Chapter 8 - Biological Basis of Personality (Genetic heritability, Biological & Physiological models of personality

Question 1

genotype

Answer 1

internal genetic code/ blueprint for constructing and maintaining an individual
> made up of genes
> influences phenotype

Question 2

phenotype

Answer 2

outward manifestation of the individual (physical appearance), but can also be personality

Question 3

estimate of genetic heritability

Answer 3

h^2 (= estimate of the average proportion of variance for any behavior thought to be accounted for by genetic factors across population)

Question 4

heritability estimates

Answer 4

represent the average scores across the population

Question 5

family studies

Answer 5

examining possible interactions between parental and child behaviors within one family by using observation, interviews or questionnaires

Question 6

Twin studies

Answer 6

comparing twin (either monozygotic MZ [100% shared genes] or dizygotic DZ [50% shared genes]), as well as comparing them being reared together or apart!)

Question 7

adoption studies

Answer 7

compares the influence of the environment, comparing personality between parents and adopted children as there is no genetic heritability

Question 8

Different types of genetic variance

Answer 8

1. additive genetic variance
2. dominant genetic variance
3. epistatic genetic variance (interactive genetic variance)

2+3 = non-additive genetic variance
1+2+3 = total genetic variance of personality (Broad heritability)

Question 9

original estimates of percentage of parental genes children inherit

Answer 9

MZ = 1+2+3
DZ = 0,5x1 + 0,25x (2+3)

Question 10

Within family factors

Answer 10

> passive model
child effects model
parents effects model

Question 11

passive model (within - family factors)

Answer 11

behavior occurs in child because child and parent share same genes

Question 12

child-effects model (within - family factors)

Answer 12

genes cause a behavior in the child which in return causes the same/ similar behavior in the parent

Question 13

parents-effects model (within - family factors)

Answer 13

behavior of the child is responded to by the parent which in turn brings out the behavior in the child

Question 14

Outside family factors

Answer 14

group socialization theory (social identity [in-groups vs. out-groups], social categorization

Question 15

5 aspects that are important to consider in how non shared characteristics might influence our personlity

Answer 15

1. context-specific socialization
2. outside-the-home socialization
3. transmission of culture via group processes
4. group processes that widen differences between social groups
5. group processes that widen differences among individuals within the group

Question 16

Assortative mating

Answer 16

positive (gleich und gleich gesellt sich) and negative (Gegensätze ziehen sich an), usually positive, we dont date people randomly

Question 17

Framework for considering heritability in personality

Answer 17

• genetic influences
• environmental influences
• interaction between the two
• developmental influences
• assortative mating
• evolution