AP Psych Unit 1: Boological Basis of Behavior

Evolutionary Psychology

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

natural selection

the principle that the inherited traits enabling an organism to survive and reproduce will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Nature-Nurture Issue

The longstanding controversy over the relative contribution that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.

heredity

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

environment

every nongenetic influence

genetic predisposition

increased chance of something happening based on your genes

twin studies

If identical twins are more similar in a trait than fraternal twins, it suggests a genetic influence

Adoption Studies

Compares a child to their biological parents (shared nature) and their adoptive parents (shared nurture)

Family studies

similarities and differences among family members

eugenics

the selection of desired herbal characteristics in order to improve future generations.

epigenetic

studies environmental influences on gene expression that occurs without a DNA change

nervous system

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral central nervous system

Central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Autonomic system

Controls glands; internal organs

Somatic System

Controls skeletal muscles

Sympathetic System

Arouses body; mobilizes energy

Parasympathetic System

calms body; conserves energy

Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; plays a part in thinking and memory

refelx arc

sensory neurons

sensory neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

motor neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

interneurons