Chapter 2 - Genetics Flashcards
Behavioral genetics
what is heritable
molecular genetics
what genes are involved in heritable behavior
Evolutionaly psych
how natural selection shapes mental processes
determinism
biological traits determine your future - no free will
franz gall
shape of skull determins mental attributes
atavisms
specific physical features are found in criminals - strong jawline, thick hair, big lips
francis galton
anything is heritable including social status
chromosome
contains dna
dna
coiled strand with genes - blueprint of life
gene
ccontains characteristics
polymorphism
gene in more than one form
allele
alternative gene
polygenic
trait under influence of gene
jukes family
family with many convictions
monozygotic
one egg - 100% shared dna and environment
dizygotic
two eggs - shared environment half shared dna
concordance
how likely the other pair (twin) is to commit crime if one of them does
which twins have higher concordance
monozygotic
problems with twin studies
determining zygosity, assumptions of similar environments, sample size and bias
Adoption studies
biology can be overruled with right environment
problems with adoption studies
parents are screened for good environment, not always adopted straight after birth
Heritability studies
are there genetic components and how strong are the influence?
Molecular genetics
Which genes and how many are involved
MAO Enzyme
breaks down neurotransmitter
MAOA-L
Warrior gene
diathesis
being genetically vulnerable to develop psychopathological condition (can be overruled by good environment)
differential susceptibility model
vulnerability to good or bad environments
epigenetics
changing genes without altering code (through diet or dominant genes from partner)
natural selection
species keep abilities that help them survive and shed others
constraints of natural selection
only works on existing traits
conditions of natural selection
variation must be heritable and able to reproduce
selfishness
increasing own survivability at the cost of someone else
altruism
helping those with no benefit
inclusive fitness
helping others to increase own chances
reciprocal cooperation
helping others expecting something back
cheating
taking favours without returning
how is cheating frequency dependant
won’t work if everyone cheats
infanticide
killing an infant under the age of 1
siblicide
killing a sibling
r-strategists
high production no parental involvement
k-strategists
few offspring high parental involvement
cinderella effect
risk of abuse is higher with non-biological parent
interpersonal violence
violence done towards someone you are in relation with
monogamy advantage for male
increase child survival, improve own status
monogamy advantage for female
protection or children, supply of resources, raising offspring
intrasexual competition
males competing with one another to get mates and resources
when do women commit crimes
out of necessity
age crime curve
low rate in childhood, higher in males when seeking mate, decline at parenthood (out of need)
