Psychology Module 1.1

Psychology

science of behavior and mental processes

Nature-nurture issue

controversy over contributions of genes and environments on psychological traits

Natural Selection

inherited traits allow an organism to survive and reproduce in certain environment

Mutation

error in gene replication

Evolutionary Psychology

study of evolution of the behavior and mind, using natural selection principles

Behavior Genetics

study of relative power and limits of genetic and environment influences on behavior

Environment

non genetic influence on behavior

Heredity

genetic pass down of characteristics

Genes

biochemical units of heredity

genome

complete instructions for making an organism

identical monozygotic twins

individuals developed from single egg, creating genetically identical organism

fraternal dizygotic twins

individuals developed from separate egg, creating genetically non identical organisms

Interaction

interplay that occurs when effect of one factor depends on another

Epigenetics

study of molecular mechanisms where environments can influence genetics expression with no DNA change