Genes, environment and personality

Question 1

What is the definition of personality?

Answer 1

A set of behavioural attributes that are persistent and distinctive

Question 2

What is the big five?

Answer 2

> Extraversion
> Neuroticism
> Conscientiousness
> Agreeableness
> Openness

Question 3

What is the Minnesota Twins Study?

Answer 3

A registry of twins born between 1936 and 1964 in Minnesota. It is used as a database to draw participants from for twin studies

Question 4

To what degree do genetics influence personality?

Answer 4

41-51%

Question 5

What neuromodulatory transmitter systems are typically linked to personality development?

Answer 5

> Serotonin (5HT) Transporter

> D4 Dopamine Receptor

Question 6

What did Capsi et al (2003) find?

Answer 6

That neither life stress nor 5HT Transporter genotype predicted depression individually, but an interaction between the two does.

Question 7

What is Dopamine Receptor D4 Long?

Answer 7

A variant of D4 in which the 7th allele is repeated. Also known as 7R

Question 8

What is the significance of DRD4 Long?

Answer 8

> Binds dopamine more weakly
Conflicting evidence for roles in aggression and novelty seeking
Effects reaction to social adversity
Effects opportunity seeking

Question 9

What is the Orchid Hypothesis?

Answer 9

That certain personality types (and genotypes) are more sensitive to experience than others

Question 10

How does the Orchid Hypothesis explain the presence of the less effective variants of 5HT Transporter and DRD4?

Answer 10

> 5HTT Long and DRD4 Short are hardy, not easily influenced by environmental factors, and so resilient
5HTT Short and DRD4 Long are influenced by environmental factors, and are prone to mental health conditions, but in good environments can have better overall outcomes