Environmental Influences on Behavior - Module 13

Partner Preferences

• Desired Characteristics in Partners (General)

  • High importance given to: Kindness, Intelligence, Physical attractiveness, Humor.

  • Lower importance given to: Chastity, Good earning potential.

  • Error bars represent a 95\% \text{ CI}.

• Sex-Based Differences in Partner Preferences (Mean ratings)

  • Female Preferences: Tend to rate Kindness, Intelligence, Physical attractiveness, Humor, Ambitiousness, Good social skills, and Good earning potential notably higher compared to Chastity.

  • Male Preferences: Tend to rate Kindness, Intelligence, Physical attractiveness, and Humor highly, with Ambitiousness and Good social skills also relevant. Good earning potential and Chastity are generally rated lower.

  • Error bars represent a 95\% \text{ CI}.

Environmental Influences on Behavior (Module 13)

Genetic vs. Environmental Influences

• Previous Understanding: Genes play a significant role in psychological functioning, with particular environments thought to “trigger” genes.

• Current Understanding (More Nuanced): Different environments can cause a gene to express itself in different ways, not just trigger it.

Orchid Theory vs. Vulnerability Hypothesis

• Terminology Note: These terms were coined by the author and are not necessarily standard professional terminology.

• Vulnerability Hypothesis:

  • States that “bad” genes require an environmental trigger to produce negative results.

• Orchid Hypothesis:

  • Agrees that “bad” genes require an environmental trigger for negative results.

  • Key Difference: It adds that different environmental triggers (specifically, good ones) may lead to positive results.

The Dandelion vs. Orchid Metaphor

• Dandelion Children (Dandelion Genes):

  • Are sturdy and can thrive well in all kinds of environments, growing fine almost anywhere.

• Orchid Children (Orchid Genes):

  • Are sensitive; they cannot thrive in all environments.

  • In a poor climate, soil, or with insufficient water, they will easily wither and die.

  • Crucially: In the right environment, they can blossom into some of the most beautiful flowers, outperforming dandelions.

Radical Implications of the Orchid Hypothesis

• Genes for Mental Illnesses: Individuals with genes linked to conditions like depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses will suffer in poor environments.

• Positive Outperformance: However, in good environments, these individuals will not only survive but can actually outperform their “dandelion” peers.

• This idea challenges traditional views on predispositions to mental health issues.

Evolutionary Explanation for “Dysfunctional” Genes

• Persistent “Dysfunctional” Genes: The orchid hypothesis helps explain how genes associated with conditions like depression, anxiety, or ADHD, which might seem maladaptive, have persisted in the human gene pool.

  • These genes are too common and have too significant effects to be considered mere vestiges (like the appendix).

• Adaptive in the Right Environment: Instead, these “dysfunctional” genes are proposed to be adaptive in the right environments.

• Quote from Article: “We have survived not despite these alleles, but because of them. And those alleles haven’t merely managed to slip through the selection process; they have been actively selected for.”

Changing Perspectives on Genetic Predisposition

• Example (SERT allele): If technology revealed a child had the “short/short SERT allele” (often linked to vulnerability to depression/anxiety),

  • The vulnerability hypothesis might cause concern about negative outcomes.

  • The orchid hypothesis offers a more hopeful perspective, suggesting the potential for positive outcomes in supportive environments, potentially changing parental outlook.

• Scientific Progress:

  • The vulnerability hypothesis was a significant scientific breakthrough, showing that genes don't