PSYCH 15 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Zygote, Meiosis, Tabula Rasa
Document Summary
9/27/16: lecture 2: evolution, genetics, and experience: the biology of behavior. We tend to think in dichotomies-- physiological or psychological; inherited or learned. Rene descartes: cartesian dualism (2 elements: universe consists of physical matter and human mind, mind and brain viewed as separate entities) John locke: learning leads to behavior (nurture) Born as blank slate , can be shaped into anything. Many factors impact behavior other than genetics (nature) or learning/environment (nurture) Fossil records change systematically through geographical layers. Structural similarities among diverse living species (homologous structures) Changes in domestic plants/animals via selective breeding. Observation (galapagos finches--beak size increased when only large, hard-to-eat seeds were available) Covered by dry scales--can live far from water. Eventually no longer lay eggs (raise young in mother"s body) Animal, chordate, mammal, primate, hominid, homo, sapien (kpcofgs) Evolution does not proceed in a single line. Humans have only been around for a brief period of time.
