Explain how the adoption design is used to separate influences of genes and environment on human behavior. What types of conclusions can be drawn from an adoption study?

What will be an ideal response?


The ideal answer should include:
1. A comparison is made between the child's psychological traits and those of the adoptive parent, who shares no genes but raised the child, and the biological parent, who shares 50 percent of the child's genes but did not raise the child.
2. Conclusions that can be drawn include the relative role of genetics and the environment in development. For instance, increased similarity on a given trait between the biological parent and child indicates genetic influence. Increased similarity on a given trait between the adoptive parent and child indicates environmental influence.

Psychology

You might also like to view...

Ibuprofen is the active medication in a widely used over-the-counter sleeping pill

a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Psychology

Karen is learning strategies to reduce her stress and improve her coping skills. Karen is attending a __________ class

a. psychodynamics b. behavior medicine c. refusal skills training d. stress management

Psychology

Discuss the importance of genital self-examination

What will be an ideal response?

Psychology

Which of the following is LEAST likely to have been the title of an article written by William James?

a. "Human uniqueness." b. "The role of religion and mysticism in human behavior." c. "How human consciousness helps one adjust to the environment." d. "The importance of rigorous laboratory methods in understanding behavior."

Psychology