Evolution of Personality

Question 1

logic of ultimate

Answer 1

mechanisms and behaviours that re still prevalent must serve/served fitness-enhancing functions

Question 2

continua of reactivity

Answer 2

no universal optimum so genetic variation maintained

Question 3

continua of reactivity and personality

Answer 3

different personality offer alternative viable strategies

Question 4

negative frequency-dependant selection

Answer 4

relative fitness of trait high as long as its rare within population

Question 5

benefits of extraversion

Answer 5

better at gaining mates and have more social support

Question 6

limitations of extravesion

Answer 6

more likely ill , involved in anti-social behaviour

Question 7

limitation of neuroticism

Answer 7

psychiatric disorder, impaired physical health and relationship failure

Question 8

benefits of neuroticism

Answer 8

avoid predators and dangers , competitiveness

Question 9

benefits of openness

Answer 9

creativity to attract mates

Question 10

limitation of openness

Answer 10

linked to schizotypy and schizophrenia, depression
more belief in delusion phenomena eg supernatural

Question 11

benefits of conscientiousness

Answer 11

adopt healthy behaviour and avoid unhygienic risks

Question 12

limitations of conscientiousness

Answer 12

pathological - ocd and eating disorders
missing spontaneous opportunities (for reproduction)

Question 13

benefits of agreeableness

Answer 13

awareness of others mental states
cooperation
avoid violence

Question 14

limitations of agreeableness

Answer 14

excessive attention and trust of others detrimental to fitness
lower status

Question 15

authoritarianism

Answer 15

obeying high status leader from advantaged groups and punish marginalised groups who threaten unanimity of in-group values

Question 16

Dual process motivational model

Answer 16

authoritarianism come from belied would is dangerous and unstable. Acquired through socialisation and early life experience and personality traits like low openness and high contentiousness
compared to social dominance orientation which view world where only those in power can succeed
worldview operate as focal heuristic that shape how people view and respond to environment

Question 17

benefits of authoritarianism

Answer 17

in group cohesion
positive in group reputation
avoid danger
stronger disease avoidance

Question 18

limitations of authoritarianism

Answer 18

exploitation from authorities
less innovation

Question 19

social dominate orientation benifts

Answer 19

in group competitiveness when resources scares
stability in social hierarchy
reduced exploitation

Question 20

social dominance orientation limitations

Answer 20

intergroup conflict
reputational damage

Question 21

Tinbergen’s four questions

Answer 21

proximate- causations (what) and ontogeny (How)
Ultimate- phylogeny (when) and functional (why)

Question 22

Winnowing processes

Answer 22

less successful variants if genes result in people who have fewer descendants

Question 23

selective neutrality

Answer 23

heritable variation having no functional consequences

Question 24

fitness relevant effects of personality studies

Answer 24

Jokela - Finnish high sociability and low emotionality increased children
US high extraversion, openness and low neuroticism associated with increased children

Alvergne et al- women higher in N and men higher in E have more children in Senegal (less access to contraception)

Question 25

Personality and health and longevity

Answer 25

Masui et al - Japanese centurions have high O and high C +E in women

Question 26

Mutation-selection balance

Answer 26

Occur to quickly for selection to remove them. Polygenetic traits require more variation before selection removes
x- not frequent enough mutations of personality

Question 27

Overdominance

Answer 27

Heterozygotes have a reproductive advantage over homozygous individuals
x- personality more polygenetic

Question 28

Frequency-dependant selection

Answer 28

polymorphisms associated with different traits. traits fluctuate around equilibrium.
need balance for each variation of trait to have benefits
e.g. psychopaths

Question 29

environmental heterogeneity

Answer 29

selection pressures fluctuate as environments changes as it is not stable

Question 30

Main explanation for variation in human personality

Answer 30

environmental heterogeneity