...Evaluate the role that biology and genetic inheritance plays in the determination of EITHER (a) personality OR (b) intelligence. Draw on recent research to illustrate and support your answer. Intelligence has always been a very confusing topic in psychology. It can be a very difficult term to define since every individual can be intelligent in a particular aspect. Each and every person varies with their skills to adapt to the environment and how they can solve and understand intricate concepts. There are many different types of intelligence as there are many different skills in the world and they are all assessed on various criteria (Sternberg & Kaufman, 2001). The conceptualization of intelligence is still not set for certain as there are many different measures of intelligence. There is no standard measurement for intelligence and so there is no universal agreement of what intelligence actually is either (Plomin & McClearn, 1993). The research of intelligence found many different factors that determine the intelligence of an individual. The role of biology and genetic inheritance in the determination of intelligence is quite crucial. The genetic inheritance can be found out through how the child inherits the intelligence of the parent through IQ tests When mentioning the biology of intelligence, apart from the genetic inheritance that has to be researched through twin studies and adoption studies, hormones and neurotransmitters also has to be looked into in order...
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...GENETIC COUNSELING IN NURSING AND ETHICS Hyang Ko Azusa Pacific University Abstract The current development of genetic information and technique leaves us assignments. It is included ethical issues, roles of nurses, and the responsibilities in healthcare professionals. In order to understand nurses’ role and responsibilities and to provide genetic counseling, two research article with text books were reviewed. There were conflicts within ethical principles and nurses’ obligation. Each principle is important but one principle is superior to others when healthcare professionals make a decision in a certain context. It is necessary that genetic counseling is provided to patients and their family when healthcare professionals deal with genetic information. The two research articles empathized that experienced nurses are excellent candidates in genetic counseling within healthcare professionals by being educated, trained about genetic information. Genetic Counseling in Nursing and Ethics Definitions of Genetics and Genetic Counseling Officially, the terms of Genetics and genetic counseling is defined by Wekipidia as below: Genetics, a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics). Genetic counseling is the process by which patients or relatives, at risk of an inherited disorder, are advised of the consequences and nature of the disorder, the probability of developing or transmitting...
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...How Genetics Affect Criminal Behavior Lynn Wigtion English Comp 2 4/27/2003 Amy DeBolt The human behavioral system is neither environmentally or genetically determined, but does have potentials that come through interaction of the environment and genes (Jones, pg.87). Concerning criminal behavior, many people want to blame the parents, or the individual’s upbringing, especially if it is a child or a teen committing a crime. Others want to blame social media and gaming or our society. While all of these can play a role in criminal behavior, so does genetics. Let’s repeat that, genetics play a role in criminal behavior, not make a person become a criminal. Genes do not cause behavior, but they affect tendencies to behave in certain ways (Nurnberger, Aug 10, 2006, para. 3). Anything can influence an individual to act and behave like a criminal, but those things do not make individuals commit crimes. That is entirely a choice. Genes contribute to an individual’s patterns because genes affect learning. Saying that something is influenced genetically is not saying environmental factors are not relevant. Saying a behavior is influenced genetically is not saying that it is unalterable or inevitable. “A predisposition is not predestination (Jones, pg87). Several components that contribute to criminal behavior are looked at; however, genetic factors are often overlooked as an important attribute. Some genetic influences are children who have behavior or disruptive disorders...
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...Introduction Introduction Outline and evaluate the role of genetic factors in aggressive behaviour (5+16 marks) Moghaddom (1998) distinguishes between explanations of aggression which are normative, and those which are causal. Causal explanations, as in this case, suggest aggression is determined by particular factors e.g. genes and are usually biological explanations. The genetic explanation of aggression suggests that it is influenced through our genes, and that such behaviour is therefore inherited. Para 1 A01 Para 1 A01 It is thought that aggression is due to a defective gene that is inherited by following generations. One possible gene is the Monoamine Oxidase A gene, which produces Monoamine Oxidase A enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters associated with aggression. It is thought that a build-up of serotonin and dopamine can cause an individual to act aggressively to stress in the fight or flight response. There are two forms of the gene, MAOA-H (produces a high level of the enzyme) and MAOA-L (produces a low amount of the enzyme). The presence of the MAOA-L gene is related to an increase likelihood of aggression. One third of people in Western countries have the MAOA-L gene, compared to two thirds in countries with a history of warfare; leading the gene to be dubbed with the term “warrior gene”. Para 2 A02 Para 2 A02 Research to support the role of the MAOA gene comes from Cases et al who disabled the gene in the X chromosome of mice. As no enzyme was produced...
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...ADHD such as genetics compared to the environment. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is “one of the most common childhood-onset psychiatric disorders; it afflicts some 5% to 10% of children and adolescents” (Susan). After numerous studies, results verified, “children of parents with ADHD are at high risk for meeting diagnostic criteria for the disorder” and that childhood cases of ADHD “continue through adolescence and adulthood have an especially strong familial component” (Joseph). For background statistics on ADHD, ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence...
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...The Role of Genetics on Development Michelle Kennedy Nunez PSY104: Child and Adolescent Development Prof. John Gamble April 22, 2013 The Role of Genetics on Development There is a lot of excitement and uncertainty when a child enters the world. Which parent will the baby look like? She might have her mother’s blue eyes or perhaps he will have his father’s curly hair. Is this child going to be outgoing? Will the finished product of the pregnancy be healthy? Is it possible that the baby has inherited a mutation or disease? All of the answers to these questions can be answered by genetics. Genetics determine the development of the fetus in the womb and further determine the development of that fetus into a separate organism outside of the mother. Genetic material is donated equally by the parents to the child and plays a large role in the development of the reproductive offspring. Genetics can determine things as simple as the ultimate height of an individual. As an adult, an individual may be predisposed to carry extra weight on their body. Often times, when people chalk something up to genetics they look to the example of their mother and father. “The entire genetic code of a human is determined by the unique combination of a mother’s single ovum (egg) and a father’s single sperm” (Mossler, 2011). This means that each and every person walking the Earth is a combination of their biological parents, who are in turn a combination of their biological parents...
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...The Link: Genetics and Criminal Behavior Carla Davis AIU Online An ongoing debate that genetics can be linked to criminal behavior has been ongoing. Researchers are working hard to link criminal behavior and genetics. This study tries to find supporting evidence that a criminal can inherit the notion to commit criminal activity through inheritance. On side believes that criminal activity is caused through inheritance while others agree that genetics has absolutely nothing to do with committing crimes and it’s a person choice when committing a crime or partaking in criminal activities. Included in these studies are adopted studies, twin studies, and testosterone studies. These studying link criminal activities with genetics and give supporting evidence that criminal activities are not inherited. The Link: Genetics and Criminal Behavior Research currently suggests that the genetic characteristics of anger and illegal behavior involve several different factors depending on multiple genes. Although no researcher has been able to put a finger on any genetic factor that could be applied to the concept genes play a part in the influence of aggressive and criminal behavior, many studies have been done to include twin studies and adoption. Twin studies, adoption studies, and testosterone studies are the leading studies that link genetics and criminal behavior. (University of Texas at Dallas, 2012) Studying the differences and similarities between single/identical eggs and non-identical...
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...Genetic Factors are those that we inherit through our parents, they are used to explain why aggression runs through families. Genetic factors play a role in aggressive behaviour and lies within an individual’s genetic make-up. Psychologists, look at twin studies to try and find evidence on a genetic basis to compare the degree of similarity of aggression between sets of monozygotic (MZ) twins and dizygotic (DZ) twins. A lot of the time, it is found that aggressive behaviour is more highly correlated in MZ twins than DZ twins. An example of this would be when McGuffin and Gottesman found a concordance rate of 87% for aggressive behaviour in MZ twins, compared with 72% for DZ twin pairs. However we cannot just rely on evidence from twin studies because they can be problematic as it is hard to disentangle nature and nurture. Many have suggested that MZ twins are treated more alike and share more similar environments than DZ twins because they act more like 'one' person rather than two separate people. This may affect how alike they are and how likely they are to express aggression. Researchers have also identified a number of genes that can potentially cause aggression. Although no individual gene for aggression has been identified in humans, a gene responsible for the production of the protein MAOA has been associated with aggressive behaviour. MAOA regulates the metabolism of serotonin in the brain. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with aggression. In 1993, a study...
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...complex genetic code determines body type; but that type does not always dictate sexual identity. Sexual identity is an even more complex development that encompasses hormone levels, social learning, individual perception, and attraction. Humans are born genetically male or female; but that does not necessarily control which sexual identity the individual will discover. Planned Parenthood (2012) defines gender identity as how a person feels about and expresses his or her gender; despite genetic or natural gender assignment. Some humans are genetically male or female and identify with the traditional gender roles; but others may find that the traditional cultural norms do not match their feelings or thoughts. Sexual identity is the sexual part of human expression that does not include ideas like sexual orientation, sexual preference, physical gender, or body type. If an individual considers his or her gender as female and is at ease with referring to his or her individual sexual characteristics in feminine terms, his or her gender identity is female. Gender identity has nothing to do with the physical characteristics of gender; but focuses on how the individual thinks (either masculine or feminine) and how he or she expresses those feelings. Ghosh (2012) explains gender identity as “self-identified, as a result of a combination of inherent and extrinsic or environmental factors”(para. 1). BiologicalFactors In normal biological development, the rule is that the genetic soup determines...
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...Conclusion In the systematic analysis of the 23 studies we have highlighted the role of Leventhal’s Common Sense Model (SRM) in the analysis of hereditary / familial cancer and the role of the psycho-social impact on individuals affected by the disease or with high risk for the disease in the screening for hereditary / familial cancer and in the genetic testing and counseling. Thus, we have identified three themes in which we included the analyzed studies: a) identification of the predictors involved in the screening compliance, in the responses to health threats, in emotional distress; b) assessment of the emotional and cognitive impact, of the perceived risk and the perceived disease in genetic testing, of the family history of cancer or...
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...scientists have been struggling for centuries deciding whether our personalities are born or made. Tests are done often on identical twins that were separated to see how they are each influenced by their separate environments. In the past twenty years, it has been discovered that there is a genetic component to every human trait and behavior. However, genetic influence on traits and behavior is partial because genetics account on average for half of the variation of most traits. Urie Bronfrenbrenner, who studies genetics, said, "It is not nature vs. nurture, but the interaction of nature and nurture that drives development." Researchers are finding that the balance between genetic and environmental influences for certain traits change as people get older. Also, people may react to us in a certain way because of a genetically influenced personality and, we may choose certain experiences because they fit best with our instinctive preferences. This means that our experiences may be influenced by our genetic tendencies. One way researchers study the development of traits and behaviors is by measuring the influence of genetics throughout one’s life span, and it is found to be that the genetic influence on certain trait increase as people age. A research was done to see whether a trait would show up in a child if it was environmentally influenced or genetically influenced. A child...
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...Twins Many studies are being done on twins and the difference between genetics vs. environment. Many studies are done on monozygotic twins as well as dizygotic twins. Monozygotic (MZ) twins are known as identical twins because they are from one egg that is fertilized and splits into two genetically identical halves, which continue to grow as twins. If there are any additional splitting of the zygote it leads to triplets, quadruplets etc. In Dizygotic (DZ) twins, also known as fraternal twins, there are two eggs that are fertilized by two different sperm, essentially making two babies at once that are genetically different but similar like other siblings. (Wheelwright, 2004) There are many differences between identical twins and fraternal twins such as fraternal twins can be of opposite sex. It is very rare for identical twins to be different sexes since they are split from the same zygote. (Wheelwright, 2004) Identical twins share 100% of their genetics and fraternal twins about 50%. (Horwitz, Videon, Schmitz, Davis, 2003) Identical twins do have the same DNA and the same fingerprints. Although there are now genetic tests that can find minor differences in the DNA of identical twins, they are still considered genetically identical. (Wheelwright, 2004) With all the studies that have been done over the years with sets of twins, they are beginning to learn a lot more about genetics and how genetics and environment affects behavior and health conditions. For more than...
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...IQ and Heritability According to studies conducted by researchers, it has been shown that genetic factors affect the IQ of a person, and specific genes that take part in influencing the IQ have been identified. The studies have also proposed that performance is affected by genetic factors. However, it has not been clear whether the genes that shape the IQ are the same genes that influence test scores and grades. The high heritability of intelligence proves to be a difficult subject because it may be perceived to imply that the communities or schools that perform poorly produce unfavorable results due to the immutable characteristics present in those populations. This may imply that the poor kids should be left alone just because they are created that way. However, comprehending the reason why the school system is difficult for some people while being easy for others is important to enabling the researchers to come up with a system that suits the individual strengths of the communities and schools involved. Again, high heritability does not imply total heritability because there is yet another vital role of the environment that requires much consideration, an aspect that informs the scholars of the field of intelligence inheritability how the results can be improved through a change in the environment. A population exhibiting high rate of heritability may be interpreted as a symbol of equality in the sense that environment would be the dominant factor, or it can’t vary radically...
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...geography, population, natural resources, and as recently as (2004) human genetics under the research name (The Human Genome Project). Much like a puzzle the shapes, patterns and order of human DNA have been plotted by scientists’ and have been transformed into a map like none other. The Human Genome Project has been referred to as “one of the great feats of exploration in history- an inward voyage of discovery rather than an outward exploration of the planet or the cosmos.” Genetic mapping will not cure genetic diseases by itself, but it is a critical tool in expanding scientists’ understanding of the role gene mutation and deletion play in causing complex diseases and disorders. From this understanding, strategies to develop cures and preventive measures evolve. Inherited genetic variation has a key but as of yet largely uncharacterized role in human disease. Genome mapping has advanced the screening of genetic diseases with more than 39,000 genetic tests currently in use in the, molecular, chromosomal and biochemical genetic fields, according to GeneTests, a database supported by the federal government. The results of genetic tests can confirm or rule out suspected genetic conditions or help determine a person’s chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. The medical insight genome mapping can provide will undoubtedly...
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...eat. They also choose whether or not they exercise. Eating the wrong things and not exercising a lot is a cause of obesity. Others may argue that obesity is not a choice and that genetics play a major role in a person’s obesity. Genetics such as Leptin Resistance, Impaired Hunger-Hormones, Cushing’s Syndrome, and Hypothyroidism all lead to weight gain. A person cannot control their genetics so obesity is not a choice in their case. Statistics show that less than 5% of americans have ideal cardiovascular health. Statistics also show that less than 2% of americans actually consume ideal diets. Poor diet and poor exercise are major factors that lead to obesity. You can decide if you want to exercise or if you want to eat fast-food all the time. Bad habits also leads toward obesity. Smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol are bad habits that paves the way for obesity. Smoking and drinking are both choices and as we all know you make your own choices, which means that you choose if you become obese....
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