Chapter 4: Biological Perspective (Inheritance, Evolution and Personality) Flashcards
Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart
Heritablity plays a role in following traits:
- sexual orientation
- cognition
- intelligence
- job satisfaction
- psychopathology
- religiosity
- aggression
- creativity
- temperament etc.
The Biological Perspective
- personality characteristics are genetically determined
- personality and behavioral tendencies have been determined by evolutionary pressure
- personality is a result of a complex biological system, interaction between biological processes
Heritability
degree of genetic influence on personality
Temperament
- inherited personality traits present in early childhood
- theory: infant temperament = prediction for adult personality
- research is controversial: week predictor
Temperament according to Buss and Plomin
- activity level: overall output of energy or behavior
- sociability: tendency to be with people rather than being alone, desire for interaction, social rewards
- Emotionality: tendency to become physiologically aroused in stressful situations
Temperament and the Five Factor Model
- Emotionality - Neuroticism
- Sociability - Extroversion, Agreeableness
- Conscientiousness - lack of impulsivity
- Openness to experience - intelligence
Personality Traits and Family History
- risk factors: divorce, social support, mental illness, alcoholism etc.
- evidence suggest family history influences traits
- nature or nurture?
Inheritance and Sexual Orientation
- concordance rate for homosexuality is higher among MZ twins than DZ twins
- family history studies: homosexual men have more homosexual males on the maternal side of the family (genetic influence might be on the X chromosome)
Effects of the Environment on Personality
- peer influences
- experience-seeking
- reward patterns
Evolutionary Psychology
behavior and social interaction are products of human evolution (sociobiology)
How do evolutionary psychologists explain behavior and personality?
studying evolutionary roots of the individual, family or species
Biological Altruism
- altruistic behavior when it benefits other organisms at cost of oneself
- costs and benefits are measured in terms of reproductive fitness (expected number of offspring)
- altruistic behavior: organism reduces the number of offspring it is likely to produce itself, but boosts the number of offspring that other organism are likely to produce
- Self-sacrifice: helps gene pool survive
Genetic Similarity Theory
- attraction to individuals with similar genetic characteristics
- ensure that genetic characteristics are passed on
- couples with children share 52% of genetic markers
- couples without children share 44%
Characteristics women seek when mating
- more invested in offspring
- men who can provide resources for offspring
- focused on status, dominance, wealth and potential wealth
Characteristics men seek when mating
- women who can provide offspring
- fertility indicators: youth, beauty, health