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GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES |
Why are people different? Why are some people shy, whereas others have
"never met a stranger?" Why do some children learn to read more
quickly than others? Why do some people struggle with depression? Two
major categories have been identified as answers to these questions: "nature"
and "nurture." But, what does it mean to say that a characteristic
is heritable? How do we understand what it is about the environment that
is fundamentally important? How do the influences of genes and environment
combine to produce behaviors as complex as personality, intelligence,
or pathology? The purpose of this seminar is to examine the types of questions
that can and cannot be asked, to understand the methods used in behavioral
genetic research, and to discuss the implications of the findings in the
literature.
Click here to see images of the seminar.
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Cindy Bergeman is an associate professor of psychology and the associate dean of research in the College of Arts and Letters. Bergeman is a developmental psychologist, with a focus on behavioral genetics and gerontology. Her program of research centers on the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to individual differences in the aging process, with the ultimate goal of disentangling the complex interactions that contribute to more optimal outcomes in later life. An ongoing longitudinal family study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is used to assess the antecedents and sequelae of resiliency. Her work in this area was summarized in a 1997 book, Aging: Genetic and Environmental Influences.
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