a comparitive and evolutionary appraoch to ID

Question 1

identify key advantages of studying animal models?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

monozygotic twins….

Answer 2

often have similar but not identical personalities differences in identical twins raised together, despite the same genetics and similar environment

Question 3

greater neurogenesis in mice that roamed more?

Answer 3

true

Question 4

despite similar genes…..

Answer 4

small initial difference in gene regulation (epigenetics) can lead to difference in behaviour which in turn drives more neurogenesis in brain > roam more effectively

Question 5

every small individual difference could set individuals on different developmental trajectories for ‘personality’ traits.

Answer 5

true

Question 6

developmental plasticity =

Answer 6

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)

Question 7

birds that experienced more early life stress were less likely to gamble in adulthood

Answer 7

true

Question 8

experiencing stress in early life causes

Answer 8

reduced risk taking during foraging in adulthood in starlings , stressfull start in life = more impulsive

Question 9

identify an advantage of studying individual behaviour in animals

Answer 9

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

Question 10

consistent individual behavioural and physiological responses mildly stressful events….

Answer 10

true

Question 11

in a free living bird species ( great tit), there is evidence that variation between individuals in exploratory/novelty seeking behaviour is attributable to genes

Answer 11

true

Question 12

personality paradox =

Answer 12

why no single “optimal” personality ? - isn’t personality variation maladaptive?

Question 13

personality traits =

Answer 13

heritable, as seen in great tit study

Question 14

why no single “optimal” personality?

Answer 14

1) frequency dependent selection , 2) fluctuating selection , 3)fitness trade offs

Question 15

genetic variation in personality could be maintained due to?

Answer 15

frequency dependent selection, fluctuating selection, fitness trade-offs < these explanations need not be mutally exclusive

Question 16

selection on a personality trait in great tits change from year to year in line with variation in food availiabilty

Answer 16

true

Question 17

variation in competition may change costs/benefits of

Answer 17

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

Question 18

fluctuating selection could…..

Answer 18

maintain genetic variation in personality

Question 19

variation in food availability and competition

Answer 19

likely change fitness costs/benefits of being a bold and aggressive bird or shy and less aggressive bird

Question 20

life-history theory? - parental investment / lifespan ect

Answer 20

outcome of fitness-trade offs between growth, survival and reproduction, differing ‘pace of life’ , age/offspring/life history strategys different between species

Question 21

a fast life history strategy means?

Answer 21

living fast, reproducing early but risking dying young

Question 22

life history theory predicts….

Answer 22

different future expectations for reproduction result in differences in risk taking, personality

Question 23

later reproducers and slow growers should take…

Answer 23

fewer risks ( be shy)

Question 24

identify two life-history trade offs?

Answer 24

early vs late reproduction, growth vs mortality

Question 25

life history theory predicts personality? applys to risky sitautions …

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Pace of life syndrome (POLS) hypothesis?

Answer 26

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)

Question 27

early separation test and handling stress test ( measured stillness, breathing rate) studied on

Answer 27

fairy wrens

Question 28

mirror test used to measurer

Answer 28

aggression

Question 29

more exploratory wrens had

Answer 29

higher mortality , explored more with age

Question 30

behavioural syndrome =

Answer 30

consistent pattern between different risk related behaviours across two different life stages

Question 31

support for predicitions of pace of life hypothesis for personality found in

Answer 31

superb fairy wrens

Question 32

life history variation provides

Answer 32

plausible adaptive explanation for variation in animal personality > LIVE FAST, BE BOLD, DIE YOUNG

Question 33

personality is related to

Answer 33

reproductive success in humans

Question 34

evolutionary perspective =

Answer 34

variation on personality dimensions represents alternative strategies for maximizing fitness, due to cost/benefit trade offs

Question 35

different personalitys may invest more in

Answer 35

reproduction?

Question 36

identify fitness benefits of extraversion?

Answer 36

more sexual partners and extra-pair copulations, intiate exploration, more social behaviour, have more social support

Question 37

fitness costs of extraversion =

Answer 37

(physical risks) more accidents, illness, more criminal / antisocial behaviour (social risk) , higher chance of step parenting for offspring (family instability)

Question 38

benefits of neruoticims =

Answer 38

vigiliance to avoid danger, competitiveness = striving

Question 39

fitness costs of neuroticism (what trade-offs might apply) =

Answer 39

psychiatric disorders, poorer health (stress) , relationship failure and social isolation)

Question 40

openness benefits and costs

Answer 40

benefit = creativity ( attracts mates) , costs = psychosis or delusion < reduced reproductive success

Question 41

conscientiousness benefits and costs

Answer 41

benefits = health behaviours (increased life expectancy) , socially desirable
costs = obsessionality (higher risk of OCD/ eating disorder) , rigidity / missed opportunity ( fewer short term relationships)

Question 42

agreeableness costs and benefits?

Answer 42

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

Question 43

evolutionary approach gives

Answer 43

testable predictions , genetic variation and individual differences in human behaviour > allows us to think about fitness costs and benefits and their trade offs.