What is the term for inherited traits that influence behavior?

The term for inherited traits that influence behavior is genetic predispositions. This concept refers to the idea that certain traits or tendencies can be passed down from parents to their offspring through genetic inheritance. These genetic factors can affect psychological attributes and behaviors, shaping an individual's likelihood of developing particular characteristics or responses to various situations.

Genetic predispositions can include a range of traits, such as temperament, intelligence, and potential for mental health issues. Understanding this term is crucial in psychology, as it helps in distinguishing between what is innate due to biology and what is acquired through experience and environment. This distinction is foundational in studying the nature versus nurture debate, which examines how much of our behavior is influenced by inherited genetics versus environmental factors.

The other terms, while related to behavior, refer to concepts that involve learned or environmental influences rather than inherited traits. Learned behaviors are acquired through experience and interaction with the environment, social conditioning involves changes in behavior due to social influences, and environmental factors encompass the external conditions that affect an individual's development but do not specifically refer to inherited traits. Each of these distinctions helps clarify the influence of genetics on behavior.