Chapter 3 Key Terms Flashcards
every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
environment
study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
behavior genetics
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
chromosomes
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein
genes
the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes
genome
many genes that act together that influence human traits
gene complexes
twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms
identical twins
twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment
fraternal twins
a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
temperament
the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. Depends on the range of populations and environments studied
heritability
effect of one factor (like environment) depends on another factor (like heredity)
interactions
subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure & function of genes
molecular genetics
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
evolutionary psychology
principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
natural selection
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
mutations
in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female
gender
massive loss of unemployed neural connections by puberty
pruning
kids seek out peers with similar attitudes and interests
selection effect
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
culture
an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior; prescribe “proper” behavior
norm
the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies
personal space
giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications
individualism
giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often one’s extended family or work group) and defining one’s identity accordingly
collectivism
physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone
aggression
men hazard answers rather than admitting they don’t know
male answer syndrome
the sex chromosome found in both men and women; females have two, males have one; one from each parent produces a female child
x chromosome
the sex chromosome found only in males; when paired with the chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child
y chromosome
most important of male sex hormones; both males and females have it, but the additional amount in males stimulates the growth of male sex organs in the fetus and the development of male sex characteristics during puberty
testosterone
a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
role
a set of expected behaviors for males and for females
gender role
one’s sense of being male or female
gender identity
the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role
gender-typing
theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished
social learning theory
theory that children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male and female and that they adjust their behavior accordingly
gender schema theory
formed concepts
schema
principle that we should prefer the simplest of competing explanations
Occam’s razor
act on sense of difference by living as a member of opposite sex, often with hormonal and surgical interventions that support this gender reassignment
transsexual
have a sense of sexual identity that is different from their birth sex
transgender
