PSYC 3684 1st Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Last Lecture I. First lecture of the semesterOutline of Current Lecture II. 3 Themes in Developmental Psychologya. Nature vs. Nurtureb. Risk vs. Resiliencec. Universality and ContextCurrent Lecture3 Themes in Developmental Psychology1) Nature vs. Nurture2) Risk vs. Resilience3) Universality and ContextNature vs. Nurture- Back bone theory of psychology- Used to be a huge debate in psychology- Nature: inherited, endogenous characteristics have primary influences (genetics)- Nurture: environmental (social) and exogenous factors have primary influences- This is no longer a debate because they are both very important in psychologyBehavioral Genetics- Attempts to quantify nature/nurtureo Example) how much is this due to nature and how much is it due to nurture?- Usually about 50/50 (50 genetics- 50 environmental factors)Behavioral Genetics Research Methods- Adoption studieso Example: compare one persons degree of shyness to their adoptive parents degree of shyness (environmental factors) and then compare the child’s degree of shyness to their biological parents degree of shyness (genetics)- Twin studiesThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.o Comparing twins Monozygotic: identical twins who share 100% of their genes with each other Dizygotic: non-identical twins who share about 50% of their genes with each othero We can ask how similar are monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins? If monozygotic are more similar we can say that this is due to genetics and if not we can say this is due to environmental factors, or nurture.Cooking Example Described- Mix flour, water and salt (genetic, natural ingredients)o If you fry it, it becomes a tortillao If you bake it, it becomes matzoo If you add yeast to it, you can make bread- 1) Developmental Constraints:o Salt, flour and water will NEVER be eggplant parmesan or another disho Similarly, we won’t grow a pair of wings even if we really want to- 2) Importance of Environmental o Changes in the environment will lead to differences even if the genetics are the same- 3) The complexity of trying to tease apart genes and environmento Really hard to say that something is 80% due to genetics, and 20% due to environmental factorso For example, how much is bread a function of yeast vs. baking?- It is the interconnection of both, genetics and environment, or nature and nurture.Gene-Environment Interdependence:- The idea that genes and environment are inextricably linked- 1) Genes can influence how we react to our environmento gene-environment interactionsGene-environment interactions:- Caspi et al. (2003): depression involves a gene-environment interaction involving 5HTT and stresso 5HTT is a gene that might influence depression. It is a serotonin transmitter.o 5HTT is polymorphic so there are 2 alleles. We get one from our mom, one from our dad. If you have two short alleles, you are more prone to depression If you have two long alleles, you are less likely to be depressedo Only the individuals who had one short allele AND stressful events became depressedo Long alleles  high stress  much less likely to be depressedo Short allele people  at disadvantage and more prone to be depressed Genes influence responses to the environmentGene-Environment Interdependence Continued:- 2) Genes can influence the environments we experience- 3 kinds of gene-environment correlationso 1) Passive gene-environment correlation: Children inherit both their parents genes and the environments that go along with the genes Behavioral traits have genetic influences Hard to say whether it’s genetics or environmental factors causing something because it is botho 2) Evocative gene-environment correlations: A gene causes a child to be more likely to behave a certain way which evokes a difference in another persons reactiono 3) Active gene-environment correlations: Children’s genotypes influence the kinds of environments they seek- A child who likes books will seek a different environment than onewho likes to play