Nature, Nurture, and Human DiversityNature-Nurture Argument:• What determines our traits?• Nature: genetics, biology• Nurture: environment, experienceInfluences:• Genetics/heredity• Parents• CultureGenetic Influence- Chromosomes containing DNA are situated in the nucleus of a cell• Segments within DNA consist of genes that make proteins to determine our developmentTwin 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 sexNature and Nurture• Some human traits are fixed, such as having two eyes. • However, most psychological traits are liable to change with environmental experience• Genes provide choices for the organism to change its form or traits when environmental variables change. • Therefore, genes are pliable or self-regulatingCultural Influences• Culture is composed of behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group• Food• Clothing• Family structure• Government• Religion• EducationVariations Across Culture• Norms- rules fro accepted and expected behavior• Men holding hands in Saudi Arabia is the normClass Exercise (S= social; related to religious group, family, ect/ I= personality, attitudes, ect)• 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 SelfIndividualistic (e.g., American)• Independent• place value on personal goals• identity based on self• Emphasize uniquenessCollectivistic (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)• Give a choice of 5 pens: 4 red/1 blue and 4 blue/1 red• Who chooses what?• Westerners chose unique one and Asians chose common oneSimilarities Across Cultures• Despite diverse cultural backgrounds, humans are more similar than different in many ways• We share the same Evolutionary Psychology: Understanding Human Nature• Evolutionary psychology- studies why we as humans are alike• All organisms which persist for generations seek to replicate themselves- organisms that are not highly driven to reproduce tend to disappear• Reproduction of one's own genes are the paramount goal of life• Everything you do in life is in service of that one goalNatural Selection• An evolutionary process through which adaptive traits are passed on to ongoing generations because there traits help animals survive and reproduceTLC: Evolutionary Psych in ActionT- TherapeuticL- LifestyleC- ChangeOrigins:• 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%• Outliers (Amish): 2%• 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:• We were never designed for the modern sedentary, indoor, socially isolated, fast-food, frenzied, sleep-deprived way of lifeResearch Hypothesis:• Summary:• 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 benefitTLC:1. Exercise2. Sunlight Exposure3. Social Connection4. Healthy Sleep5. Diet6. Engaging Activity Dependent Variables:• Depression symptoms• 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-upOf individuals who adhere to all 6 elements:• 100% have favorable improvement• Nearly all are depression-free at 3 month follow-upMore info at
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