CCCCD: Associate Professor Wade Baggette

Fall 2007 Psyc 2301 TTh 2:30 to 3:45 pm

I greatly encourage my students to explore these links to enrich their learning experience.  The links below may help clarify material covered in the book, mentioned in class, or both.

Chapter Three Information and Links

The following topics from Chapter Three are important and exam-worthy:

• Basic human genetics: number of chromosomes in a somatic cell (46); number of chromosomes in a germ cell (23); what a germ cell is (sperm or egg); chromosomal basis of sex (X and Y chromosomes); basic structure of DNA, errors in replication, and what a “point mutation” is; diseases that result from point mutations; basis of Downs Syndrome
• Prenatal effect of a Y chromosome; how testosterone affects a embryo during pregnancy; male brain asymmetry & visual spatial processing; female brain symmetry and verbal processing.
• The effect of enriched environments on the neocortex of rats (Book: Enriching Heredity by Marian Diamond)
• Evolutionary Psychology: Brain Development and Ballistic Movement
  Movie: Wargames
• Twin studies and the effects of home environment; background on twin studies; advantages and strengths of adoptive parents (why?)
• E O Wilson and the basic precepts of Sociobiology; Stepfathers v. Natural Fathers
• Cultural differences involving personal space and various cultures (by continent); other related cultural issues; the basic ideas of Edward T Hall (from lecture) and what the practical applications of Hall’s work has been (State Department)
• Personality changes in adult men and women as they age (gender differences associated with aging)
• Be able to discuss the nature / nurture controversy

• All material in the chapter is available for testing, but these topics are emphasized

Chapter Three Links

• Epistemology

Genetic Diseases resulting from point mutations

• Tay Sachs Disease
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Sickle Cell Disease

Chromosomes and Development

• Downs Syndrome
• Chromosomal Basic of Sex (see, also)
• Effects of Testosterone on the brain of a fetus
• Brain Asymmetry and Visual Spatial Processing in Human Males
• Brain Symmetry and Verbal Processing in Females

Herdity (Nature)

• Evolutionary Psychology
• Brain Development and Ballistic Movement
• A Dietary Argument for Brain Evoloution

Environment (Nuture)

• Enriching Heredity (Marian Diamond); more generally

Culture

• Edward T Hall  (More Generally)
• The Silent Language (Review);  The Silent Language (Amazon);
• The Hidden Dimension

Most Recent Site Update: 09/14/2007