a comparitive and evolutionary appraoch to ID Flashcards
identify key advantages of studying animal models?
1) experimental control - allows us to test causation ( humans we don’t have much control over there lifes as unethical, peoples early lifes and adult lifes are often correlated so it is often hard to tease apart what exactly about that individuals behaviour stemmed from their developmental experience) < we can manipulate environments that animals develop /live in in the lab and even decide which animals reproduce with each other or which parents raise each offspring ( more sure of the factor we manipulate being the cause of the individual differences)
2) Time - faster development and shorter lifespans make developmental or longitudinal studies quicker
monozygotic twins….
often have similar but not identical personalities differences in identical twins raised together, despite the same genetics and similar environment
greater neurogenesis in mice that roamed more?
true
despite similar genes…..
small initial difference in gene regulation (epigenetics) can lead to difference in behaviour which in turn drives more neurogenesis in brain > roam more effectively
every small individual difference could set individuals on different developmental trajectories for ‘personality’ traits.
true
developmental plasticity =
the shaping of later life traits by early life environment is known as developmental plasticity, same genotype can result in different phenotypes depending on early environmental experiences (inc. learning)
birds that experienced more early life stress were less likely to gamble in adulthood
true
experiencing stress in early life causes
reduced risk taking during foraging in adulthood in starlings , stressfull start in life = more impulsive
identify an advantage of studying individual behaviour in animals
is that artificial selection experiments are sometimes feasible because it is possible to control which individuals reproduce together and owing to many animals shorter generation times < allows us to observe role played by genetics
consistent individual behavioural and physiological responses mildly stressful events….
true
in a free living bird species ( great tit), there is evidence that variation between individuals in exploratory/novelty seeking behaviour is attributable to genes
true
personality paradox =
why no single “optimal” personality ? - isn’t personality variation maladaptive?
personality traits =
heritable, as seen in great tit study
why no single “optimal” personality?
1) frequency dependent selection , 2) fluctuating selection , 3)fitness trade offs
genetic variation in personality could be maintained due to?
frequency dependent selection, fluctuating selection, fitness trade-offs < these explanations need not be mutally exclusive
selection on a personality trait in great tits change from year to year in line with variation in food availiabilty
true
variation in competition may change costs/benefits of
aggressiveness < fast exploring females can better compete for food in poor winters, fast exploring males can better compete for territories in spring after rich winter
fluctuating selection could…..
maintain genetic variation in personality
variation in food availability and competition
likely change fitness costs/benefits of being a bold and aggressive bird or shy and less aggressive bird
life-history theory? - parental investment / lifespan ect
outcome of fitness-trade offs between growth, survival and reproduction, differing ‘pace of life’ , age/offspring/life history strategys different between species
a fast life history strategy means?
living fast, reproducing early but risking dying young
life history theory predicts….
different future expectations for reproduction result in differences in risk taking, personality
later reproducers and slow growers should take…
fewer risks ( be shy)
identify two life-history trade offs?
early vs late reproduction, growth vs mortality
life history theory predicts personality? applys to risky sitautions …
applies across contexts involving risk - so consistent behaviour across contexts
applies across time - so individual consistencey
common animal personality characteristics are related to risk taking (eg: boldness, aggressiveness)
predicts widespread ‘ personality’
explanation for early life effects.
Pace of life syndrome (POLS) hypothesis?
predicts long term maintenance of consistent behavioural differences among individuals, predicts long term consistency of risk related behaviours within individuals, predicts earlier mortality among risk prone individuals, predicts risk behaviour with age or poor condition ( due to lower residual reproductive value)
early separation test and handling stress test ( measured stillness, breathing rate) studied on
fairy wrens
mirror test used to measurer
aggression
more exploratory wrens had
higher mortality , explored more with age
behavioural syndrome =
consistent pattern between different risk related behaviours across two different life stages
support for predicitions of pace of life hypothesis for personality found in
superb fairy wrens
life history variation provides
plausible adaptive explanation for variation in animal personality > LIVE FAST, BE BOLD, DIE YOUNG
personality is related to
reproductive success in humans
evolutionary perspective =
variation on personality dimensions represents alternative strategies for maximizing fitness, due to cost/benefit trade offs
different personalitys may invest more in
reproduction?
identify fitness benefits of extraversion?
more sexual partners and extra-pair copulations, intiate exploration, more social behaviour, have more social support
fitness costs of extraversion =
(physical risks) more accidents, illness, more criminal / antisocial behaviour (social risk) , higher chance of step parenting for offspring (family instability)
benefits of neruoticims =
vigiliance to avoid danger, competitiveness = striving
fitness costs of neuroticism (what trade-offs might apply) =
psychiatric disorders, poorer health (stress) , relationship failure and social isolation)
openness benefits and costs
benefit = creativity ( attracts mates) , costs = psychosis or delusion < reduced reproductive success
conscientiousness benefits and costs
benefits = health behaviours (increased life expectancy) , socially desirable costs = obsessionality (higher risk of OCD/ eating disorder) , rigidity / missed opportunity ( fewer short term relationships)
agreeableness costs and benefits?
benefits: theory of mind abilities > harmonious interpersonal relationships, cooperative interactions
costs = excessive trusting or attention to needs of others - reduced accomplishment
exploitation by social cheats and selflessness - failure to maximise personal advantage < sociopaths have LOW agreeableness
evolutionary approach gives
testable predictions , genetic variation and individual differences in human behaviour > allows us to think about fitness costs and benefits and their trade offs.
