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Hereditary - GCSE Psychology Definition

Reviewed by: Raj Bonsor

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Hereditary refers to the passing of traits, characteristics, or behaviours from parents to their offspring through genes.

In GCSE Psychology, understanding heredity helps us learn how certain qualities, like personality traits and mental health conditions, can be inherited from one generation to the next. This concept shows how our genetics play a role in shaping who we are, alongside other influences like our environment and experiences.

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Raj Bonsor

Reviewer: Raj Bonsor

Expertise: Psychology & Sociology Content Creator

Raj joined Save My Exams in 2024 as a Senior Content Creator for Psychology & Sociology. Prior to this, she spent fifteen years in the classroom, teaching hundreds of GCSE and A Level students. She has experience as Subject Leader for Psychology and Sociology, and her favourite topics to teach are research methods (especially inferential statistics!) and attachment. She has also successfully taught a number of Level 3 subjects, including criminology, health & social care, and citizenship.

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