BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Biological psychologists focus their study on the ____________________________________
and how it affects behaviour
__________________ plays a “key role” in the ______________________________ debate
Researchers aim to understand to what extent _____________________________________
play a part in _________________________________________
THOMAS BOUCHARD
In 1979, Thomas J. Bouchard began a long-term study of twins who
were raised apart to try to determine just how much twins’ similarities
are based on genetics
The Jim Twins:
Jim Lewis and Jim Springer were separated at 4 months and reunited
at 39 years of age.
The similarities were eerie! Both had interests in carpentry, drove the
same blue Chev, had dogs named “Toy”, chain-smoked the same
brand of cigarettes, had married and divorced a woman named Linda
and remarried a woman named Betty!
AARON STERN
In the 1950’s, Stern designed an experiment to prove that the right
environment could create a genius!
He used his daughter Edith as the subject of his experiment
He played classical music to her, engaged her in mathematics and
showed her flash cards from infancy. By the time she was 5, she was
able to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica … and at the age of
18, she had obtained a PhD at Michigan State University!
____________________________________________________________________________
IN REALITY . . .
All biological and psychological characteristics are constructed during development  when
genes interact with local environmental factors. DNA alone, is simply not sufficient to produce
psychological or biological traits.
Therefore, when it comes to understanding the development of a trait in a particular person,
nature can never be separated from nurture.
"Genes are devices for extracting information from the environment. Every minute, every
second, the pattern of genes being expressed in your brain changes, often in direct or indirect
response to events outside the body. Genes are the mechanisms of experience.“ Matt Ridley
Environment
YOU
Heredity