Biological foundations and personality development Flashcards
Define
Testosterone
A hormone much higher in men than in women
Define
Sociosexuality
Individual differences in attitudes toward sex without commitment
Define
2D:4D ratio
The length of someone’s index finger divided by the length of their ring (third) finger; a low ratio is linked to high testosterone
Define
Gene expression
How much a gene influences traits or outcomes
Define
Discrepancy detection
Noticing something that is different in the environment
Define
Epigenetics
The idea that some environments can influence how much genetics will matter
Define
Amygdala
The part of the brain responsible for processing reactions to fear
Define
Circadian rhythm
Physical, mental, and behavioural changes following a daily, 24-hour cycle
Define
Morningness-eveningness
Whether you are a morning person (a lark) or a night person (an owl)
Define
Evolutionary psychology
The field of research exploring how evolution shaped human psychology
Define
Biology
Everything that appears in the body and brain, whatever its origin
Define
Genotype
An organism’s genetic predisposition
Define
Nonshared environment
Experiences not shared by siblings such as certain friends, personal injuries, or participating in different activities
Define
Monozygotic twins
Identical twins sharing the same genetic profile
Define
Percentage of variance
Explained by genetics or environment; this number refers to the variation among a group of people and not within one individual
Define
Contrast effect
When one sibling consciously tries to be different from the other
Define
Gene-environment interaction
When genetics and environment work together to shape personality
Define
Phenotype
Observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction of the genotype and the environment
Define
Twin study
A study examining twins raised apart and together, usually to explore whether characteristics are caused by genetics or environment
Define
Shared environment
The effects of growing up with the same parents; also known as family environment
Define
Genetics
The DNA from one’s biological mother and biological father
Define
Impulsivity
The tendency to take risks, not plan, and be high in sensation-seeking, roughly equivalent to low conscientiousness
Define
Neurotransmitters
a chemical substance that is released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, causes the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fiber, a muscle fiber, or some other structure
Define
Frontal lobe
each of the paired lobes of the brain lying immediately behind the forehead, including areas concerned with behaviour, learning, personality, and voluntary movement
Definition
A hormone much higher in men than in women
Testosterone
Definition
Individual differences in attitudes toward sex without commitment
Sociosexuality
Definition
The length of someone’s index finger divided by the length of their ring (third) finger; a low ratio is linked to high testosterone
2D:4D ratio
Definition
How much a gene influences traits or outcomes
Gene expression
Definition
Noticing something that is different in the environment
Discrepancy detection
Definition
The idea that some environments can influence how much genetics will matter
Epigenetics
Definition
The part of the brain responsible for processing reactions to fear
Amygdala
Definition
Physical, mental, and behavioural changes following a daily, 24-hour cycle
Circadian rhythm
Definition
Whether you are a morning person (a lark) or a night person (an owl)
Morningness-eveningness
Definition
The field of research exploring how evolution shaped human psychology
Evolutionary psychology
Definition
Everything that appears in the body and brain, whatever its origin
Biology
Definition
An organism’s genetic predisposition
Genotype
Definition
Experiences not shared by siblings such as certain friends, personal injuries, or participating in different activities
Nonshared environment
Definition
Identical twins sharing the same genetic profile
Monozygotic twins
Definition
Explained by genetics or environment; this number refers to the variation among a group of people and not within one individual
Percentage of variance
Definition
When one sibling consciously tries to be different from the other
Contrast effect
Definition
When genetics and environment work together to shape personality
Gene-environment interaction
Definition
Observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction of the genotype and the environment
Phenotype
Definition
A study examining twins raised apart and together, usually to explore whether characteristics are caused by genetics or environment
Twin study
Definition
The effects of growing up with the same parents; also known as family environment
Shared environment
Definition
The DNA from one’s biological mother and biological father
Genetics
Definition
The tendency to take risks, not plan, and be high in sensation-seeking, roughly equivalent to low conscientiousness
Impulsivity
Definition
a chemical substance that is released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, causes the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fiber, a muscle fiber, or some other structure
Neurotransmitters
Definition
each of the paired lobes of the brain lying immediately behind the forehead, including areas concerned with behaviour, learning, personality, and voluntary movement
Frontal lobe
Which three scholars contributed to the early work on the mind-body relationship?
- Darwin’s Expression of Emotions documented relations between emotional expression in humans and other complex mammals
- Mendel’s work served as the foundation for modern genetics
- Galton, cousin of Darwin, inherited basis of individual differences in personality
What made us first suspect that the frontal lobe was involved in personality?
Phineas Gage head injury
What do we know about amygdala activity and perceived anxiety?
Higher amygdala activity corresponds with higher perceived anxiety
Similarities between MZ twins raised apart suggests a/n _________ influence
Similarities between MZ twins raised apart suggests a/n genetic influence
Differences between MZ twins raised together suggests a/n _________ influence
Differences between MZ twins raised together suggests a/n environmental influence
What is a heritability coefficient?
proportion of observed variance in scores that can be attributed to genetic factors
What is more important for personality development: shared or non shared environments?
Non-shared
35% of variation (vs. 5%)
- The case of Phineas Gage illustrates the importance of
a) the brain for specific personality characteristics.
b) the brain for the ability to walk and speak.
c) the brain for cognitive functioning.
d) All of the above.
- The case of Phineas Gage illustrates the importance of
a) the brain for specific personality characteristics.
b) the brain for the ability to walk and speak.
c) the brain for cognitive functioning.
d) All of the above.
- In terms of biological causes of behaviour, ultimate causes refer to explanations associated with
a) genes.
b) evolution.
c) life history.
d) neuroscience.
- In terms of biological causes of behaviour, ultimate causes refer to explanations associated with
a) genes.
b) evolution.
c) life history.
d) neuroscience.
- Evolved adaptive mechanisms are viewed as
a) broad and context-free.
b) identical in both genders.
c) domain-specific.
d) the same in all species.
- Evolved adaptive mechanisms are viewed as
a) broad and context-free.
b) identical in both genders.
c) domain-specific.
d) the same in all species.
- Evolutionary factors have been suggested as important in
a) sex differences in mate preferences.
b) sex differences in causes of jealousy.
c) Both a and b.
d) Neither a nor b.
- Evolutionary factors have been suggested as important in
a) sex differences in mate preferences.
b) sex differences in causes of jealousy.
c) Both a and b.
d) Neither a nor b.
- Parenthood probability theory leads
a) females to be more concerned about rivals than males.
b) males to be more concerned about rivals than females.
c) males and females to be equally concerned about rivals.
d) to genetic counselling procedures.
- Parenthood probability theory leads
a) females to be more concerned about rivals than males.
b) males to be more concerned about rivals than females.
c) males and females to be equally concerned about rivals.
d) to genetic counselling procedures.
- According to David Buss’s hypotheses
a) males should prefer young, attractive women.
b) females should prefer strong, ambitious men.
c) males should be more concerned than females about sexual infidelity.
d) All of the above.
- According to David Buss’s hypotheses
a) males should prefer young, attractive women.
b) females should prefer strong, ambitious men.
c) males should be more concerned than females about sexual infidelity.
d) All of the above.
- In a simplified form, research on twins suggest that
a) differences between MZ twins are due to the environment.
b) differences between DZ twins are genetic differences.
c) Both a and b.
d) Neither a nor b.
- In a simplified form, research on twins suggest that
a) differences between MZ twins are due to the environment.
b) differences between DZ twins are genetic differences.
c) Both a and b.
d) Neither a nor b.
- Adoption studies offer the opportunity to gain greater insight into
a) genetic influences.
b) environmental influences.
c) Both a and b.
d) Neither a nor b.
- Adoption studies offer the opportunity to gain greater insight into
a) genetic influences.
b) environmental influences.
c) Both a and b.
d) Neither a nor b.
- Behaviour geneticists suggest that after heredity, the greatest influence on personality is
a) nonshared environment.
b) shared environment.
c) early experience.
d) parents.
- Behaviour geneticists suggest that after heredity, the greatest influence on personality is
a) nonshared environment.
b) shared environment.
c) early experience.
d) parents.
- Biological sibling differences can be due to
a) genes.
b) family environment differences.
c) nonshared environmental influences.
d) All of the above.
- Biological sibling differences can be due to
a) genes.
b) family environment differences.
c) nonshared environmental influences.
d) All of the above.
- According to research
a) shared family influences are more important than nonshared family influences.
b) nonshared family influences are more important than shared family influences.
c) shared and nonshared family influences are of equal importance.
d) nonshared influences outside the family are more important than those inside the family.
- According to research
a) shared family influences are more important than nonshared family influences.
b) nonshared family influences are more important than shared family influences.
c) shared and nonshared family influences are of equal importance.
d) nonshared influences outside the family are more important than those inside the family.
- Evidence in support of a genetic contribution to personality would be if personality characteristics of identical twins reared apart were similar to
a) identical twins reared together.
b) fraternal twins reared together.
c) fraternal twins reared apart.
d) siblings reared apart.
- Evidence in support of a genetic contribution to personality would be if personality characteristics of identical twins reared apart were similar to
a) identical twins reared together.
b) fraternal twins reared together.
c) fraternal twins reared apart.
d) siblings reared apart.
- Research to date supports which of the following statements?
a) Inheritance plays a strong role in personality.
b) Environment plays a strong role in personality.
c) Genes and environment play a role in all traits.
d) All of the above.
- Research to date supports which of the following statements?
a) Inheritance plays a strong role in personality.
b) Environment plays a strong role in personality.
c) Genes and environment play a role in all traits.
d) All of the above.
What are the two key theories of psychophysiology?
Eysenck’s arousal theory
Gray’s BAS/BIS theory
According to Eysenck, what are the two sets of neural mechanisms of the brain?
Excitatory mechanism
Inhibitory mechanism
What regulates the excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms according to Eysenck?
ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
Describe Eysenck’s arousal theory
What did Gray’s BAS/BIS theory state about personality?
Personality is based on the interaction between the behavioural approach system (BAS) and the behavioural inhibition system (BIS)
Describe Gray’s BAS/BIS theory
