AP Psychology Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior

psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

nature

our behavior, genes, DNA

nurture

our environment, surroundings, customs

natural selection

traits that are more useful for survival & reproduction are more likely to be passed down to future generations

evolutionary psychology

studying the evolution of behavior & mind bc of our similar biology

mutation

error in gene replication causing a change

behavior genetics

how our genetics & environment make us different & influence our behavior

environment

not genetics, external experiences, surrounding people

heredity

transfer of characteristics from parents to kids through genes

genes

units of heredity, parts of DNA

genome

sets of genes, instructions for making an organism

identical twins

developed from one egg that split, genetically similar, monozygotic

fraternal twins

developed from two separate eggs, same genetic closeness as regulars sibs, dizygotic

separated twins studies

separated at birth, raised in different homes & environments, still share physical & personality traits

interaction

the effect of one fact (environment) is based on another factor (heredity/genes)

epigenetics

study of how environment can influence genetic expressions without changing DNA, off or on