1.1 Interaction of Heredity and Environment

Explain the relationship between heredity and environment in shaping behavior and mental processes.

• Heredity and environmental factors interact to shape behavior and mental processes.
  • i. Heredity, or “nature,” refers to genetic or predisposed characteristics that influence physical, behavioral, and mental traits and processes.
  • ii. Environmental factors, or “nurture,” refers to the external factors that one experiences, such as family interactions or education.
  • Exclusion: Specific information about genetics (genotype, phenotype, DNA, chromosomes, and recessive and dominant gene expression) is beyond the scope of the AP Psychology Exam.
• The evolutionary perspective explores how natural selection affects the expression of behavior and mental processes to increase survival and reproductive success. Some theorists have sought to apply principles of the evolutionary perspective in ways that discriminate against others (eugenics).
• Research on the effects of genes on individual behavior and mental processes is often conducted using twin studies, family studies, and adoption studies.