Dominant theories: Biological & Trait

Question 1

Theory of Natural Selection.

Natural selection is one of three main components of evolution:

Answer 1

1) Common descent, the idea that all life on earth has evolved from a single ancestor,
2) Descent with modification, the idea that offspring are descended from their parents, but have modifications (i.e. they are genetically different to their parents), and
3) Natural selection, the idea that characteristics within a species that enhance their ability to survive in their environment and reproduce, will be passed on through subsequent generations - or ‘selected’ for by environmental pressures.

Question 2

Twin studies

Answer 2

• Used to determine if there is a genetic/biological component to something
• Monozygotic Twins - Twin siblings who result from one zygote splitting into two and therefore share the same genes (100%)
• Dizygotic Twins - Twin siblings who result from two separately fertilized eggs (only share 50% of the same genetic material)

Question 3

Adoption Studies

Answer 3

• Monozygotic twins in differing environments, determines if results are due to genetics or environment (very rare studies)
• Also looks at single children adopted from birth, compared to the parents - biological, and non-biological. Also to determine genetic vs nurture effects

Question 4

Heritability

Answer 4

Heritability is NOT the same as inheritance

E.G. Personality has a heritability rating of .50 in monozygotic twins, and .30 in dizygotic twins. What this means is that in any set of monozygotic twins genetic factors might account for around 50% of what contributes to their personalities. And non monozygotes are at about 30%.

Question 5

Epigenetics

Answer 5

Epi- above/on

Genetics - Self Explanatory

Epigenetics - Above the gene

“A biological mechanism that changes the behaviour of a gene, its occurring on or to the gene aka above the gene”

Epigenetics effects how genes are read by the cells, and that affects the instructions for what they do. Genes either on or off, in varying and individual arrangements person to person.

So understanding how an environmental change can impact on our genetic expression, can turn one gene on or another gene off, it can then predispose one or two generations thereafter to serious health outcomes is really important. And if we think of this in terms of personality or our mental health, the situation is just as serious. So for example, think of the personality changes that might occur during times of significant stress or trauma. Epigenetic changes to personality might occur. It might create things like a more anxious or depressive personality, suspicious, distrustful, maybe an aggressive personality expression, depending on the circumstances that the person is living in.

Question 6

Generational Effects

Answer 6

• Due to environmental effects there are genes which was switched off is now switched on or vice versa. They those changes can be passed on to the next generation.
• We originally thought that those chemical tags were stripped away when our DNA was passed on to the next generation and only the original sequence of DNA contributed to the new humans. But as it turns out they don’t and this is discovered by looking at historical famine data and the health of generations onto those experienced famine.

Question 7

Gordon Allport’s trait psychology.

Answer 7

Allport– his approach to personality theory is called a personological approach, which just means that he emphasises the development of a person as a whole, unified, conscious being. And after looking at about 49 other definitions of personality in psychology– but also other disciplines like theology, and philosophy, and law, and other common usages– he developed his own definition in 1937, the dynamic organisation within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to the environment.

“that branch of psychology that takes the person as the unit of analysis, rather than some selected processes– such as cognition, perception, learning, or interpersonal relations, et cetera– and attempts to pull together the scientific achievements of these and other branches of psychology, plus those from the biological and social sciences, to understand individuals and their fates.”

Question 8

The Big 5

Answer 8