Chapter 4: Genetics And Evolution Flashcards
True or false nature also has the ability to change even supposedly “fixed: traits such as height
true
why is there a methodological advantage to twin studies
they share DNA which means you can contribute their behaviour to their DNA
a heritability coefficient is
it estimates the proportion of the variability in a trait that is due to genetic inheritance
the process in which the DNA itself is modified by environmental events and those genetic changes are then transmitted to children
epigenetics
the science of how _____ and ______ work together to influence behaviour is called behavioral genetics
genes & environment
what is a major problem with arriving at a conclusive scientific answer to the nature-nurture debate
humans cannot easily be randomly assigned to different genetic and environmental conditions
example of gene-environment interplay
a child who experiences trauma will be impacted different dependent upon their genes
an example of the influence of nature, or genetics, on a person
a child of a divorced parents showing the same tendency toward extroversion as her twin sister living across the country with her father
a heritability coefficient is
a measure of the strength of the relationship between individual differences in a given trait and individual genetic differences
evolution
traits and behaviours that are advantages to our survival
fitness in evolutionary psychology refers to
reproductive success
over time species can evolve new traits and behaviours that increase reproductive success. They are called
adaptations
bringing gifts on a date is an example of
evolution
kevin is afraid of heights, fears spiders, what do these qualities help him with
survival
example of intrasexual competition
playing competitive basketball
preferential mate choice is known as
intersexual selection
researchers have found that men generally are more likely than women to be willing to consent to sex with strangers and to require less emotional investment for sex to occur, why is this
the investment coast of a pregnancy is much higher for women
according to inclusive fitness who are you most likely to help
family because they will carry on your blood line
psychological adpatation
mechanisms that occur in the mind as a result of the environment
whenever uncertain situations present us with safer vs more dangerous decision, we will psychologically adapt to prefer choices that minimize the cost of error
error management theory
Marsha was talking to Conrad being very friendly, smiling, and touching his arm when she laughed. Due to _______ bias Conrad interpreted these unclear cues as sexual interest from Marsha
Sexual over perception
In comparison to me, since the stakes are _____ for women, wise mating decisions are _____ valuable
Higher
More
According to Epigenetics, how much do early life experience influence later mental and physical health?
Quite a bit
What provided the strongest evidence for the impact of adverse environmental conditions on children’s development and health?
Children of women who were pregnant while exposed to famine
What has been used to help researchers understand why early life experiences exert a profound influence on later health
Epigenome
Rachel is an infant who shares a positive attachment with her mother. What will this early experiences most likely influence?
Rachel stress response
Overtime identical, twins, come to look and behave differently. These changes to their DNA can also be passed down to their children. What is his term known as
Epigenetics
Wilma and Betty are identical twins however one is extroverted while the other is introverted the best explanation for this discrepancy in personality is that Wilma and Betty have been raised
In a non-shared environment
When comparing your DNA to the DNA of any other human being, we find the we are about what percent the same
99%
What is the verdict on the IQ gene?
There is no gene that determines intelligence
Nature
Whether human behaviour is determined by a persons genes
Nurture
Whether human behaviour is determined by the environment or the influence of external factors
What do genetic says and behavioural psychologist examine?
Genes
Heritability
Epigenetics
What do evolutionary psychologist examine
Natural selection genes
Sexual strategies
Biases and heuristics
Genes
Unit of heredity, which is transferred from a parent off
A heritability close to zero indicates
Almost all of the variability in a trait among people is due to environmental or nurture factors
A heritability close to one indicates
Almost all of the variability in a trait comes from genetic differences, meaning nature
Natural selection genes
Refers to the ability for a species to adapt to its environment find food and water and may in order to stay alive long enough to reproduce
Sexual strategies
Evolutionary theory of human mating that defines the menu of mating strategies humans pursue
Biases
Systematic error in thinking that occurs when people are processing and interpreting information in the world around them and affects the dishes, decisions and judgement that they make
Heuristics
Mental shortcut that allows people to solve problems and make judgements quickly and efficiently
Bio psychosocial theories combine (4)
Genetic
Evolution
Culture
Psychological aspects such as thoughts, and emotions
Quantitive genetics
The scientific discipline in which similarities among individuals are analyzed based on how biologically related they are
Two main areas of quantitive genetics
Adoption studies
Twin studies
types of twins studies
Monozygotic and dizygotic
monozygotic
Identical twins
Result from the same zygote
Share 100% of their DNA
Dizygotic
Fraternal twins
Developed from two zygotes
Share 50% of their DNA
Natural selection
The ability for some individuals to survive and reproduce over others due to differences in genetics
Survival adaptations
Traits of behaviours that allow us to live in our environment
Reproduction adaptation
Traits of behaviours that allow us to compete for and find mates in order to reproduce
Who came up with the two adaptations and what are they called?
Charles Darwin called it sexual selection theory
Intrasexual competition
Occurs on one member of one sex compete against another and the winner gets to mate with someone of the opposite sex
Intersexual selection
Occurs when members of one sex choose to meet with another to reproduce
How can genes boost their own replicative success?
Influence the odds of survival and reproduction of organisms
Influence the organisms to help others who are like them (help genetic relatives survive)
Psychological adaptations
Mechanisms of the mind that have evolved to solve specific problems of survival or reproduction
Physiological adaptations
Occur in the body as a consequence of one’s environment (live closer tot he equator the more melanin in skin)
The steps of jealousy
Input (romantic partner flirting with a rival)
Procedure (person evaluates the threat to their romantic relationship)
Behavioural output (vigilance, such as snooping through partners phone or violence, such as threatening the rival)
Sexual strategies propose that humans have evolved from different mating strategies that depend on
Culture
Social context
Parental influence
Sexual strategies theory
Describes the psychology of human meetings strategies, and the ways in which women and men differ in those strategies
Sexual overperception bias
An individual falsely concludes that the member of the opposite sex has a sexual interest in the individual when they don’t
Sexual over perception cost benefit analysis
It is less costly for male to be rejected than to miss out on the chance to mate
Sexual underperception bias
An individual falsely concludes that the member of the opposite sex is not sexually interested in the individual when they actually are
Sexual under perception cost benefit analysis
It is less costly for female to reject a male who would’ve stuck around then to have a child with a male she thought would stick around when he actually would not
Epigenome
Dynamic layer of information associated with DNA that differs between individuals and can be altered through various experiences and environments
What happens to the brain during childhood and why are they crucial?
Gene environment, interactions, change where neuron strengthen their connections
They are crucial for the development of mature neural networks that support emotional cognitive and social behaviour
Phenotypic plasticity
The ability of one genotype to produce more than one phenotype one exposed to different environments
The dynamic Epigenome
Our genes can be modified by the environment and chemical tags attached to the DNA and switch on and off
If nature is more important
Personalities will form early in our lives. That will be difficult to change later.
If nurture is more important
Or experiences are likely to be particularly important and we may be able to be flexible and alter our personalities over time
Chromosomes
Thread like structure of the nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells
Genes
The basic biological unit that transmits characteristics from one generation to the next
Instinct
Complex in Warren patterns of behaviour that helped your survival and reproduction
Behavioural genetics
Variety of research techniques that scientist used to learn about the genetic and environmental influences on human behaviour by comparing the traits of biologically and non-biologically related family members
Behavioural genetics is based on the results of (3)
Family studies
Twin studies
Adoptive studies
Family studies
Start with one person who has a trait of interest and examine individuals in their family tree to determine which other members have the trait
Twin studies divide the influence of nature and nurture into three parts
Heritability
Shared environment
Not shared environment
Behavioural genetics evidence for genetic influence
Children who were adopted traits that are more similar to those of their biological parents than those of their adoptive parents
Behavioural genetics evidence for environmental influences
The adopting is more like their adoptive parents and their biological parents
Removing or changing genes and mice can affect (4)
Anxiety
Aggression
Learning
Socialization patterns
