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Author Topic:   Sexual Selection, Stasis, Runaway Selection, Dimorphism, & Human Evolution
Percy
Member
Posts: 22394
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 109 of 131 (739713)
10-27-2014 9:08 AM
Reply to: Message 108 by Jon
10-27-2014 8:30 AM


Re: beauty standards
Jon writes:
If a newborn from parents obsessed with their physical appearance is traded with a newborn from parents that doesn't care one hoot what they look like, do you think that the newborns will grow up to care about their appearance only and exactly as much as their biological parents?
There can be little doubt that personality traits have a heritable component. We could look into the scientific evidence, my guess is that it would be sparse, but for a dramatic real-world example listen to the Switched at Birth episode of This American Life.
--Percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 108 by Jon, posted 10-27-2014 8:30 AM Jon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 113 by Jon, posted 10-27-2014 7:27 PM Percy has replied

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 22394
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


(1)
Message 115 of 131 (739813)
10-28-2014 6:47 AM
Reply to: Message 113 by Jon
10-27-2014 7:27 PM


Re: beauty standards
Jon writes:
The things discussed in that program were pretty vague,...
Well first, thanks for listening to the program, I didn't expect that. It involved an investment of 15 minutes of your time. This American Life isn't everyone's cup of tea, I hope you enjoyed it.
But second, the program wasn't at all vague when it described how the personalities displayed by the switched babies were at distinct odds with the other children of the respective families. While not scientific, it's a clear real-world example of personality traits having a heritable component.
Breast implants are pretty extreme. I don't think a general desire to attract a mate fully accounts for such drastic behaviors.
Of course genetics doesn't "fully account for" personality or behavior. The point is that personality has a heritable component, not that personality is "fully accounted for" by genetics. Your own personal experience should also tell you this is true.
--Percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 113 by Jon, posted 10-27-2014 7:27 PM Jon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 117 by Jon, posted 10-28-2014 2:27 PM Percy has replied

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 22394
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 121 of 131 (739889)
10-28-2014 8:11 PM
Reply to: Message 117 by Jon
10-28-2014 2:27 PM


Re: beauty standards
It sounds like you had a different take on the show than I did. No big deal.
--Percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 117 by Jon, posted 10-28-2014 2:27 PM Jon has not replied

  
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