L3 Genes and Temperament

Question 1

Heritability

Answer 1

How people differ from one another- says nothing about how much we can change a trait

• ex. with assigned hair color and dying it a different color
• percent of variance due to genes has nothing to do with whether you can change a characteristic

But Minnesota twin study
- monozygotic twins reared apart are more similar in SWB than dizygotic twins reared together

Question 2

Genes

Answer 2

Serotonin and low depression
–> 5-HTT

Dopamine and low depression
–> SNP- Single Nucleotide Polumorphisms

Question 3

Two major personality traits

Answer 3

1. Extraversion
   - talkative, warm, sociable, dominant
   - frequent positive affect
2. Neuroticism
   - sensitive, upsettable
   - frequent negative affect

• Extraversion and Neuroticism are independent

Question 4

Cross-cultural

Answer 4

Extraversion related to PA, across nations

Neuroticism related to NA, across nations

Question 5

Two major brain systems

Answer 5

1. Approach system

2. Avoidance system

Question 6

Approach system

Answer 6

Extraversion, positive affect
Left frontal lobe
Nucleus Accumbens
Dopamine increase
- nicotine, caffeine, alc, crack, mary jane, heroin

Question 7

Avoidance system

Answer 7

Neuroticism, negative affect
Right prefrontal lobe
Amygdala
Serotonin down-regulates SRI’s

Question 8

Personality and Happiness

Answer 8

Extraverted stables tend to be happiest
Introverted neurotics tend to be UNhappiest
Extraverts thrive on exciting active life
Neurotics thrive on stable nonstressful life
But circumstances and cognition matter too