Chapter 4: Nature, Nurture, And Human Diversity

Question 1

behavior genetics

Answer 1

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Question 2

environment

Answer 2

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

Question 3

chromosomes

Answer 3

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.

Question 4

DNA

Answer 4

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes the chromosomes.

Question 5

genes

Answer 5

ghe biochemical units of herefity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein.

Question 6

genome

Answer 6

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.

Question 7

identical twins

Answer 7

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating twp genetically identical organisms.

Question 8

separated twins

Answer 8

twins separated at birth, raised in a different environment and people

Question 9

genetic relatives

Answer 9

biologically related people

Question 10

environmental relatives

Answer 10

adoptive parents, family members

Question 11

temperament

Answer 11

a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

Question 12

heritability

Answer 12

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. the heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.

Question 13

gene-environment interaction

Answer 13

gene influences environment, and the environment influenced gene activation.

Question 14

molecular genetics

Answer 14

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.

Question 15

evolutionary psychologists

Answer 15

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

Question 16

natural selection

Answer 16

the principle that, among the rang of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Question 17

mutations

Answer 17

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

Question 18

gender

Answer 18

in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female.

Question 19

parental influence

Answer 19

influence political attitudes, religious beliefs, and personal manners

Question 20

peer influence

Answer 20

influence language and other behavior

Question 21

culture

Answer 21

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Question 22

norms

Answer 22

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. norms prescribe ‘proper’ behavior.

Question 23

personal space

Answer 23

the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies.

Question 24

individualism

Answer 24

giving priority to one;s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.

Question 25

collectivism

Answer 25

giving priority to goals of one’s group and defining one’s identity accordingly.

Question 26

aggression

Answer 26

physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone.

Question 27

male answer syndrome

Answer 27

men are more likely to hazard answers rather than admit they don’t know.

Question 28

X-chromosomes

Answer 28

the sex chromosome found in both men and women. females have two X chromosomes; males have one. An X chromosome from each parent produces a female child.

Question 29

Y-chromosomes

Answer 29

the sex chromosome found only in males. When paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child.

Question 30

testosterone

Answer 30

the most important of the male sex hormones. both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.

Question 31

role

Answer 31

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.

Question 32

gender role

Answer 32

a set of expected behaviors for males or for females.

Question 33

gender identity

Answer 33

our sense of being male or female

Question 34

gender typing

Answer 34

the acquisition of a traditional (stereotypical extreme) masculine or feminine role.

Question 35

social learning theory- Albert Bandura

Answer 35

the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.

Question 36

schema

Answer 36

a concept

Question 37

gender schema theory

Answer 37

the social learning theory with a ‘schema’ of how to be male or female (cognition)