What shapes human behavior

Biology, Physics, Chemistry. 23/09/10

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This is a conversation with Robert Plomin. He is a Professor in Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. Here we talk about nature-nurture debate, Twin and adoption studies, role of genetics and environment in shaping human behavior, and importance of chance in the life.

About the guest

  • 00:00:00 Introduction

  • 00:01:21 Bringing psychology and genetics together

  • 00:06:07 Early work on behavioral genetics

  • 00:14:00 Meaning of individual genetic differences

  • 00:15:59 Nature-nurture debate

  • 00:19:51 Inherited differences

  • 00:22:22 Heritable behavioral traits

  • 00:28:52 Non coding DNA and genetic differences

  • 00:40:00 What does genetic differences mean?

  • 00:43:40 Twin and adoption studies

  • 00:45:35 Twin Early Development Studies (TEDS)

  • 00:51:47 Environmental effects on behavior

  • 00:59:20 Non shared environment and epigenetics

  • 01:04:10 Environmental changes at molecular level

  • 01:06:47 Importance of chance/randomness

  • 01:09:10 Genetics, chance and cognition

  • 01:13:00 Luck at the genetics and social level

  • 01:15:22 Average increase in life expectancy and IQ

  • 01:17:27 View of nature of nurture for the society

  • 01:23:25 Improving our educational and social system

  • 01:28:31 Politics and science

  • 01:36:57 Thank you!

Timestamps