PSYC 395 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Heredity
Document Summary
Conducted to examine the relative contributions of nature (heredity) and nurture (environment) on human traits and behaviors. Identical twins and fraternal twins (figure 4. 2 p. 136) These studies are not experiments, so we have to be very careful about making cause and effect conclusions. But they do suggest that people"s personalities are influenced by their. These studies compare genetic relatives and environmental relatives. The study of how our mind and behavior have evolved through natural selection. All members of a species compete to survive and reproduce. Random genetic mutations occur in members of a species. Some of these genetic mutations are beneficial to the organism, some are harmful, and some have no effect. Organisms with beneficial mutations are more likely to survive and reproduce than organisms with harmful mutations. Therefore, beneficial genetic mutations are more likely to be passed on to future generations. Attributes that increase the chances of survival and reproductive success will be passed on to future generations.
