In the course of development, one of the ways that a child's genes interact with the environment is by affecting the kinds of environments that are available. One example of this process is the concept of niche-picking

Question

Define niche-picking and then elaborate on how genetics operate in a passive, evocative, and active manner.
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Niche-picking is the tendency to pick activities and environments that fit with our genetic predispositions. During infancy, genes primarily operate in a passive manner. At this stage, the infant's environment is almost totally controlled by his or her parents. However, the child and the parents share many genes, so the home environment is usually consistent with and supportive of the child's genes. As the child gets older, genes play a more evocative role. This means that the child's genetic tendencies evoke certain responses from parents and others. These responses are evoked by and tend to support the child's genetic tendencies. Finally, as children get older and have more freedom to choose their own activities, genes work in an active way. Older children can actively seek out the specific niches, or activities and environments that suit them best.