Unit 1. Bio Foundation - Pt 1: Heredity and environment: Behavioral Genetics

Physiological psychology

The study of behavior as influenced by biology using methods from medicine and biology.

Behavioral genetics

Study of how genes and environment influence behavior using evolutionary theory.

Traits

Distinctive characteristics or behavior patterns determined by genetics.

Evolutionary perspective

Examines behavior in terms of natural selection and survival over time.

Eugenics

Discredited science that misused evolution to claim genetic superiority.

Heritability

Degree of variation in traits across individuals due to genetics.

Environmentality

Degree to which the environment influences trait expression.

Nature vs nurture debate

Ongoing discussion about the relative roles of genetics and environment.

Twin studies

Compare identical (monozygotic) vs. fraternal (dizygotic) twins to assess heredity.

Family studies

Examine how traits run in biological families.

Adoption studies

Assess influence of environment by comparing adopted vs. biological traits.

Monozygotic twins

Identical twins from a single zygote; share 100% of genes.

Dizygotic twins

Fraternal twins from two zygotes; share ~50% of genes.

Down syndrome

Genetic disorder caused by an extra (third) copy of chromosome 21.

Huntington’s chorea

Fatal genetic disorder causing muscle impairment and appearing after age 40.

Basal ganglia

Brain structure involved in movement; degenerates in Huntington’s chorea.