Salvador Gutierrez P7 Oct. 18-22

This week in AP Psychology: I learned about how genetics influence who you are.  That genes determine most things about you.  There are numerous methods to study this.  There is the adoption studies, where adopted children compare themselves to their biological dad and to their other dad (the one who raised them).  Twin studies is to compare fraternal twins to identical twins.  Twin-adoption studies is to compare twins (fraternal and identical) who were separated at birth to those twins that were raised together.  Gene-by-environment studies is to study whether genetic differences mix with the environment to make certain behaviors in some but not others.  I believe that this is true, that genes are the primary factor in making you who you are.  Because I see similarities between me and my parents, grandparents, and other family members instead of seeing similarities between me and the environment.  Some argue that you are similar your parents and other family member because they taught you to be like that, but I believe that I inherited their traits and looks genetically.  It has been proven.  Identical twins who were separated at birth were almost completely similar in every way, even though they grew up in different environments.  Many argue that the environment influences you, but I think you influence the environment.  For example, I was born intelligent, so my parents encouraged me to do good in school.  They did not encourage me to do good in school, and so then I became intelligent.  They encouraged me because I was already intelligent.  In conclusion, genetics determine who you are and influences the environment.