Chapter 2: Current Paradigms in Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the three paradigms that guide the study and treatment of psychopathology?
genetic, neuroscience, and cognitive behavioral paradigms
What is a paradigm?
a set of basic assumptions and a general perspective that defines how to conceptualize and study a subject
What are genes?
the carriers of genetic information (DNA) passed from parent to child
How many genes do people have?
20,000 to 25,000
What is gene expression?
the switching on and off of the reading of genes into their products (proteins) and thus their associated phenotypes
What does polygenic mean?
caused by multiple genes contributing their effects, typically during multiple stages of development
What is heritability?
the extent to which variability in a behavior/disorder within a population can be attributed to genetic factors (not individual!!!)
What are shared environment factors?
factors that family members have in common, such as income level, child-rearing practices, and parental marital status and quality
What are nonshared environment factors?
factors distinct among family members, such as relationships with friends or significant experiences unique to a person
What is behavior genetics?
the study of the degree to which genes and environmental factors influence behavior (not the study of how genes or the environment determine behavior)
What is a genotype?
the total genetic makeup of an individual consisting of inherited genes
What is a phenotype?
the totality of observable physical characteristics and behavioral traits of an individual; the product of interactions between genetics and the environment over the course of development
Who did a study demonstrating the heritability of IQ?
Turkheimer
What is the influence of environment on IQ among different socioeconomic groups?
lower SES: more variability in IQ attributable to environment
higher SES: less variability in IQ attributable to environment
What is molecular genetics?
seeks to determine the components of a trait that are heritable by identifying relevant genes and their functions
What are alleles?
different forms of the same gene that are found at the same locus (location) of a chromosome pair
What is a genetic polymorphism?
a difference in DNA sequence on a gene that has occurred in a population
What are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)?
differences between people in a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence of a particular gene
What are the most common polymorphisms in the human genome?
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
What are copy number variations (CNVs)?
variation in gene structure involving copy number changes in a defined chromosomal region
What is an addition CNV?
where extra copies are abnormally present
What is a deletion CNV?
where extra copies are missing
What percentage of the human genome contains CNVs?
5%
What are spontaneous (de novo) mutations?
mutations that are not inherited from parents; can appear for the first time in an individual