structure and flexibility. Behavioral traits that are heritable: anxiety, addiction, work ethic, temper. Evolutionary advantage of having genes heavily influence behavior: not learned, already know certain things. Disadvantages: harmful mutation that could cause disease, having things locked in rather than learning it could be disadvantageous, having an addictive personality. We still have no idea how genes seemingly control very complex behaviors.