Adaptation Assignment
Context

The nature-versus-nurture question is central to developmental psychology. A good understanding of development requires an understanding of how genetics and experience interact to prepare us to live in the worlds we live in: how they help us to adapt to our particular circumstances.

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is for you to demonstrate your understanding of the systems by which we adapt to our environments. This includes understanding why humans all have certain characteristics in common and also why there are differences among us.

Directions

A good answer will talk about each of the two systems that we use to adapt. It will also explain why both systems are necessary and explain which system gives us which kinds of adaptation. You should include examples. Also, talk about the relative contributions of each. How much does each system contribute, typically, to differences among persons?

Your work should be entirely in your own words. Do not use quotes. You can mention outside sources as support for your claims, but put those claims into your own words.

Organize your work into paragraphs and, possibly, into separate sections with headings.
Use complete sentences and correct grammar (word usage, punctuation, capitalization, etc.).
Use examples to illustrate your points.
Resources

Here is a list of the main sources for this work. These articles should give you the information you need to complete this assignment.

Evolution
The Contributions of Genetics and Learning
Language Development
Criteria

Your work will be judged on these criteria, and you will get feedback on how well you did:

Identify the two main systems by which we adapt.
All acceptable work will correctly identify these two systems.
Explain how those systems complement each other.
The best work will talk about why we need two systems. Students who write exceptional papers will refer to the fact that one of the systems works only across generations, and so can only help us to adapt to elements of our environment that are stable across long periods of time. They will identify that system and briefly explain how it works. Then, they will point out that the environment changes more quickly than that and, so, we need another system for adaptation that enables us to adapt to changes that happen during our own lifetimes. Finally, they will identify that system, and briefly describe how it works, as well.
Any acceptable work on this assignment will identify the two systems and briefly explain how each of them works.
Summarize what we know about the relative contributions of each system.
The best work will identify some characteristics that we all have in common and attribute them correctly to one of the two systems. It will point out that both of these systems contribute to most of our characteristics and that when people differ from each other it is typically the result of both of these systems. A student who does strong work will include a rough estimate of the percentage contribution of each of the two systems.
Any acceptable work will point out that both systems contribute to differences among people.