PSYC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Inclusive Fitness, Twin Study, Empiricism

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Jill L Atkinson

Document Summary

Ultimate: ultimate causes explain evolutionary level- what function does/did this behaviour have in promoting survival and itness, the why question. To what extent is our behaviour determined by more immediate or. Proximate factors: proximate: immediate causes and mechanisms of the behaviour. Why do birds sing: ultimate reason: because they serve to attract females and defend territory, proximate reason: increased daylight leads to increased testosterone, which activates a brain center that controls singing. Nature vs nurture: either you are born with it (nativism- from the genes) or gained through experience (empiricism- from the environment) Nativism- philosophical view that we are born with knowledge already present. Genes afect the environment, and environment afects gene expression- so these two interct at every level. Behavioural genetics: for example, have parents who are alcoholics and inheritcs the genes that contribute to increased risk of addition. But if the person never drank alcohol, this shows how environment can increased risk of addiction.