Competency 5

Analyze the role of heredity and the environment.

The difficulties that researchers encounter when they interpret the results of twin studies and
adoption studies reflect the complexities of heredity - environment interaction. Some of these
interactions are heredity - environment correlations, which means the individual's genes may
influence the types of environments to which they are exposed. In a sense, individuals inherit
environments that may be related or linked to genetic propensities. Behavior geneticist Sandra
scar describe three ways that heredity and environment are correlated: passive genotype environment correlations, correlations that exist when the biological parents, or genetically
related to the child, provide a rearing environment for the child. Children inherit genetic
tendencies from their parents, and parents also provide an environment that matches their own
genetic tendencies. Evocative genotype - environment correlations, correlations that exist when
the child's characteristics select certain types of physical and social environments. The child's
genetic tendencies elicit stimulation from the environment that supports a particular trait. Thus
genes evoke environmental support. Active genotype - environment correlations, correlations
that exist when children seek out environments they find compatible and stimulating. Children
actively seek out niches in their environment that reflect their own interests and talents and are
thus in accord with their genotype.
Shared environmental experience to refer to siblings, and experiences, such as their parents
personalities and intellectual orientation, the family's social economic status, and the
neighborhood in which they live. Non-shared environmental experiences include the child
unique experiences, both within the family and outside the family, that are not shared with a

sibling. Many behavior genetics are you that differences in the development of siblings are due
to non-shared environmental experiences (and heredity) rather than shared environmental
experiences. The epigenetic view emphasizes that development is the result of an ongoing,
bidirectional interchange between heredity and environment. Complex behavior have some
genetic loading that gives people a propensity for a particular developmental projectory.
However, actual development also requires an environment, and that environment is complex.
The interaction of heredity and environment is expensive. Much remains to be discovered about
the specific ways the heredity and environment interact to influence development.