8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 1

Evolution, Motivation, and Emotions

Introduction to Psychology, PSBE1-01 Chapters 3 & 6

Date 09-09-2011 | 2

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Do your genes determine your traits, talents, abilities, etc., or do these depend more on your environment?

Date 09-09-2011 | 3

Three big topics

Evolution (Chapter 3) Motivation, emotions (Chapter 6) Learning (Chapter 4)

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 4

Inherited Traits
Two pairs of chromosomes, one from each parent
2 alleles, which can be the same or different

Some are dominant, some recessive In the simplest case, a dominant gene is expressed if it is present.
A recessive gene is expressed only when both alleles are recessive
Across many generations, great diversity can be generated

Date 09-09-2011 | 5

Combining genes

Traits of Peas

Traits of Dogs

Date 09-09-2011 | 6

How much do genes explain?

Genotype Set of genes an organism has Phenotype Observable traits an organism has Twins Monozygotic twins: same genes Dizygotic twins: 50% of the same genes

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 7

Controlling nature or nurture

Control for genetic similarity while varying environment?
Monozygotic twins, same house Same environment Monozygotic twins, raised separately Different environment

Control for environment while varying genetic similarity?

Monozygotic twins Genetically identical Dizygotic twins or siblings Adopted siblings Genetically unrelated

Date 09-09-2011 | 8

Uncanny twin story

Both had a dog named "Toy." Both had been married two times - the first wives were both called "Linda" and the second wives were both called "Betty." One Jim had named his son "James Allan" and the other Jim had named his son "James Alan." Both had driven his light-blue Chevrolet to Pas Grille beach in Florida for family vacations. Both Jims smoked Salem cigarettes and drank Miller Lite beer. Both Jims had at one time held part-time posts as sheriffs. Both were fingernail biters and suffered from migraine headaches. Both enjoyed leaving love notes to his wife throughout the house.

Jim and Jim were separated at birth and adopted by different families.

Date 09-09-2011 | 9

Inferences about heredity

Compare traits A, B, and C: what could account for the relationships in each, genes or environment?

Environment

Gene

Weak Relationship

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 10

Learning from twin research?

Genetic influences on sexual orientation
100

Concordance rate is the likelyhood of one person in a pair showing the same phenotype as the other person

90 80 concordance rate 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Monozygotic Group Dizygotic

65.8

30.4

Created from Whitham, Diamond, & Martin, 1993

Date 09-09-2011 | 11

Can heritability differ by trait?

Perhaps some traits are inherited, and some are not Perhaps some traits represent an interaction between genes and environment Sex Reassignment
Native Language Eye Color

Intelligence Weight Gender Happiness

Date 09-09-2011 | 12

Selective breeding

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 13

Example: Selective Breeding

Can you breed rats to run through a maze faster? Yes, by mating the fast ones with other fast ones, and slow with slow Notice though, how many generations are needed differentiate.

Date 09-09-2011 | 14

Darwins insight
Charles Darwin didnt know anything about DNA He made an elegant observation Selective breeding occurs in nature. What causes some trait to be preferred over another? Environmental pressures.

Date 09-09-2011 | 15

Natural Selection
Suppose a bird dies before it reproduces. The more seasons a bird lives, the more chances it has to reproduce.

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 16

Do Psychologists Study Genes?

Vole

Date 09-09-2011 | 17

Deterministic fallacyassuming that anything influenced by genes is not also influenced by environmental or cultural factors

Naturalistic fallacy- assuming that anything natural must also be good

Also, traits can be vestigal, side effects, or random.

Date 09-09-2011 | 18

A discussion question
Take this to the pub this weekend: Do you think that extreme talent is due mostly to nature or to nurture?

W.A. Mozart

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 19

Motivation
Motivation is fueled by drives
Some drives promote survival - Avoiding hunger, thirst, physical discomfort all help individuals stay alive - Desires for sex, companionship, enable a species to thrive Some drives are more cognitive - Drive to achieve, drive for self-esteem

Fulfilling drives is promoted by rewards

North-American Shakers.

Date 09-09-2011 | 20

Rewards components
Liking Feeling of pleasure that occurs when one receives a reward Wanting Desire to obtain a reward; occurs before a reward is received Reinforcement Effects that a reward has in promoting learning

Date 09-09-2011 | 21

Example: Hunger
A regulatory drive, food is necessary for survival Modern hunger drive = caveman hunger drive? We eat as though food, especially high-calorie food, is very scarce.

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 22

How does appetite work?

Feedback control- hunger promotes eating, and eating eventually decreases hunger signal Signal is determined by calories in stomach But brain is the regulator Arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus releases neurotransmitters that induce and suppress hunger Hormone leptin is secreted in proportion to the amount of stored fat

Date 09-09-2011 | 23

Is appetite all biological?

Environmental cues stimulate appetite Sensory-specific satiety Plate-size studies Early experiences could effect weight Set-point theory: adult body weight is set early in life The brain and environment interact to produce eating habits, but weight seems to be strongly influenced by genes Why we like what we like

Date 09-09-2011 | 24

Arousal and behavior

Drives not only for survival, but also selfesteem, achievement Arousal is a state of alertness caused by the activity of the central nervous system Ranges from unconscious to high stress, anxiety
Yerkes-Dodson Law

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 25

Emotional expressions

Date 09-09-2011 | 26

Which emotions?

Date 09-09-2011 | 27

How is emotion experienced?

Consider Fear:

8-9-2011

Date 09-09-2011 | 28

Faked facial expressions

Lab-induced facial expressions: do they provoke emotional experiences?

Subjective feelings Physical symptoms

Date 09-09-2011 | 29

Are you afraid or excited?

Participants in the study were males who happened to be there. Variables: Researcher is either an attractive female, or a male. Participant is approached on the scary bridge, or on solid ground. Participants fill in a survey, receive a debriefing form.

Scary Bridge

Date 09-09-2011 | 30

Do emotions promote survival?

What do you think? Are there any adaptive reasons why we experience emotion? 1. To promote attachment to other people 2. To better communicate our thoughts and intentions, even without language 3. To prevent us from fighting futile battles

10