Intelligence/Individual Differences Part 1 Flashcards
What is intelligence (according to our textbook as said by the lecturer)?
“The capacity to think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, reason, plan, solve problems, learn from experience, and acquire new knowledge.”
What is the benefit of using IQ tests as a definition of intelligence?
The benefit of an IQ test is it measures how well individuals can solve puzzles or recall information they have heard, as well as how quickly they can complete these activities.
On an IQ test, what is the mean and standard deviation?
Mean= 100
Standard Deviation= 15
Does Francis Galton believe that nature or nurture plays more of a role in determining intelligence?
Nature, to a certain extent
What is eugenics?
“the study of or belief in the
possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, especially by such means as discouraging reproduction by people presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits”
What does Radical Behaviorism suggest about intelligence?
Not about the genes, all about the environment
What is differential psychology?
Differential psychology is the branch of
psychology concerned with individual
and group differences in psychological
traits and behavior.
What’s the difference between MZ and DZ twins?
DZ, fraternal 50%
MZ, identical 100%
What do differential psychologists do?
Differential psychologists study twins
and adoptees to show that both nature
and nurture contribute to these
differences.
How does comparing MZ to DZ twins help with controlling the environment?
For many physical characteristics, such as height, MZ twins are more alike than DZ twins. genetics is the major source of individual differences, MZ twins will be more similar than DZ twins. If rearing environment is the major source of individual differences, MZ twins and DZ twins will be equally similar
Do MZ or DZ twins perform more similarly on IQ tests?
MZ, but not exact. Environment shares a tiny factor.
How are adoption studies critical in determining the role of nature vs. nurture?
Adopted sibling are genetically unrelated individuals who were raised together
-shows how big of a factor environment is
What are the key findings from twin studies & adoption studies?
MZ twins are more similar than DZ twins
-Genetics is important
MZ twins are not perfectly similar
-Environment is important
Adopted siblings are only slightly similar
-Sharing a rearing environment does not make people very similar.
What is the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart?
“Jim Twins” - twins who were separated a birth and then found each other and had a lot of similarities
- U of M Professor Thomas J. Bouchard Jr. recruited 74 MZ and 52 DZ pairs of twins who were separated at birth
What are the findings of the differences between MZ twins reared apart versus together?
MZ twins reared together are not much more similar then MZ twins reared apart
-Sharing a rearing environment does not contribute too much to twins’ similarity.
