Personality Psychology Flashcards
Darwin’s sexual selection theory is about two types of selections.
Intrasexual competition and intersexual selection.
What are the 3 characteristics of adaptations?
Efficiency, precision, reliability
What is heritability?
Proportion of variation in a phenotype which can be attributed to genetic differences (context and time dependently).
How is heritability computed in twin studies?
h^2=2 (Rmz - Rdz)
Twin studies assume there are 3 influences on phenotypic variation (Vp):
Additive genetic effects (Va), shared enviornment effects (Vc) and nonshared environmental effects (Ve)
Twin studies are valid under 3 assumptions:
-Twins are representative of general population
-Environmental effects are shared to the same extent by MZ and DZ twins
-Gene-environment interactions are minimal
-No assoritative mating
Extraversion is related to which brain region?
Brain’s reward system (reinforcement sensitivity theory) which is more sensitive to social rewards (Behavioral approach system)
=midbrain: dopaminergic neurons (substantia nigra & ventral tegmental area) + subcortical nuclei: nucleus accumbens caudate, ACC, mOFC, vmPFC + amygdala
Neuroticism is related to which brain region?
The defensive systems: behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and fight-or-flight-or-freeze system (FFFS)
=serotonergic function variations => BIS (medial temporal lobe: hippocampus and amygdala) and FFFSC (hypothalamus-HPA axis, periqueductal gray, amygdala)
Openness/intellect is caused by?
Dopamine function (salience rather than value is encoded) => default network
Conscientiousness is related to which part of the brain?
-dlPFC-ventral attention and salience => goal-directed behavior
-insula (smaller => high consciousness) -it generates potential distracting impulses
Agreeableness is related to which part of the brain?
ToM (default network) and empathy systems (insula, mid cingulate cortex regions)
