Outline for Scot Stephenson’s part of presentation on gender differences in Developmental Psychology.

Why should biology have any effect on an organism’s behavior?

I – Evolutionary biology in a nutshell
Genes that give an organism physical or behavioral characteristics that improve that organism’s chances of surviving and creating offspring which in turn survive and create further offspring will have greater success than genes which do not.

Gene disclaimer.

II – Comparison of various species amount of information in DNA and brain potential.

III - Critical concepts
- Parental investment – different for male/female
- Characteristics of humans
- Human male parental investment high
- Humans depend on culture, not instinct
- Emotions used to influence behavior

IV – Quantifiable differences in male/female brains and hormones

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