Download Humans: Nature and Nuture

Humans: Nature and Nuture
Genes and Gender Roles:
Why is the nature argument so appealing?
Precilla Y.L. Choy
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and gender roles: Why is the nature argument so appealing?. Psychology,
Evolution, & Gender, 3, 279-285.
Summary by:
Lindsay Chisam, Griffin Gosnell, and Erin Morrissey
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and
gender roles. Psychology,
Video Clip
• Nature verses Nurture
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and gender roles. Psychology, Evolution, & Gender.
Introduction
Opinions of Precilla Choi
• Small differences in behaviors between
men and women
• Nature versus nurture debate
• Specifically, women are more skilled at
social interaction than men
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and gender roles. Psychology, Evolution, & Gender.
A study of Turner’s Syndrome
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You all remember, right?!
Only one chromosome - which one?
Child develops into a female
Study:
 To determine whether differences would be obvious between TS
individuals depending on whether their X chromosome was
maternally or paternally derived
• Findings:
 Paternally derived X chromosome yielded lower social-cognitive
dysfunction than those that were maternally derived
 Normal boys also scored lower on social-cognitive dysfunction
than normal girls.
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and gender roles. Psychology, Evolution, & Gender.
Turner’s Syndrome (continued)
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Explanations:
 Boys are less socially skilled and more vulnerable to developmental
disorders
Conclusions of Skuse et al. (1997):
 Evidence that the origin of the X chromosome (either maternal or
paternal) plays a role in the development of sexual dimorphism in social
behavior
Image from:
McGuffin, P. & Scourfield, J. (1997).
Human genetics: A father's imprint on his
daughter's thinking. Nature, 387, 652-653..
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and gender roles. Psychology, Evolution, & Gender.
Conclusions of Choi
• Gene expression depends on internal and
external factors
• Society’s responsibility to establish an
equal foundation where biology and
genetics are balanced when comparing
sexes
• The genetic makeup of chromosomes
highly influences your social abilities
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and gender roles. Psychology, Evolution, & Gender.
Test Questions
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1. What determines sex differences?
 A. Nature
 B. Biology
 C. Nurture
 D. Both A & C
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2. Turner’s Syndrome is a genetic condition in with the individual has
 A. no gonads
 B. no ovaries
 C. two sex chromosomes, one inherited from each parent.
 D. none of the above
•
3. Who is the least socially competent?
 A. Turner’s Syndrome, maternally derived X chromosome
 B. Turner’s Syndrome, paternally derived X chromosome
 C. Normal girls
 D. Normal boys
True or false?
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4. Boys are more vulnerable to developmental disorders.
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5. Men are more skilled at social interaction than women.
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6. Gene expression changes depend upon both the internal and external environments.
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and gender roles. Psychology, Evolution, & Gender.
Critical Review
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Interesting points:

Male gene is responsible for social cognizance in Turner’s Syndrome.
 This is genetically derived!
 Those with Turner Syndrome are even more social than most females!
 For an equal society, it is necessary to see how nature and nurture intermingle
and how they relate to sex differences
Unclear points:
 Why she talks about developmental disorders (e.g. autism) with no background
information
 The kind of questionnaire distributed was not discussed
 She doesn’t take evolutionary changes into consideration when talking about
how males will always be stronger than females
Choi, P.Y. (2001). Genes and gender roles. Psychology, Evolution, & Gender.