Chapter 4 Flashcards
Behavior Genetics
The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.
Heredity
The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring.
Genes
The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; small segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins.
Genome
The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.
Identical Twin Differences
- Don’t always have the same number of copies of genes
- Sometimes differ in their brains tiny wiring structures
- If the twins split into two placentas, one may provide better nourishment than the other
Separated Twins
Identical twins that were separated at birth still share many of the same traits and personality.
Genetic Relatives
Biological parents and siblings
Envriomental Relatives
Adoptive parents and siblings
Adopted Child Facts
- An adopted child more resembles their biological family personality wise than their environmental relatives
- Adopted families do influence their children’s attitudes, values, manners, politics, education, and faith. Just not personality or temperament.
- Most adopted children benefit from adoption, because adoptive families tend to use gentler parenting, give more guidance, and experience less depression.
Temperament
A person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity that is genetically influenced and lifelong.
Heritability
The proportion of variation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.
Molecular Genetics
The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.
Molecular Behavior Genetics
The study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior.
Epigenetics
The study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence gene expression without a DNA change.
Evolutionary Psychology
The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.
Natural Selection
The principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.
Mutations
A random error in gene replication that leads to a change.
Similarities Through Evolutionary Success
We are genetically predisposed to think and act in ways that promoted our biological ancestors’ survival and reproduction.
Female Preferences Due to Natural Selection
Females prefer loyal and healthy men, because they have produced the best offspring in the past. Females care more because they have a larger stake in the reproductive process. They care more about personality than about looks, because they need a partner who will care for their child with them.
Male Preferences Due to Natural Selection
Men prefer women who they believe will make a good offspring, ones that are beautiful and convey health and fertility. They don’t have as much stake in te reproductive process, so they don’t care as much about personality.
Critiques in the Evolutionary Perspecive
- Evolutionary psychologists can come up with an explanation for anything
- We can’t use our ancestors actions to explain today’s feelings
- We are not hardwired to certain behaviors
Social Scripts
A culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.
The Goal of Evolutionary Psychology
To explain behaviors and mental traits by offering testable predictions using principles of natural selection.
Parenting Effect on Development
Parents do not have much effect in the development process, unless they touch on the extremes.
Peer Effect on Development
Peers will greatly influence children in their decisions and behaviors.
Culture
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
Culture Shock
When we don’t know/understand what’s expected or accepted in a culture.
Norms
An understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe “proper” behavior.
Individualism
Giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.
Collectivism
Giving priority to the goals of one’s group and defining one’s identity accordingly.
Gender vs. Sex
Sex is preassigned at birth, while gender is chosen by a person.
Intersex
Possessing male and female biological sexual characteristics at birth.
Aggression
Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or mentally. Men tend to experience this more.
Relational Aggression
An act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a person’s relationship or social standing. Women are more likely to experience.
Social Power
Men are perceived to have more social power and are associated with negotiation.
Social Connectedness
Males tend to be more independent while females tend to be more interdependent.
Biological Influences on Gender
We have differing sex chromosomes and differing concentrations of sex chromosomes.
Testoterone
The most important male sex hormone. Males and females both have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs during the fetal period, and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.
Estrogens
Sex hormones, such as estradiol, that contribute to female sex characteristics and are secreted in greater amounts by females than by males.
Primary Sex Characteristics
The body’s structures that make sexual reproduction possible.
Secondary Sex Characteristics
Non-reproductive sexual traits.
Spermarche
The first ejaculation.
Menarche
The first menstrual period.
Sexual Development Variations
Anything other than XX or XY can cause sterility or infertility.
Gender Roles
A set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for women/men.
Sexual Aggression
Any physical or verbal behavior of a sexual nature that is unwanted or intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.
Gender Identity
Our sense of being male, female, neither, or some combination.
Social Learning Theory
The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished. This assumes we acquire some identity in childhood.
Gender Typing
The acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.
Androgyny
Displaying both traditionally masculine and feminine psychological characteristics. These people tend to be more resilient and self-accepting.
Transgender
An umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from their birth assigned sex.