The first takeaway relates to the tremendous difference between behavioral genetics and evolutionary psychology. In chapter three, Spielman et al. explain that both approaches are built on the premise that human genes’ areas of influence extend beyond traits and include cognitive patterns. However, the field of evolutionary psychology is concerned with the universal patterns and adaptations peculiar to humanity, whereas behavioral genetics explores the emergence of differences at the interpersonal level, including comparative twin research. Distinguishing between diverse scientific fields pertaining to biopsychology is essential to understand multiple approaches to exploring the role of genes versus environments in psychological traits’ expression.
The next point of learning is the unchangeable complexity of the gene-environment interaction problem and the scientific community’s inability to offer one comprehensive model of such interactions. The range of reaction hypothesis explained in chapter three asserts that genes impose limitations on a person’s potential, and the environment defines the degree to which the potential can be achieved.
The gene-environment correlation hypothesis further expands the abovementioned assumption by claiming the relationship between the two variables to be bi-directional. Determining whether one variable outperforms the other in importance would have a tremendous practical significance, including more informed choices related to child adoption.
The final takeaway is that significant changes to a person’s functioning are possible due to neural networks’ wonderful ability to reorganize. The nervous system’s adaptability to changing circumstances or neural plasticity is manifested in diverse ways. The partial restoration of functions lost due to injury, children’s ability to acquire new knowledge or learn more than one language quickly, or other examples suggest that neuroplasticity could be used for a person’s benefit.