Question:

Why do we think babies

(and kittens and puppies)
are so cute?

Evolutionary Psychology
the application of
evolutionary principles to
psychological functioning

species-typical behaviors
behaviors that are
characteristic of a particular
animal species in its natural
environment

Natural selection
Individuals with characteristics that
promote adaptation to the environment
will survive, reproduce, and pass on
these adaptive characteristics to their
offspring

ETHOLOGY
The study of animal behavior 
in its natural environment

(the example of imprinting)

Consider together in small groups:

Some evolutionary psychologists believe
that males and females have different
mating strategies with males more
promiscuous and preferring younger (more
fertile) partners, and females seeking an
enduring relationship with a high status
partner based on the adaptive pressures
related to reproduction for each sex.
If so, how much does this influence relationships between men and women today?

Question:
Are characteristics that
are strongly inherited
difficult to change?

Molecular Genetics
The study of genetic influences on behavior,
including
-- interactions between genes, and
-- interaction between genes and environment
(the action is in the interaction)

Human characteristics are

polygenic
(influenced by multiple genes simultaneously)
People have two copies of each gene because
we have a copy from each parent sometimes
those copies are the same (homozygous) and
sometimes they are different (heterozygous)
Complex human characteristics, such as those
studied in this class, derive from the interaction
of many genes

Human characteristics are

multifactorial
(influenced by the interaction of
heredity and environment)
PHENOTYPE = GENOTYPE X ENVIRONMENT

What
you
are =
like

Heredity X Environment

GENOTYPE

PHENOTYPE

ENVIRONMENT

Gene-Environment Interaction in the

Development of Adolescent Conduct Disorders

Conduct
Disorders
(%)

Levels of MAOA gene (low MAOA = higher aggressiveness)

(Caspi et al., 2002, Science)

Your friend has learned in the news that a gene

for addictive disorders has been discovered.
This is consistent with other scientific evidence
that individual differences in substance
dependency are highly heritable. Reputable
scientists have claimed that this discovery
explains why some people cannot resist the
addictive effects of cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs.
Your friend is concerned that he has this genetic
vulnerability because of addiction problems in his
family, and he worries that resisting substance
dependency in the future will be difficult or
impossible for him.
What do you tell him?