Day 22
Behavior Genetics: Predicting Individual
Differences
AP Question of the Day
In most people, which one of the following is a
specific function of the left hemisphere that is
typically not controlled by the right?
A. producing speech
B. control of the left hand
C.spatial reasoning
D.hypothesis testing
E. abstract reasoning
A.
As mentioned previously in the analysis of splitbrain patients, the left hemisphere typically
controls speech. The left hand is controlled by
the motor cortex in the right hemisphere. Some
evidence indicates that the right hemisphere is
more active in spatial reasoning. Both
hemispheres are involved in hypothesis testing
and abstract reasoning.
AP Exam Tip of the Day
Heritability is likely to show up on the AP exam
because it’s confusing. The key thing to
remember is that heritability refers to variation
within a group. It does not refer to the impact of
nature on an individual. Be clear on both what it
is and what it isn’t.
FRQ Workshopping
● As a class, we are going to plan the FRQ
from the Unit 9 Quiz.
How to spend your time:
● 10-12 minutes planning (per question)
o 1. Read the prompt all the way through.
o 2. Re-read the prompt and notate the important
words in the prompt.
o 3. Make a chart or diagram of some sort to organize
what the prompt is asking you to do.
o 4. Determine where the points are.
o 5. Structure the points in logical order.
o 6. Brainstorm brief notes - say SOMETHING about
each point!
● 13-15 minutes writing (per question)
1. Read the prompt all the way
through.
Your friend Bella confides in you that she is pregnant and is very anxious about
being a mother. “I don’t know anything about babies! You’re studying
psychology - what should I research in order to get ready?” Use the terms
below to explain five developmental topics you would share with Bella.
-Nature and nurture
-Attachment
-Temperament
-Parenting styles
-Brain development
2. Re-read the prompt and notate the important words
in the prompt.
Your friend Bella confides in you that she is pregnant and is very anxious about
being a mother. “I don’t know anything about babies! You’re studying
psychology - what should I research in order to get ready?” Use the terms
below to explain five developmental topics you would share with Bella.
-Nature and nurture
-Attachment
-Temperament
-Parenting styles
-Brain development
3. Make a chart or diagram of some sort to organize
what the prompt is asking you to do.
Term
Nature and nurture
Attachment
Temperament
Parenting styles
Brain development
Define/Explain
Apply to Bella
4. Determine where the points are.
● 1 point each for defining/explaining and
applying to prompt:
Nature and nurture
o Attachment
o Temperament
o Parenting styles
o Brain development
o
5. Structure the points in logical order.
1. Nature and nurture
2. Attachment
3. Temperament
4. Parenting styles
5. Brain development
6. Brainstorm brief notes.
15 minutes
Re-write the FRQ!
*After spending 10 minutes planning, this is
how much time you would have left to write.
Swap & Grade
● You will get someone else’s paper and we
will follow the official scoring guide to grade
it.
Point 1: Nature and nurture
Bella may want to read about how genetics and
environmental influences combine as babies
develop. Bella should understand that genetics
isn’t “destiny.” The genetic code her child is
born with will influence potential mental and
physical traits, but environmental factors
influence how these traits develop (or don’t
develop).
Point 2: Attachment
It may be important for Bella to research
attachment theory so that she can try to ensure
that she and her child develop a secure
attachment. Knowing how body contact and
familiarity influence attachment could help her
develop a healthy attachment with her child.
Point 3: Temperament
Learning that heredity predisposes infant
temperament could be a relief to Bella, and
understanding the traits of “difficult, easy, and
slow-to-warm-up” infants could help her deal
with her baby’s temperament.
Point 4: Parenting styles
Researching the advantages and
disadvantages of authoritarian, authoritative,
and permissive parenting styles might influence
how Bella chooses to parent her child. We tend
to parent as we were parented, and learning
the results of parenting style research might
enable Bella to choose a more authoritative
parenting style.
Point 5: Brain development
If Bella learns the brain research regarding how vital
enriched environments are for children’s brains, she may
try to ensure that her child grows up in a strong learning
environment. Knowing that babies are born with “too many”
neurons and that their environment determines which
neurons are connected and which are “pruned” could
emphasize for Bella how important a rich environment is for
her baby’s developing brain.
Collect Papers
At the bottom, put “graded by (your name)” and
return to its owner.
After you have seen your score, make a pile on
the counter.
Questions for Q&A Review
● On a sheet of loose leaf, write down 3
questions you would like answered before
the 1st Quarter Exam.
● We will do a Q&A-style review next class to
prepare for the test!
Homework
● Read and take Cornell Notes on Module 15