Preview

Behavioral Genetics

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
511 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Behavioral Genetics
GENETIC INFLUENCE ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR Multiple situations and conditions can impair or influence human behavior in individuals. My hypothesis was genetics has the strongest influence on human behavior because of the inability to have control over heredity. Without control, how can one improve or change their behavior? Mental disorders can be inherited through genetics. Examples of genetically acquired mental disorders are schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. My personal experience with individuals with those particular types of mental disorders exhibit different behaviors that those without the disorder. The way one interacts with other and the perception of that individual by society can be influences by mental disorders . My hypothesis was slightly changed after reading the article “Behavioral Gentics” by Joseph McInerney . McInerney provided in depth research that alluded to the fact that genetics alone does not influence human behavior. He believes that unless every person is tested a definitive correlation between genetics and behaviors will not exist.(J. McInerney ‘Behavioral Genetics” 24Aug2011) In case studies, researchers only test a select few and this does not provide enough information to prove or disprove genetics behavioral influence. According to McInerney, there may be others factors that may be present in conjunction with genetics that may influence human behavior. Behaviors are “the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment” (Merriam Webster Dictionary). Genetics are “a branch of biology that deals with the heredity and variation of organisms” (MWD). Through definition; genetics is not a factor for behaviors. Genetics can be a factor, but does not necessarily have to be a controlling factor that influences human behavior. McInerney provided multiple sources of other studies that solidified his view. I made my hypothesis based on my personal experience of people with mental disorders that had a


Cited: Joseph McInemey. "Behavioral Genetics ." Human Genome Project Information . 24 august 2011. U.S. Department of Energy Genome Program 's Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS). . 13 march 2013. . "Behaviors." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2013. Merriam-Webster Online. 13 March 2013 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behavior "Genetics." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2013. Merriam-Webster Online. 13 March 2013 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genetics
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Beh/ 225 Chechpoint Week 2 Day 4
    • 586 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Beh/ 225 Chechpoint Week 2 Day 4

    The genetic makeup of hereditary can impact the human behavior and heredity is already present in your genes. May be you will show such behavior because of hereditary once in a day but it is always there. However, the behavior can change which creates the contrast from heredity and such cases arise in the case of the changes in the hormonal balance in the body because of diet changes.…

    • 586 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Week 1 Psy 240 Checkpoint Essay Example
    • 333 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Week 1 Psy 240 Checkpoint Essay Example

    I believe that it is flawed to ask how much a particular behavior is due to genetics and hoe much is due to experience because you will never be able to really get an exact amount for each. Every individual’s genetics are different and every individual’s experiences are different as well. Even if two different individuals were to experience the same situation they might not get the same thing out of the experience than the other individual that has experienced the same thing. For example: siblings have the same genetics if they have the same parents, especially twins. Lets say that they both grow up in a home that is constantly dirty and their parents have an attitude like they do not really care about anything. One of the siblings might grow up to do and feel the same way as their parents and the other sibling might get something completely different out of the situation. The other sibling might grow up and have OCD about having a clean home because of the environment that they grew up in. I believe that it is important to separate the contributions of genetics and experience as well as possible when measuring the development of differences among individuals because genetics you are not always able to change but the things that an individual learns through experience are learned and anything that an individual is capable of learning they are also capable of unlearning if it is unwanted learned…

    • 333 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Beh/225 Heredity and Hormones
    • 400 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Beh/225 Heredity and Hormones

    As much as people can see the physical characteristics that are passed down along generations, people may not realize just how much of their behavior is passed down genetically.…

    • 400 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    PSY 330 Week 2 DQ2
    • 524 Words
    • 2 Pages

    PSY 330 Week 2 DQ2

    One of the goals of behavioral genetics is to identify the heritability of a particular behavior. Heritability is the amount of variance in observed behaviors among people that can be explained by genetics. Review this week’s reading and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of some of the methods used to determine heritability in humans. Address the use of adoption studies and twin studies, as well as shared environmental factors and unique environmental factors.…

    • 524 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Psy 240 Check Point Week One Essay Example
    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Psy 240 Check Point Week One Essay Example

    I believe that it is flawed to ask how much of a particular behavior is due to genetics and how much to experiences, because it is a rigid explanation that tries to attribute a particular proportion to each part. The key point is to recognize the complex collaboration of both nature and nurture; the environment inputs along with the genetic code play and important role on human development. As a result, each person develops different types of personalities. Besides, scientists, still have many types of challenges ahead behind human nature.…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Twin and Response Feedback
    • 1285 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Twin and Response Feedback

    4.The branch of genetics that deals with inheritance of behavioral and psychological traits is known as behavioral genetics.…

    • 1285 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Outline the Behaviorist and Biological Model of Mental Illness Essay Example
    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Outline the Behaviorist and Biological Model of Mental Illness Essay Example

    There are many different ways that someone can develop a mental illness behaviourist and biological are just two of them. The behaviourist model suggests that abnormal behaviours are learnt in the same way that any other behaviour is learnt-though classical and operant conditioning. Operant conditioning suggests that people learn from consequences of actions through positive and negative reinforcement –meaning learning through a consequence of an action either a consequence that is positive (have a good outcome) or negative (the removal of something bad). There are many different examples that support the view of operant conditioning these include.…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Checkpoint: the Nature-Nurture Issue
    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Checkpoint: the Nature-Nurture Issue

    It is flawed to ask how much of a particular behavior is because of genetics and how much is because of experience. According to Pinel, (2011), this is because it is based on the idea that genetic factors and experimental factors combine in an additive manner. Meaning it takes parts of both genetics and experience instead of just one over the other. Genetics plays a role because it can affect a person’s ability to handle emotional experiences. Genetics could be responsible for inherited genes involving anger issues and the ability to control them. However, I believe that behavior is more so related to how a person is raised and the morals, ethics, and values their parent or guardians have instilled within them. Furthermore, the person’s behavior would also be formed as a result of the judgments given by their peers.…

    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior: Future Directions
    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior: Future Directions

    References: Davidson L. "Psychotherapeutic and Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for Schizophrenia: Developing a Disorder-Specific Form of Psychotherapy for Persons with Psychosis," in Perris C, et al., eds. Cognitive Psychotherapy of Psychotic and Personality Disorders: Handbook of Theory and Practice. John Wiley & Sons, 1998.…

    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comfort Zone Analysis
    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Comfort Zone Analysis

    The way people behave can not be genetically determined, right?! Nature and nurture are the movers and shapers, they make us what we are today, according to Harris, J. (1998)2 . Nature versus nurture is a much discussed topic, in psychology as well. There are a lot of theories about the question if we were formed by our genes or the environment where we live. Some psychologists argue that only one side has their impact like John Locke from the nature-side, while I believe it is an interaction between two of these factors, both of them have their influence on the development of that type of…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    outline and evaluate the biological approach to abnormality?
    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages

    outline and evaluate the biological approach to abnormality?

    The fourth factor is genes. Important new genetic research has highlighted the possibility that some people may be genetically at risk of development a mental disorder but so far the strong evidence relates to conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar depression. It has been shown that a son or daughter of someone with schizophrenia have a 10% chance of receiving it them self.…

    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Psych Biological and Cognitive Analysis
    • 1765 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Psych Biological and Cognitive Analysis

    -Behavior can be inherited: It can be passed down genetically, by genetic mutation. Case study: Minnesota Twin Study.…

    • 1765 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Heritability
    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Essay On Heritability

    Behavioral genetics is a complex study that helps to explain the differences between others. The purpose behind behavioral genetics is it to define the relationship between behavior and genetics. We know that humans share genes, but the differences in each give us our individuality. One very important aspect of behavioral genetics is heritability.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Criminal Justice Nature Vs Nurture
    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Criminal Justice Nature Vs Nurture

    In conclusion, it is safe to say that the role of our genetics and the environment equal people's behavior and traits. You cannot blame either one because without one, the other wouldn’t exist. Genes effect a lot of your personality and behavior but the environment molds the way people are going to act. This will always be an ongoing controversy because it is nearly impossible to pin point accurately where the role of genes and the environment step…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Antisocial Personality Disorder Research Paper
    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Antisocial Personality Disorder Research Paper

    Personality disorders seem to be caused by a combination of these genetic and environmental influences. Genetically, it is the temperament and the kind of personality a person is born with, and environmentally, it is the way in which a person grows up and the experiences they have had (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2013).…

    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics