Intro to nature and nurture

Question 1

Termperament refers to i____ d____ in e____ and a____ level that are exhibited across c____ and present from i____

Answer 1

Individual differences in emotion, activity level that are exhibited across context and present from infancy

Question 2

What are the two different approaches to temperament, who proposed them and in what year?
1. B____-p____ approach (T____ & C____, 19__)
2. W____-p____ approach (R____ et al, 20__)

Answer 2

1. Between-person approach (Thomas & Chess, 1977)
2. Within-person approach (Rothbart et al, 2001)

Question 3

What is vertical genetic transfer?

Answer 3

A transfer of information coded in DNA from one generation to another within one species (your parents – you – your children)

Question 4

What is meant by a diploid organism?

Answer 4

A diploid organism has two sets of chromosomes

Question 5

What are two different study designs to study nature and nurture?

Answer 5

1. Twin design
2. Adoption design

Question 6

What are some limitations of adoption design studies?

Answer 6

1. Adoptees are not placed randomly into adoptive families, they tend to be chosen to provide environments that are low-risk
2. Adoption studies may not be generalisable to the population at large
3. Prenatal influences are not taken into account
4. Adoption is an unusual event in itself

Question 7

What percentage of their genetics do dizygotic and monozygotic twins share?

Answer 7

Dizygotic = ~50%
Monozygotic = ~100%

Question 8

What are some limitations of twin design studies?

Answer 8

1. Equal environments assumption:
   the assumption that environments are similar for identical and fraternal twins
   monozygotic twins share more similar environments - both in the womb (prenatal) and out (postnatal)
2. Twin studies may not be generalizable to the population at large:
   for example, twins are more susceptible to prenatal trauma leading to mental retardation
3. MZ twins may not be 100% genetically identical:
   it is now known that there are various biological mechanisms that can lead to genetic differences between MZ twins

Question 9

What is meant by heritability?

Answer 9

Genetic influences - the proportion of variance in a population attributable to genetic differences between people

Question 10

What are three important points about heritability estimates?
1. Heritability is a s____ estimate for a p____ studied
2. Heritability estimate applies only to a particular p____ living in a particular e____ at a particular t____
3. Heritability estimate does not account for a complex i____ between g____ and e____ factors

Answer 10

1. Heritability is a statistical estimate for a population (not an individual) studied
2. Heritability estimate applies only to a particular population living in a particular environment at a particular time
3. Heritability estimate does not account for a complex interplay between genetic and environment factors

Question 11

What are two findings and the conclusion of Lemery-Chalfant et al, 2013 twin study of child temperament?
1. E____ control, negative a____ and e____ show high h____: __%, __%, __%
2. H____ environments are also under g____ influence and affect p____
C = P____ temperament can influence c____ temperament through genetic t____ and through h____ environment that they create

Answer 11

1. Effortful control, negative affectivity, extraversion show high heritability: 54%, 79%, 49%
2. Home environments (how chaotic and unsafe they are) are also under genetic influence (heritable) and affect personality (extraversion)
   C = Parents’ temperament can influence child temperament through genetic transmission and through home environment that they create