Compare and contrast of psychological models.
Evolutionary Psychology uses natural selection to explain how certain traits are perpetuated because the carriers of such manage to survive long enough to reproduce and pass along their genes. When it comes to mating, this view of human development suggests that males are drawn to females that appear to be more youthful, attractive and fertile. Females on the other hand, who also desire an attractive mate, seem to gravitate towards a more stable, mature male. This will provide the positive foundation needed for the growth of her offspring. Whether consciously or unconsciously, the male desires a physically fit female to bear offspring and further his genes. .
In Behavioral Genetics, it is asked how much our behavior depends on our genetic make-up or how much is affected by our environment; as well as our differences and similarities to each other.
In this view, much information has been gained by way of twin and adoption studies. In the case of identical twins, it has been discovered that those who were raised in different homes and family situations had similar, and in some instances, identical personality traits. With fraternal twins, even when reared in the same household, it was observed that they tended to be no more alike than siblings of different ages. In adoption, it was discovered that like in biological families, there are often several diverse personalities. The temperament of these children may be quite different from their adoptive parents, but they more than likely take on the values and beliefs of the home environment in which they are raised.
Environmental Influences include prenatal, early childhood, peer group interactions, and culture.
In the case of prenatal, drawing again from the many studies of twins, we see that most of the time identical twins will share the same placenta. About a third of the time, they do not.
