The study of the relationship between genetics and environment in shaping behavior is known as?

The study of the relationship between genetics and environment in shaping behavior is referred to as Behavioral Genetics. This field investigates how genetic predispositions interact with environmental factors to influence behavior, personality traits, and the development of psychological conditions. By examining twin studies, family studies, and adoption studies, researchers can disentangle the effects of genetics from those of the environment, providing insights into the complex interplay between inherited traits and life experiences. This area of psychology helps in understanding not only normal behavioral patterns but also various psychopathologies, acknowledging that both nature (genetics) and nurture (environment) contribute significantly to psychological outcomes.

Other fields listed, such as Clinical Psychology, focus more on diagnosing and treating mental disorders; Developmental Psychology studies changes across the lifespan but does not specifically target the genetic-environment relationship; and Cognitive Neuroscience explores the biological processes that underlie cognition without centering specifically on genetic and environmental interactions in behavior.