Introduction

Welcome to the first article in FiveHive’s comprehensive AP Psychology review. We understand that AP Psych has a lot of content to learn, and we’re here to help. Remember, YOU are capable of getting a 5 on this test!

We’re going to be breaking everything down as simply as possible and include lots of images and diagrams to enhance your understanding. At the end of each article, there will be a practice section with answer explanations. We may go a bit more in-depth than what you actually need to know, but it’s important to understand the core concepts behind everything.

This article covers AP Psychology Topics 1.1 and 1.2, which cover the relationship between heredity and the environment in shaping behavior and mental processes, the argument of nature vs. nurture, and a brief overview of the nervous system. Without further ado, let’s get into it! 

Nature

Heredity, or “nature,” refers to the genetic or predisposed characteristics that influence physical, behavioral, and mental traits and processes. An example of this is a child inheriting their hair color from their parents. 

Nurture

Environmental factors, or “nurture,” refers to the external factors that one experiences, such as family interactions or education. An example of this would be learned aggression. If a toddler repeatedly watches older kids solve playground disputes by hitting, they are more likely to learn and repeat that same aggressive behavior themselves.

The Evolutionary Perspective

The Evolutionary Perspective explores how natural selection affects the expression of behavior and mental processes. The goal of the theory of evolution is to increase survival and reproductive success (aka fitness).

Some theorists have sought to apply principles of the evolutionary perspective in ways that discriminate against others (eugenics). The Holocaust is one of the most extreme examples of eugenics in human history.

Studies on Heredity

Research on the effects of genes on individual behavior and mental processes is often conducted using twin studies, family studies, and adoption studies.

Family studies study siblings, half-siblings, and parents to study how traits are expressed within families. Note that these studies cannot fully untangle shared environment from genetics. 

Adoption studies compare adopted children to their biological and adoptive parents. Similarities to biological parents suggest genetic influences, while similarities to adoptive parents suggest environmental influence. 

Overview of the Nervous System 

The nervous system is the body’s primary communication and control network, in charge of managing everything from conscious movement and thought to automatic functions. There are two main divisions of the nervous system: the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system (CNS). We’ll be covering the peripheral nervous system in this section, while the central nervous system is in the next topic. 

The Peripheral Nervous System 

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) relays messages from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the rest of the body using nerves. The PNS is divided into two parts: the autonomic and somatic nervous systems. 

The autonomic nervous system governs processes that are involuntary. An example of a function this system would handle is breathing. It is further divided into two further systems: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. A good analogy that can be used to remember the difference are the terms “fight or flight” and “rest and digest.” The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for the fight or flight response, which increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate, and lowers digestion rate. The parasympathetic nervous system relaxes the body afterwards, decreasing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, relaxing the muscles, and increasing digestion rate (gastrointestinal system activity). 

The somatic nervous system governs processes that are voluntary, such as skeletal muscle movements. This system allows you to walk, talk, dance, and play! 

Conclusion

Both hereditary and environmental factors play a part in a person’s behavior and mental processes. Rather than working separately, nature and nurture interact continuously, shaping who we are over time. 

The nervous system acts as the body’s communication network, allowing us to respond to internal and external stimuli. The peripheral nervous system, through its somatic and autonomic divisions, ensures that voluntary actions and involuntary processes are carried out efficiently. Understanding these foundations is essential for exploring more complex psychological concepts later in the course.

Practice Questions