DIFFERENT

ASPECTS OF
HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Do you wonder
why people act
violently?
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF
HUMAN BEHAVIOR

BIOLOGICAL
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF
HUMAN BEHAVIOR

BIOLOGICAL COGNITIVE
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF
HUMAN BEHAVIOR

Biological Cognitive Learning

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF
HUMAN BEHAVIOR

Biological Cognitive Learning Social/Cultural

HEREDITARY AND
THE
ENVIRONMENT
Something
common with
your friends
Something
different from
your friends
WHAT IS THE
NATURE V NURTURE
ARGUMENT
NATIVISTS (NATURE)
Edward Thorndike

Genes and inborn characteristics

Chief determining factor is hereditary

Born with personality traits

EMPIRICISTS (NURTURE)
JOHN B. WATSON

Learning and experiences

Development influenced by
environmental influences

Personality traits are acquired

HOW CAN THE
ENVIRONMENT
AFFECT OUR
GENES?
 • Cell has Chromosomes
• Chromosomes has genes
GENES • Gene comprises of DNA
EPIGENETICS

• Even our genes Mutate!

• Changes in the expression of
a particular gene without
changes in DNA base
sequences
• Variants inherited + Changes
because of the environment
EPIGENETIC
S

THE CURRENTLY
FASHIONABLE RESPONSE TO
ANY QUESTION TO WHICH YOU
DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER
WHAT ARE SOME
SIMILARITIES
AMONG ALL
HUMAN BEINGS?
 Similarities over a population

EVOLUTION Over a span of many many many many years

AND
NATURAL
SELECTION Species’ characteristics are transmitted
biologically from one generation to the next.
Charles Darwin
EVOLUTION AND NATURAL
SELECTION
•Charles Darwin
Humans are born with some innate characteristics:
• Infant reflexes
• An interest in novelty
• Desire to explore and manipulate
• Basic cognitive abilities
EVOLUTION OF
COURTSHIP
AND MATING
What do you think heterosexual male
and female look for, when selecting a
partner?
THE
DOWNSIDE OF
NATURAL
SELECTION
THE DOWNSIDE OF NATURAL
SELECTION

It creates
stereotypes
THE DOWNSIDE OF NATURAL
SELECTION

It creates Takes a loooong

stereotypes time to change
THE DOWNSIDE OF NATURAL
SELECTION

Not as straightforward to
Takes a loooong time to
It creates stereotypes understand: what people
change
say vs what people do
THE
DIFFERENC
E BETWEEN
US
Why are some
people more
musically talented
than others?
How do we
measure the
difference?
 Higher if something has a higher chance of
being inherited

Measured as a proportion (percentage or max

value 1)

Not applicable on an individual

HERITABILI Applies to variations within a group of people in

a similar environment
TY
Heritability is a scale

Low Heritability

High Heritability
Some traits with high
heritability
• Eye color
• Skin color
• Intelligence
• Certain skills (music, painting)
• Mental disorders
Real life
examples

Belief that world will be a better place if certain genes prevailed

Real life
examples

Nature prefers differences not similarities