"Cat's In The Cradle"

1. "Cat's In The Cradle" “My child arrived just the other day He came to the world in the usual way But there were planes to catch and bills to pay He learned to walk while I was away And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew He'd say "I'm gonna be like you, Dad You know I'm gonna be like you” “

2. “I've long since retired, my son's moved away I called him up just the other day I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind” He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad It's been sure nice talking to you” And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me He'd grown up just like me My boy was just like me”

3. Many Children like their Parents • Father/Son in Criminal Trouble in Merced • A northern Indiana coroner was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated soon after state troopers had also arrested his son for possible drunken driving. • Essex County Jury Convicts Father And Son For Larceny

4. Like father, like daughter: Elizabeth Harman joins father Gil on the philosophy faculty

5. Like father like daughter, part 2

6. Like father, like sons

7. Three Generations

8. John & Ravi Coltrane

9. Why are children often like parents?

10. Usual Explanation: Nurture “There is a domino effect in a family like ours.  What you’re raised with, you grow to become.  You don’t escape.” -Tracey Bogle,serving a 15-year sentence for kidnapping, rape, assault, robbery and burglary. 

11. Nature vs Nurture Debate • Parents also pass on genes to children • What is the relative importance of genes vs. upbringing in behavior?

12. Behavioral Genetics Method that allows us to separate genetic vs. environmental influences on a particular behavioral trait

13. Genotype and Phenotype • Genotype: an organism’s genetic makeup; never changes • Phenotype: an organism’s observable physical characteristics or behavioral traits; always changing • Genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) both influence phenotype

14. Behavioral Trait Stable property of a person that can be measured by standard psychological tests • IQ • Aggression • Graduation Rate • Criminal Convictions • Happiness • Extroversion

15. Turkheimer Talk: Sept 25 3:30-5:00

16. Turkheimer’s 3 Laws of Behavior Genetics • First Law. All human behavioral traits are heritable. • Second Law. The effect of being raised in the same family is smaller than the effect of genes. • Third Law. A substantial portion of the variation in complex human behavioral traits is not accounted for by the effects of genes or families.

17. Phenotype: 50% Heredity + 50% Environment

18. First Law All human behavioral traits are heritable.

19. Basic Twin Studies Design • Compare similarities between MZ (identical) and DZ (fraternal) twins • Same environment; different genetics • Greater similarity of MZ twins is likely due to genetic influence

22. MZ twins more alike

23. MZ more alike than DZ Twins in all Traits

24. Second Law The effect of being raised in the same family is smaller than the effect of genes.

25. MZ Twins Raised Apart • Does being raised in different environments , by different parents make them more different than MZ twins raised together?

26. “Jim” Twins

27. Jim Lewis and Jim Springer grew up in different families in different states Both had childhood dogs named Toy. Both had been nail biters and fretful sleepers. Both had migraines. Both had married first wives names Linda, second wives named Betty; Lewis named his first son James Allen, Springer named his James Alan. For years, they both had taken holidays on the same Florida beach. They both drank Miller Lite, smoked Salem cigarettes, loved stock car racing, disliked baseball, left regular love notes to their wives, made doll furniture in their basements, and had added circular white benches around the trees in their backyards. Their IQs, habits, facial expressions, brain waves, heartbeats, and handwriting were nearly identical. The Jim twins lived apart but died on the same day, from the same illness."

28. Effect of Genes Larger than Family

29. Adoption Studies • Robert Plomin: Colorado Adoption Project • Plomin followed 245 pregnant women who planned to give up children for adoption. • Control group of 245 parents and biological children

30. Results • children resemble biological, but not adopted parents • Adopted children no more similar to adopted parents than to any two adults taken at random off the street.

31. Low Parent-Adoptive Child Correlations

32. Third Law A substantial portion of the variation in complex human behavioral traits is not accounted for by the effects of genes or families

33. Phenotype: 50% Heredity + 50% Environment

34. What is the environment ? • Assumption that it was Parents and shared home environment • BUT, hard to find differential effects • No consistent effects of parenting style • Children who spend two hours a day with parents no different than children who spend eight hours a day with parents

35. Non-Shared Environment is what matters

37. Summary • Genes make siblings similar • Non-shared environment makes siblings different: • Birth order • Peers • Unique experiences- accidents, illness

38. Gene/Environment Interactions Caspi, et al ( 2002)

39. Caspi Study: Gene/Environment Interaction • Methods: Collected info about more than 1,000 New Zealanders from birth until adulthood • Measured: • Mistreatment by parents • Type of MAO gene • Criminal record at age 26

40. Results

41. Gene- Environment Interaction • MAO Gene: predisposition to anti-social behavior as adult • Early Life Mistreatment: predisposition to anti-social behavior as adult • Both together: development of anti-social behavior

42. Neurons Neurons send, receive and process electrical and chemical signals

43. Neurons Are Specialized for Communication • Four basic phases: • Reception: Chemical signals are received from neighboring neurons (Dendrites) • Integration: Incoming signals are assessed (Cell Body) • Transmission: Electrical signals conducted to end of neuron (Axon) • Output: Chemical message sent to other neurons (Terminal Button)