Question

module 1.1 interaction of heredity & environment

1. define psychology: what is the nature - vs. nurture debate and how does it relate to psychology?
2. what ideas came from darwins origin of species?

a. evolutionary psychology
b. natural selection
c. behavior genetics

1. how do evolutionary psychologists use natural selection to explain behavior tendencies?

a. adaptation
b. mutation

1. how do behavior geneticists explain our individual differences?

a. heredity
b. genome
c. genes

Explanation:

1. Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. The nature - vs - nurture debate concerns the relative influence of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) on human behavior. In psychology, it helps understand the origins of traits, behaviors, and mental processes.
2. Darwin's Origin of Species introduced concepts like evolution and natural selection. In psychology, evolutionary psychology uses these ideas. Evolutionary psychology posits that many psychological traits are adaptations that evolved through natural selection.
3. Natural selection is a key concept from Darwin. Evolutionary psychologists use it to explain behavior tendencies. Behaviors that enhance survival and reproduction are more likely to be passed on. For example, fear responses to predators are adaptive.
4. Adaptation is how evolutionary psychologists use natural selection to explain behavior. Traits and behaviors that are well - suited to an environment increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction. Mutation is the source of genetic variation on which natural selection acts, but it's not directly how natural selection explains behavior tendencies in the context of the question.
5. Behavior geneticists explain individual differences through genes. Genes are segments of DNA that code for traits, and variations in genes among individuals lead to differences in behavior, personality, and mental abilities. Heredity is a broader concept, and the genome is the complete set of an organism's genes.

Answer:

1. Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. The nature - vs - nurture debate is relevant as it explores the contributions of heredity and environment to psychological traits and behaviors.
2. Evolutionary psychology borrows ideas like natural selection from Darwin's Origin of Species.
3. a. Evolutionary psychology uses natural selection to explain behavior tendencies through the concept of adaptation.
4. a. Adaptation
5. c. Genes