PSYC 1211 Assignment 2: Evolution, Genes, Environment, Development

This assignment explores the multifaceted relationship between evolution, genes, environment, and development, touching on various psychological concepts. Part A delves into the evolutionary psychology of morality, utilizing animal examples to illuminate human behavior. Part B examines the nature-nurture debate in personality psychology, including twin studies and the importance of self-awareness. Part C analyzes the development of video games and their impact on game development. Part D addresses generational influences on development, focusing on sex education and its impact on adolescents and adults. The assignment also explores concepts of displacement and belonging, offering insights into the complexities of human experience. The assignment references several key articles and studies to support the claims made.

Running Head: EVOLUTION, GENES, ENVIRONMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT 1
Assignment 2: Evolution, Genes, Environment, and Development
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EVOLUTION, GENES, ENVIRONMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT 2
Evolution, Genes, Environment, and Development
Part A: Evolutionary Psychology of Morality
de Waal uses non-human animal as examples to help readers understand the evolution of
human morality. The examples are crucial as they help one understand morality in a clearer
manner than they would when human examples would be used. Empathy has an evolutionary
benefit as it helps one put themselves in the position of others which is the main reason n it
evolved.
Part B: Heritability and Personality
The nature-nurture debate is related to personality psychology as it entails the extent to
which specific aspects of an individual’s behavior are a product of either genetic or learned
influences (Turkheimer, 2018). Nature is the influence of biological factors such as genetic
inheritance while nurture on the other hand is the influence of external factors after birth such as
life experiences and exposure on an individual (Turkheimer, 2018). Consequently, the nature-
nurture debate applies to the field of psychology since it is explains the contribution that the two
influences have on human behavior.
Twin studies on the other hand are used to explain the role of genetics in personality
psychology. Studies that have been conducted on twins that are separated after birth show that
genetics contribute significantly to personality development (Polderman et al., 2015). Twin
studies also show that the environment does not have a significant impact on the personality of
twins who are raised together as compared to those who are raised apart.
According to the website, developing ones self-awareness is very important as it helps
individuals understand themselves better. In addition, self-awareness helps one learn what they
are capable of as well. People should work on their self-awareness as it does not only help one

EVOLUTION, GENES, ENVIRONMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT 3
feel confident and aware of themselves but also helps individuals learn more about their
preferences, beliefs, values, and tendencies. Becoming self-aware of oneself also helps one
understand their strengths and limitations.
There are different ways that people would implement in a bid to become self-aware.
One of these ways is by assessing one’s self-talk. According to the website, the first step to
becoming self-aware is by listening to oneself. This helps one sought out their positive and
negative thoughts. To achieve this, one should take a few minutes of their day and sit to listen to
their thoughts. The second way of becoming self-aware is by using one’s senses which helps one
become aware of their insights and those of others. Tuning into ones feelings is the third way of
earning to be self-aware.
Part C: Evaluating Children’s Toys
In the article ‘Beyond Programming: The Power of Making Games,’ Lisa Castaneda and
Sidhu, discuss various concepts entailing video game development and the way it has changed
the programming world. In their article, Lisa and Sidhu correctly point out the broader
perspective that is given to students pursuing game development with precise adherence to the
basic ideas that they hold before getting to understand this better. The article focuses on the art
and creative expression values of video game development and consequently engages the
exploration of some of the programs that have been associated with game development. Some of
the most critical ideas in the content they deliver in the article are the design and development
profession of video games. They also disclose about a survey they engaged in. Specifically, their
engagement in the research on this topic is bound to expound the area of gaming and to do so,
and they discuss the differences or the developments that have been updated from the old
programming which according to them was understandable.

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Their ideas are clear on game development and on the same, they discuss the art of
bending perceptions and understanding them as the perfect game development skill. They also
talk about opportunities and the value of game development in relation to academic aspects
(Castaneda & Manrita, paragraph 4). According to their thesis, they hope to help teachers and
tutors of game construction by showing the significance and a more comprehensive view of
game development. They seek to engage them as professionals and also help them to provide the
best ideas for the upcoming young game makers. From my perspective, the author finds it of
significance to discuss this topic due to various points. The first one is to help the tutors and
teachers of video game development of what exactly they should do for their students to
understand. Secondly, they want to explain the value of game development as it is related to the
aspects of academic benefits.
Part D: Generational Influences on Development
According to Dosler, it is every parent’s desire to see their children grow up happy,
emotionally, socially stable and also to have a healthy life. One of the effects of “off-time”
events on adult development that parents face when raising children is ensuring that they have a
sexually healthy life as well. This is because this parental responsibility is not often openly
talked about. As a result, parents who do not have an open discussion regarding this fail to give
their children expert sex education and guidance. According to the article, effects of “off-time”
events on adult development more so for adults who are sexually healthy begin this journey as
children. The study conducted in the article showed that children who have family members that
understand the importance of sex education grow to be sexually healthy adults.
Despite the fact that this article mentions on the positive effects of “off-time” events on
adult development that sex education provided to children has in their adult life, the author fails

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to reflect on the challenges of the same. Besides, the author in the article acknowledges the fact
that sex education is a topic that is often overlooked and not talked about. However he fails to
talk about some of the strategies that should be used in order to promote sex education among
children. Consequently, there is need for further research to be conducted on strategies that need
to be implemented to promote sex education among children.
Based on the article, there are a several controversies that affect the issue of sex
education among children which is also an effects of “off-time” events on adult development.
The authors of the article claim that these factors that plague sex education are as a result of the
fact that some people believes that sex education among children has negative effects on their
adulthood. These anxieties among individuals regarding sex education for children mainly stem
from cultural discourses that see sexuality as irrelevant and inappropriate. Some individuals in
the society view sexuality as risky for children in their adulthood. The study conducted in the
article show that sex education is compromised among children.
The fact that the authors clearly show the negative effects of sex education to children in
their adulthood they also acknowledge the fact that there are positive effects on the same.
However, they fail to discuss the positive effects of the same. As a result research should be
conducted on the positive effects of sex education on children in their adulthood. Besides,
research should also be conducted to show how the challenges should be mitigated.
The authors of the article discusses the sexual behaviors of adolescents and how they are
influenced by sex education accorded to them at their childhood. As per the article, sex education
among children and adolescents was implemented in order to reduce cases of HIV, STYIs as
well as unplanned pregnancies. In the article, a study was conducted and face-to-face interviews
were also conducted to ascertain the effects of sex education on adolescents. Most adolescents

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affirmed that they enjoyed participating in sex education as it helped them gain self-confidence
in themselves.
The study in the article was successful since it answered the research questions.
However, interviews were conducted on adolescents which brings forth the need for further
research to be conducted with participants being adults who were exposed to sex education in
their childhood. In regard to the effects of “off-time” events on adult development, Bolu-steve &
Esere in the article assess the strategies that should be used in order to manage deviant sexual
behaviors among adolescents as well as in young adults. Among these strategies, sex education
among children was identified as an effective strategy of curbing these behavior. The study
conducted utilized a descriptive survey and school counsellors as participants. Based on the
results of the study, it is evident that students who were exposed to sex education in their
childhood tend to be well behaved in their adulthood as compared to those who have never been
exposed to the same. The article was effective as it directly addressed the issue of the effects of
sex education on children in their adulthood. However, instead of using school counselors as
participants, adults with the direct experience in the research topic should be used.
Experiences of displacement and belonging are almost familiar to everyone and the few
who are presumed to have not experienced it since they have not yet been able to realize it. On a
personal level, it is convincing that deep down in everyone’s heart, there is that version of
revelation that tells how it feels to be displaced or belonging somewhere. Displacement for this
matter can be sensed in exceptional cases of people not feeling okay with them. The fact that
there is something that people see as the obstacle to be at ease with their hearts is a significant
factor to show that displacement can occur even to the extent of between oneself (Rozmarin,
2017). Movement is, therefore, an explanation of the circular models through which people

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remind themselves of the renewability, linearity and also the sustainability of their hearts
regarding existence.
Progress concerning linearity is the dominant culture that people focus on when it comes
to the pace of belonging somewhere, even to the extent of been determined by the peace in their
heart (May 408). An explanation to these stories shows that there is a migrants literature which
in my case explains the feelings that are shown to be of interest or else helpful to all migrants
and their journey of migration suffering (Kuusisto-Arponen, 2014). What this demonstrates is
that migrants go through a lot of difficulties since they are those people who leave their homes
and every other cultural setting that they belong to and from that time rely on their experiences
and suffering to set up a new staring of life in another different cultural context. What is correct
about the skills as a migrant is that there is a strange start since everything is different from what
they are used to in their old life.

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References
Bolu-steve, F. N., & Esere, M. O. (2017). Strategies for managing deviant behaviour among in-
school adolescents as expressed by secondary school counsellors in Kwara State,
Nigeria. Inkanyiso: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 9(1), 87-98.
Castaneda, Lisa, and Manrita Sidhu. "Beyond Programming: The Power of Making
Games." THE Journal (Technological Horizons In Education), February (2015).
Došler, A. J. (2015). Raising Children for a Healthy Sexual Relationship in Adulthood. Sexology
in Midwifery, 21.
Kuusisto-Arponen, A. K. (2014). Silence, childhood displacement and spatial belonging.
Polderman, T. J., Benyamin, B., De Leeuw, C. A., Sullivan, P. F., Van Bochoven, A., Visscher,
P. M., & Posthuma, D. (2015). Meta-analysis of the heritability of human traits based on
fifty years of twin studies. Nature genetics, 47(7), 702.
Rozmarin, E. (2017). Immigration, belonging, and the tension between center and margin in
psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 27(4), 470-479.
Turkheimer, E. (2018). The Nature-Nurture Question. General Psychology FA18, 50.