Human Nature: My favorite class

One of the psychology classes taught by Professor Charles Morris is "Human Nature." There are 80 students and Life Long Learners in the class. Within the first two days of our voyage, Dr. Morris had memorized all of his students’ names, including those in his smaller classrooms. This is my favorite class.

Among the subjects he has covered are:

Strengthening Memory

This can be achieved by:

• Engaging in physical exercise to increase one’s heartbeat and take in more oxygen,
• Reviewing and reflecting by keeping a diary, looking at photos, discussing the joy and richness in life, writing down daily three things for which you are grateful, focusing on the future,
• Not blocking the past, instead retrieving it by seeing. 
• Making lists, picking places to put things, using cues and peg words,
• Respecting your limitations, eliminating distractions,
• Doing one thing at a time – No multitasking,
• Avoiding high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes.

Evolution and Its Impact on Behavior

Life on Earth began 4 billion years ago, apes appeared 35 million years ago, Homo sapiens mated with Neanderthals. Man began to live in communities 600,000 years ago at which time our brains got a push, males and females share 45 of 46 chromosomes, “y” chromosomes make us males, raging testosterone levels result in violent behavior (most murders in the world are committed by men who are 15 to 35-year-olds).

Gender Neutrality

Female fetuses are a result of two “x” chromosomes, males carry “x” and “y". During conception all brains are female, and the brain becomes masculine close to birth with release of testosterone. Gender neutrality cannot be achieved by surgically removing a man's genitals, as was falsely claimed by psychologist John Money who ran sex realignment clinics at Johns Hopkins in the 1980s.

Parental Investment Theory

When choosing a mate, male gorillas are not picky, according to researcher Robert Trives. They have minimal investment in a relationship. Female gorillas, on the other hand, knowing a sexual encounter could produce an offspring, look for a resourceful, mature and peaceful mate. Same theory holds true for human beings. Men put a lot of emphasis on youth and attractiveness. Women want men who are financially secure, somewhat older, willing to commit to a relationship and willing to invest in children.

Homomysteria

Recent research reviewed by author David Barash shows that genes and hormones determine whether a child will be homosexual or heterosexual. Researcher Alfred Kinsey claimed that very few people are strictly homosexual or heterosexual. In fact, effeminate men make better husbands and fathers. Barash, in researching hundreds of cases, found that 3-5 per cent of American males are gay (very few are bisexual), 1-2 percent of females are lesbian and that there are more bisexual lesbians. Women's preferences may change over the years while gay men always stay gay. 

Genes play a big role, but hormones in the mother's womb released during gestation are also determinant factors. If a male has a gay brother, his likelihood of being gay is 22 percent, the brother of a straight male has a 4 percent likelihood of being gay. Identical twins born into a family with a gay member have a 52 percent odds of other twin being gay. The likelihood of a younger brother being gay increases if there are several older brothers in the family. Nurture after birth only has a minor effect. 

The television show "60 Minutes" did an in-depth study of identical twins, including that of 7-year-old boys whose interests and behavior were opposite. One collected GI Joes, toy trucks and guns, the other one played with Barbie dolls and preferred frilly, pink drapes in his room. Luckily, their parents accepted the way they are, which resulted in well-adjusted boys with different sexual identities.

Human Intelligence: Nature or Nurture

Contrary to America's Bill of Rights, all people are not created equal. IQ makes a big difference in how people handle problems and special situations. Our general intelligence, measured in primary school, is predominantly a hereditary factor. Those with 115 or higher IQs make up 13.6 percent of our population. One's IQ can be somewhat improved by the environment. Tom Bouckard has proven this theory by studying identical twins separated at birth. They become more alike as they get older, and the influence of environment on intelligence decreases as the years go by.