Biosocial Theories

Question 1

Biosocial theories recognize that any trait/behavior is always the result of…

Answer 1

biological factors interacting with environmental factors

Question 2

What are two of the technological advances that have allowed this area to rapidly grow in terms of research?

Answer 2

mapping of human genome and brain scanning technologies

Question 3

behavior genetics

Answer 3

efforts to understand the relative contribution of heredity and environ. to behavior and personality

Question 4

What does behavior genetics argue?

Answer 4

genes facilitate tendencies/predispositions that may be activated in the environ.

Question 5

Genes produces ______ that lead to certain personality traits, like ______________ that increase the probability of crime in the right environ.

Answer 5

proteins; low IQ, impulsivity, low empathy

Question 6

gene x environ interaction

Answer 6

b/c our genetic makeup varies, we respond diff to identical environ.’s AND diff in environ. exposures “activate” genetic predispositions to those exposed so that same genetic predisposition remains inactive for those not exposed

Question 7

meta analyses indicate that genes account for b/n ____ and ____ of variation in antisocial behavior

Answer 7

40, 58

Question 8

which population are the genetic effects most likely to be found?

Answer 8

“chronic offenders”

Question 9

how does molecular genetics differ from behavior genetics?

Answer 9

behavior genetics looks at the extent to which traits are heritable while molecular genetics looks to identify the specific genotype to a trait

Question 10

how is molecular genetics facilitated?

Answer 10

mapping of human genome– can search for genetic variations linked to particular traits

Question 11

ex of molecular genetics

Answer 11

low-activity of MAOA variation –> negatively affects impulse control, atention and cognitive functions

Question 12

genome-wide associational studies (GWAS)

Answer 12

produce thousands of correlations b/n genetic variations and variations in physical or behavioral characteristics of people; combinations of thousands of genetic variations that collectivelly are associated with particular phenotypes

Question 13

what is a “polygenic index”?

Answer 13

combination of scores for individuals on genetic variations known to correlate with a phenotype

Question 14

What does neuroscience tell us?

Answer 14

our experiences determine our patterns of neuron connections (brain cell networks)

Question 15

neural networks are constantly made and “tested” for…

Answer 15

retention or elimination

Question 16

prefontal dysfunction theory

Answer 16

lower functioning of prefontal cortex found in murderers by Raine