Genetic Influence Chromosomes containing DNA are situated in the nucleus of a cell Segments within DNA consist of genes that make proteins to determine our development Twin and Adoption Studies Studying twins who have been reared together or apart can help to understand the influence of genes Identical same sperm same egg same genetic code same sex Fraternal two different sperm same or opposite sex Nature and Nurture Some human traits are fixed such as having two eyes However most psychological traits are liable to change with environmental experience cid 127 Genes provide choices for the organism to change its form or traits when environmental variables change Therefore genes are pliable or self regulating Culture is composed of behaviors ideas attitudes values and traditions shared by a group Variations Across Culture Norms rules fro accepted and expected behavior cid 127 Men holding hands in Saudi Arabia is the norm Class Exercise S social related to religious group family ect I personality attitudes ect Nature Nurture and Human Diversity Nature Nurture Argument cid 127 What determines our traits Nature genetics biology Nurture environment experience Influences cid 127 Genetics heredity Parents Culture Cultural Influences Food Clothing Family structure cid 127 Government Religion Education I am unique I I am odd I I am a female S I am a student S I am a designer S I am considerate I I am giggly I I am smart I I am a Kansan S I am quirky I Culture and the Self Individualistic e g American Independent cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 place value on personal goals identity based on self Emphasize uniqueness Collectivistic e g Asian Interdependent place value on group goals identity based on self within the group Emphasize conformity norms traditions Study by Kim and Markus 1999 Approached Asians and Westerners at airport Complete survey and allowed to pick a reward a pen cid 127 Give a choice of 5 pens 4 red 1 blue and 4 blue 1 red cid 127 Who chooses what cid 127 Westerners chose unique one and Asians chose common one TLC Evolutionary Psych in Action Natural Selection T Therapeutic L Lifestyle C Change Origins cid 127 More modern society is the higher the rates of depression America 25 Rates in developing countries 2 5 Rates in the US during 1940 s 2 3 cid 127 Outliers Amish 2 Similarities Across Cultures cid 127 We share the same Despite diverse cultural backgrounds humans are more similar than different in many ways Evolutionary Psychology Understanding Human Nature Evolutionary psychology studies why we as humans are alike Reproduction of one s own genes are the paramount goal of life Everything you do in life is in service of that one goal All organisms which persist for generations seek to replicate themselves organisms that are not highly driven to reproduce tend to disappear An evolutionary process through which adaptive traits are passed on to ongoing generations because there traits help animals survive and reproduce The Kaluli of Papua New Guinea Modern Day Hunter Gatherers Anthropologist Edward Schieffelin spent a decade among the Kaluli In a population of 2000 only 1 Environmental Mutation Humans lived in hunter gather conditions for 99 of human existence Environment has changed no change in human genome The mismatch hypothesis cid 127 We were never designed for the modern sedentary indoor socially isolated fast food frenzied sleep deprived way of life Low frequency of depression among hunter gatherers High frequency in modern societies Humans are made to exist in ancestral environment Key features of the ancestral environment that are absent in our modern environment provide antidepressant benefit Research Hypothesis Summary TLC 1 Exercise 2 Sunlight Exposure 3 Social Connection cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 4 Healthy Sleep 5 Diet 6 Engaging Activity Dependent Variables Depression symptoms cid 127 Measures Beck Depression Inventory II Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Structured Clinical Interview Results Of individuals who finish the study 80 have notice favorable improvement 50 have short term recovery These numbers are higher at the 3 month follow up Of individuals who adhere to all 6 elements 100 have favorable improvement Nearly all are depression free at 3 month follow up More info at www psych ku edu tlc cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127
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