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What part of your personality has helped you to survive? “Survival of the Fittest” Personality Development – Trait Theory PS 330 Kevin Wickes (Unit 6 Seminar) Overview – Trait Theory • Influences of evolution and natural selection on personality traits. – What emotional responses and social behaviors are derived from natural selection? – How do these factors affect individual personality? – Do you think that there are gender differences in personality traits? Why or why not? – How might natural selection account for these gender differences? What is Evolution Evolution is the theory that modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms. Darwin is the man who came up with the Theory of Evolution. In 1831 he went to different remote islands. The trip lasted for 5 years. 30 years later he actually published a book on his theory of Natural Selection. How many species have already died out? QUESTION What personality/attribute/character is extinct? ö Fitness- the combination of physical traits and behavior is what helps organisms survive and reproduce in their environment. ö Common descent- if you look back far enough in time all species have shared or have common ancestors. More Definitions • Adaptation-successful adaptations enable organisms to become better suited to their environment. • James Hulton- In 1788 he proposed that rocks, mountains, & valleys had been changed gradually by rain, heat & cold. • Fossils-preserved remains of ancient organisms. Artificial Selection The intervention of humans ensures that only individuals with the more desirable traits produce offspring. What personality produces offspring? Darwin's theory of Evolution – What emotional responses and social behaviors are derived from natural selection? Evolution by Natural selection Wild animals show similar tendencies like what domestic animals have. Deer- competition amongst males to be a suitor. Taller plants will receive sunshine. Plants that root deeply will get water. Animals competition for food- bird nests What personalities follow the similar path? How do these factors affect individual personality? DISCUSSION Survival of The Fittest Individuals whose characteristics are well suited to their environment survive. Individuals whose characteristics are not well suited to their environment either die or leave fewer offspring. Rattlesnakes with no rattles Genetics of Evolutionary Theory Darwin did not understand how traits were passed on to each generation. Today we define fitness, adaptation, species, and process of evolutionary change in genetic terms. Genetics continued… No organism can change its DNA, because it wants to. Some physical traits passed on by DNA are: widows peak tongue shape first finger ear Whole Organism In evolution the struggle for existence depends on the entire organism not individual genes. Brown eyes for example may or may not secure existence of organism- Entire combination Male & Female, Masculine & Feminine definitions of terms: • Sex: biological maleness and femaleness. – Genetic (chromosomes), anatomical (organs, structures). • Gender: psychological, sociological, and cultural characteristics associated with sex. – Learned, not born. – “feminine,” “masculine” • Gender identity: each individual’s subjective sense of being male or female • Gender role: attitudes & behaviors considered appropriate for people of a particular sex. – Culturally specific; not fixed. Population Populations- a collection of individuals of the same species in a given area whose members can breed with one another. Example: all fishes of a certain species in a single pond can be one population. Individuals in another pond would be a different population. How do we learn gender roles? • Socialization: the process by which our society conveys behavioral expectations to the individual. • Five agents of socialization – parental expectations – peers influence how child plays – school teachers and textbooks – television and gender-based stereotypes – religious training Parents as shapers of gender roles • Encouragement of gender-typed play activities and household chores. • Modeling gender-typed behaviors. or Parents as shapers of gender roles • Baby girls often receive more attention than baby boys do. • Baby girls often treated as fragile. • Girls may be comforted when they cry; boys may be told that “boys don’t cry.” • Parents are more protective and restrictive of girls; boys receive more freedom. • Boys receive parental encouragement for being assertive and limiting emotional expression; girls are rewarded for positively interacting with others. Gender Differences in Socialization • Gender roles vary by culture but are changing • Many societies still expect traditional roles: – Agenic roles: men are expected to be assertive and have certain skills – Communal roles: women are taught to foster harmonious relationships Androgyny • Androgyny: possession of both masculine and feminine traits – Androgynous people function well in social situations • Sex-typed people: stereotypically masculine or feminine – Females more sensitive to pieces of info – Men consider overall themes Female Sex Roles • New managerial class of women has forced marketers to reexamine strategies • Sporting goods, car accessories, and electronics products targeted to women • Example: Burton’s shoots photos of their female models to make them look strong and empowered Male Sex Roles • Masculinism: study of male image and the complex cultural meanings of masculinity • Three traditional models of masculinity: – Breadwinner – Rebel – Man-of-action hero Male Sex Roles (cont.) • Metrosexual: straight, urban male who exhibits strong interests and knowledge regarding fashion, home design, gourmet cooking, and personal care that run counter to traditional male sex role • Prosumers/urban influentials: educated consumers who are willing and able to focus attention on their personal appearance Do you think that there are gender differences in personality traits? Why or why not? How might natural selection account for these gender differences? DISCUSSION Schools & educational environment • Research suggests that girls and boys receive different treatment in the classroom. – Teachers call on and encourage boys more. – Boys who call out answers w/o being recognized aren’t usually punished, but girls are. – Teachers tolerate bad behavior in elementary school boys more than girls. – Boys are more likely to receive attention, help, and praise from teachers. – Teachers give girls more attention when they act dependently, but give boys more attention for acting independently or assertively. – Girls frequently suffer a loss of confidence in their math and science abilities in middle school years (around adolescence/puberty). Television & gender stereotypes • Men appear as active, intelligent, adventurous, in charge. – More emphasis placed on the character’s abilities. • Women appear as passive, less competent, more domestic. – More emphasis placed on the character’s appearance. • Television industry is gradually improving – Better than it was in the 1950s – Still far from gender-neutral. Organized religion & gender roles • Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions – Emphasis on male supremacy – God presented as male using language as Father, He, or King. – Ex: biblical concept of Eve as created from Adam’s rib shows endorsement that females are secondary to males. • Leadership of most religious organizations in the U.S. is mostly male – No female Protestant clergy until 1970. – No female rabbis until 1972. – Roman Catholic church still does not allow female priests. • There are current movements to change traditional patriarchal nature of organized religion in U.S. – More females becoming religious leaders. – Efforts to reduce sexist language in religious writings (I.e. replace “God the Father” w/“Creator;” replace “mankind” with “humanity;” replace “sons of God” w/”children of God.” Gene Pool Gene Pool-group of genes in that population. Each gene contains a number of alleles. Alleles-certain gene at a given point on a chromosome- for each trait-including for recessive trait. Bla Bla Relative Frequency- the number of times an allele occurs in the gene pool compared with the numbers of times other allele for the same gene occurs. Evolution is any change in the relative frequency of alleles in the gene pool of a population -eyes-still no red or pink? Impact of gender role expectations on our sexuality • Women as undersexed, men as oversexed – Mistaken belief that women don’t want sex or don’t enjoy sex as much as men. • Men as initiators, women as recipients – Idea that men should initiate sex (could be the first time, or even after years together). • Men as “sexperts” – Idea that men know what to do, that they don’t need to ask women, and that women shouldn’t make suggestions. • Women as controllers, men as movers – Especially in adolescent years, women are “supposed” to pay more attention to regulating “how far the guy gets” than to her own sexual enjoyment. • Men as unemotional and strong, women as nurturing and supportive (“men lust, women love”) The process of survival SUMMATION