Lec 2: Genetic Bases of Abnormal Behavior

Question 1

Paradigm

Answer 1

perspective or conceptual framework from within which a scientist operates; none individually sufficient to explain psychopathology

Question 2

Genetic Paradigm

Answer 2

heredity has a role in behavior;; the relationship between genes and environment is bidirectional (nature via nurture)

Question 3

Genes

Answer 3

carriers of genetic information (DNA); their effect is impacted by environmental influences (stress, relationships, culture)

Question 4

Behavior Genetics

Answer 4

study of the degree to which genes and environmental factors influence behavior

Question 5

Genotype

Answer 5

genetic material inherited by an individual; unobservable

Question 6

Phenotype

Answer 6

expressed genetic material; observable behavior and characteristics; depends on interaction of genotype and environment

Question 7

Gene Expression

Answer 7

Proteins influence whether the action of a specific gene will occur

Question 8

Polygenic Transmission

Answer 8

multiple genes influence a trait (note: psychological disorders are pretty much always POLYGENIC); makes it more difficult to study

Question 9

Heritability

Answer 9

extent to which variability in behavior is due to genetic factors; estimates range from 0 to 1; only works as a population estimate (not individual)

Question 10

Heritability

Answer 10

the extent to which genetic individual differences contribute to individual differences in observed behavior; the proportion of phenotypic variance attributable to genetic variance; for human behavior, usually .3-.6

Question 11

Environmentability

Answer 11

promotion of phenotypic variance attributable to environmental variance; 1-heritability= environmentability

Question 12

Twin Methods

Answer 12

allows us to determine heritability

Question 13

Monozygotic

Answer 13

Identical twins, share 100% of genetic material

Question 14

Dizygotic

Answer 14

Fraternal twins alike as ordinary siblings; share average of 50% of their genes

Question 15

Estimating Heritability

Answer 15

h2=2(Rmz-Rdz)

Question 16

Alleles

Answer 16

different forms of the same gene

Question 17

Polymorphism

Answer 17

difference in DNA sequence on a gene occurring in a population

Question 18

Knockout Studies

Answer 18

removing specific genes in animals to observe effect on behavior

Question 19

Gene-Environment Interaction

Answer 19

one’s response to a specific environmental event is influenced by genes

Question 20

Epigenetics

Answer 20

study of how the environment can alter gene expression or function

Question 21

Diathesis-Stress

Answer 21

integrative model that incorporates multiple causal factors; diathesis is one’s underlying predisposition, biological or psychological, increases risk of disorder; stress is environmental events, may occur at any point after conception