genetics and behaviour Flashcards
1
Q
gene regulation
A
- genes in our DNA are not all active at the same time
- processes within cells regulate which genes are expressed or active
- can be switched on or off, differences in gene expression
- methyl groups initiate methylation, switching the gene off, preventing the effects it was designed to produce
- reverse process, demethylation
- study of genes being switched on and off = epigenetics
- during childhood methylation can be permanent
2
Q
twin studies
A
- understand how genes play a role in behaviour
- correlational
- measure concordance rates, extent individuals share a behaviour
- 0.7 considered extremely high
- can asses twins raised together or apart (more genetic influence)
3
Q
limitations of twin studies
A
- identical twins raised separately or apart will live a similar experience due to common age, sex, appearance and prenatal environment
- likely there will be many similarities in their behaviour not due to genetics
- hard to tell what is the result of environmental factor vs genetic
4
Q
kinship (family) studies
A
- investigate genetic heritability of a behaviour by looking at incidence over a number of generations and controlling other variables (environment)
5
Q
darwin’s evolutionary theory
A
- natural selection
- variations possessed by members of the same species
- variations that are adaptive and helpful to survival will be passed onto future generations
- helpful adaptations will change with the environment
6
Q
evolutionary psychologists believe that
A
- if a behaviour exits, it must have been a useful adaptation at some point
- survival of the fittest
- universal reactions bad smells, attractive people, phobias etc
- not proven
7
Q
preparedness theory
A
- seligman
- biologically prepared to fear certain things for evolutionary reasons
- heights, certain animals
8
Q
limitations of evolutionary psychology
A
- biological reductionism
- humans have free will and complex behaviour
