Nature versus Nurture - Period 1

Human traits show considerable individual differences, which are due to differences in the individual's genes and/or the environment. In the Nature vs. Nurture course the influence of genes and the environment on human behavior will be discussed. Empirical evidence based on experiments with human subjects will guide these discussions. During the course many important topics from modern day society will be discussed, such as the influence of violent gaming on juvenile behavior, the role of parents in personality development of children, and the causes of mental disorders. The genetic information contained in our DNA, represents the nature component that influences human behavior. An important aspect of the course is to show how research on genetic information is conducted. Students are introduced to various molecular biological techniques used to studie the genome, such as DNA collection, isolation, and genotyping, and (statistical) methods to link variation in DNA to variation in behavior. The ultimate goal of this course is to understand the 'nature' and 'nurture' causes of individual differences in human cognitive and social behavior, and to be able to critically evaluate the nature-nurture debate.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.