Nature vs Nurture

Question 1

Behavioural Genetics

Answer 1

The study of genetic influence on personality and behaviour

Question 2

Selective breeding studies

Answer 2

Desired characteristics are passed on by getting animals carrying the genes to mate
Different strains of genetics are passed on so we can study them
Placed in different environments to study

Question 3

Family Studies

Answer 3

Look at correlation between genetic relatedness and personality similarity
Problem: environment is shared, we can’t be sure the cause is genetic

Question 4

Twin Studies

Answer 4

Monozygotic - 100%
Dizygotic - 50%

Monozygotic should be more similar - genetic argument

Question 5

Heritability Estimate

Answer 5

h2 = 2 (rmz — rdz)

Question 6

Equal Environment Assumption

Answer 6

the idea that both sets of twins experience the same environment

Question 7

Adoption Studies

Answer 7

• Able to study the effect of genetics and environment separately
  
  • Biological and adopted parents

Twins - separated monozygotic twins should be more similar than separated dizygotic twins

Question 8

Limitations of Adoption Studies

Answer 8

Selective placement - children may be adopted into families that are similar to their biological ones
Representativeness - differences in socioeconomic status

Question 9

Heritability

Answer 9

Describes what parts of personality can be explained by genes

Question 10

Phenotypic variance

Answer 10

observable individual differences e.g. weight, height etc.

Question 11

Genotypic variance

Answer 11

individual differences in the total collection of genes possessed by the population
Unobservable

Question 12

How heritable is personality?

Answer 12

• Personality traits are around 40% inheritable
  
  • Criticism: overestimate, some say it’s 20%
  • Not constant, the estimate changes constantly

Question 13

Temperaments

Answer 13

Personality traits noticeable from infancy, meaning they are likely inherited
- Said to be linked to emotion and arousal

Question 14

Buss & Plomin’s Temperaments

Answer 14

1. Activity level
   
   1. Overall level of energy expended
      
      1. Related to extraversion
   2. Two highly correlated aspects: vigor (intensity) and tempo (speed)
2. Sociability
   
   1. How much we want to be with others
      
      1. Related to extraversion and agreeableness
3. Emotionality
   
   1. How easily and to what extent we are emotionally aroused by an upsetting situation
      
      1. Related to neuroticism

Question 15

Possible additional temperaments

Answer 15

• Impulsivity
  
  • Conscientiousness (or lack thereof)
• Intelligence
  
  • Openness
• Disagreement over whether or not they count as temperaments

Question 16

Temperaments vs Personality

Answer 16

• Temperaments are inherited
• Personality traits are influenced by genes and environment

Question 17

Interactions & Correlations

Answer 17

Genetics and environmental factors do not operate separately but interact to influence behaviour

Question 18

Genotype-Environment Interactions

Answer 18

GxE Interactions
The idea that genes cause us to respond differently to the same situation

Question 19

Genotype-Environment Correlations

Answer 19

The idea that we are exposed to different environments and situations as a result of our different genotypes

Question 20

Passive genotype-environment correlation

Answer 20

1. Genes and environment combine
2. Genes and environment are provided to the child by parents, child remains passive e.g. parents have high verbal ability & read a lot to the child
3. Bidirectional causality - unclear

Question 21

Reactive/evocative genotype-environment correlation

Answer 21

1. Environment changes as a result of genotype
2. e.g. gifted child is put into advanced classes which further their abilities

Question 22

Active genotype-environment correlation

Answer 22

1. We seek specific environments as a result of our genes which then strengthen those tendencies
2. Personality example - extraversion (seeking out group activities and becoming more extraverted) and introversion (spending more time alone and enjoying it)

Question 23

Positive correlation

Answer 23

environment motivates the expression of a characteristic

Question 24

Negative correlation

Answer 24

environment prevents the expression of a characteristic

Question 25

Environmental Factors on Gene Expression

Answer 25

The environment affects which genes are expressed