AP Psych 1.1 Definitions

Flashcard #1
Term: Nature v. Nurture Debate
Definition: A discussion concerning the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) in human development.

Flashcard #2
Term: Natural Selection
Definition: A process in biology where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Flashcard #3
Term: Evolutionary Psychology
Definition: A theoretical approach to psychology that understands mental and psychological traits as adaptive adaptations from our evolutionary past.

Flashcard #4
Term: Mutation
Definition: A change in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome, which can lead to variations in traits and may be passed on to the next generation.

Flashcard #5
Term: Environment
Definition: The surrounding conditions and influences (physical, social, cultural) that affect the development and behavior of individuals.

Flashcard #6
Term: Heredity
Definition: The passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another.

Flashcard #7
Term: Genes
Definition: The basic units of heredity in living organisms made up of DNA and responsible for inherited traits.

Flashcard #8
Term: Identical & Fraternal Twins
Definition: Identical twins arise from a single fertilized egg that splits, sharing the same genetic material