Interaction of Heredity and Environment

What does heredity refer to?

Genetic or predisposed characteristics that influence physical, behavioral, and mental traits.

What are environmental factors?

External factors experienced, such as family interactions or education, that shape behavior and mental processes.

What is the nature vs. nurture debate?

The discussion on the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to human behavior and traits.

What is the significance of twin studies in psychology?

They help determine the influence of genetics and environment on personality traits and behaviors.

What are identical twins?

Twins that develop from one fertilized egg and share the same genetic material.

How do identical twins differ from fraternal twins?

Identical twins are genetically identical, while fraternal twins develop from two separate fertilized eggs.

What is the impact of having a fraternal twin who has divorced?

The odds of you divorcing are 1.6 times greater if your fraternal twin has divorced.

What is the impact of having an identical twin who has divorced?

The odds of you divorcing are 5.5 times greater if your identical twin has divorced.

What did studies show about identical twins treated alike?

Identical twins treated alike were not psychologically more alike than those treated less similarly.

What do adoption studies reveal about personality traits?

Adoptees are more similar in traits like extraversion and agreeableness to their biological parents than to their adoptive parents.

What is heritability?

The proportion of observed variation in a trait that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors.

What does eugenics study?

The arrangement of reproduction within a population to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics.

What is a moral concern associated with eugenics?

Its immoral use in history, particularly in Nazi Germany.

What is the BioPsychoSocial approach to development?

An approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in human development.

What is the concept of 'nature via nurture'?

The idea that genetic predispositions are expressed through environmental influences.