PP test 2 Flashcards
genome
the complete set of genes an organism possesses. The human genome contains somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 genes
genome
the complete set of genes an organism possesses. The human genome contains somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 genes
genetic junk
the 98% of the DNA in human chromosomes that are protein-coding genes; scientists believed that these parts were functionless reside
DNA junk
not junk at all - parts of these chunks of DNA have an impact on humans affecting everything from persons physical size to personality
eugenics
the notion that the future of the human race can be influenced by fostering the reproduction of persons with certain traits, and discouraging reproduction among persons without those traits or who have undesirable traits
percentage variance
individuals vary or are different from each other, and this variability can be partitoned into percentages that are related to separated causes or separate variables
Heritability
is a statistic that refers to the proportion of observed variance in a group of individuals that can be explained or “accounted for” by genetic variance. describes the degree to which genetic differences between individuals caused differences in some observed property
- ex: height
phenotype variance
observed individual differences, such as in height, weight or personality
genotype variance
genetic variance that is responsible for individual differences in phenotype expression of specific traits
environmentally
the percentage of observed variance in a group of individuals that can be attributed to environmental (non-genetic) differences. Generally speaking, the larger the heritability, the smaller the environmentally. and vise versa, the smaller the heritability, the larger the environmentatily
Nature-Nurture debate
the ongoing debate as to whether genes or environment are more important determinate of personality
selective breeding
one method of doing behaviour genetic research. Researchers might identify a trait and then see if they can selectively breed animals to posses that trait
ex- dog breeders
family studies
correlate the degree of genetic overlap among family members with the degree of personality similarity
equal environments assumptions
assumption that environments experienced by identical twins are no more similar to each other than are the environments experienced by fraternal twins
equal environments assumptions
assumption that environments experienced by identical twins are no more similar to each other than are environments experienced by fraternal twins
selective placement
if adopted children are placed with adopted parents who are similar to their birth parents, may inflate the correlations between the adopted children and their adopted parents
shared environmental influences
features of the environment that siblings share
- ex; the number of books in the home the presence or absence of a TV and VCR, the values and attitudes of the parent, the schools and the church
non-shared environmental influences
features of the environment that siblings do not share
ex- some children may get special or different treatment from parents, different groups of friends
genotype environment interaction
the differential response of individuals with different genotypes to the same environment
genotype environment correlation
the differential exposure of individuals with different environments
passive genotype environment correlation
occurs when parents provide both genes and environment to children, yet the children do nothing to obtain that environment
reaction genotype environment correlation
occurs when parents (or others) respond to children differently depending on the genotype
active genotype environment correlation
occurs when a person with a particular genotype creates or seeks out a particular environment
molecular genetics
techniques designed to identify the specific genes associated with specific traits, such as personality traits. the most common, called the association method, identifies whether individuals with particular gene have higher or lower scores on a particular trait measure
DRD4 gene
a gene located on the short arm of chromosome 11 that codes for a protein called a dopamine receptor. The function of this dopamine receptor is to respond to the presence of dopamine, which is neurotransmitter
environmentalist view
environmentalist believe that personality is determined by socialization practices, such as parenting style and other agents of society
physiological systems
organ systems within the body
ex - the nervous system, the cardiac system and the musculoskeletal system
theoretical bridge
the connection between two different variables
ex - dimensions of personality and physiological variables
electrodes
a sensor usually placed on the surface of the skin and linked to a physiological recording machine
telemetry
the process by which signals are sent from electrodes to a polygraph using radio waves instead of wires
Sympathetic nervous system
that branch of the automatic nervous system that supports the flight-or-fight response. SNS is activated when a person feels threatened or experiences strong emotions such as anxiety, guilt or anger
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that connects to vital bodily structures associated with maintaining life and responding to emergencies
electrodermal activity
electricity will flow across the skin with less resistance if that skin with less resistance if that skin is made damp with sweat. Sweating on the palms of the hands is activated by the sympathetic nervous system, and so electrodermal activity is a way to directly measure changes in the sympathetic nervous system
Cardiac reactivity
the increase in blood pressure and heart rate during times of stress. Evidence suggests that chronic cardiac reactivity contributes to coronary artery disease
ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
a structure in the brain stem thought to control overall cortical arousal: the structure Eysenck originally thought was responsible for differences between introverts and extraverts
Arousal level and arousability
in Eysencks original theory of extraversion, he held that extraverts had lower levels of cortical or brain arousal than introverts. More recent research suggests that the difference between introverts and extraverts lies more in the arousability of their nervous systems, with extraverts showing less arousablility or reactivity than invoverts to the same level of sensory stimulation
reinforcement sensitivity theory
Gray’s biological theory of personality. based on recent Brian function research with animals. Gray constructed a model of human personality based on 2 hypothesized biological systems
- the behavioural activation system
- the behavioural inhibition system
behavioural inhibition system (BIS)
in grays reinforcement sensitivity theory, the system responsible to cues for punishment, frustration and uncertainty. The effect of BIS activation is to cease or inhibit behaviour or to bring about avoidance behaviour. This system is highly correlated with the of neuroticism
behavioural inhibition system (BIS)
in grays reinforcement sensitivity theory, the system responsible to cues for punishment, frustration and uncertainty. The effect of BIS activation is to caese or inhibit behavior
genetic junk
the 98% of the DNA in human chromosomes that are protein-coding genes; scientists believed that these parts were functionless reside
DNA junk
not junk at all - parts of these chunks of DNA have an impact on humans affecting everything from persons physical size to personality
eugenics
the notion that the future of the human race can be influenced by fostering the reproduction of persons with certain traits, and discouraging reproduction among persons without those traits or who have undesirable traits
percentage variance
individuals vary or are different from each other, and this variability can be partitoned into percentages that are related to separated causes or separate variables
Heritability
is a statistic that refers to the proportion of observed variance in a group of individuals that can be explained or “accounted for” by genetic variance. describes the degree to which genetic differences between individuals caused differences in some observed property
- ex: height
phenotype variance
observed individual differences, such as in height, weight or personality
Monoamine oxidase
An enzyme found in the blood that is known to regulate neurotransmitters, those chemicals that carry messages between nerve cells. MAO may be a causal factor in the personality trait of sensation seeking
environmentally
the percentage of observed variance in a group of individuals that can be attributed to environmental (non-genetic) differences. Generally speaking, the larger the heritability, the smaller the environmentally. and vise versa, the smaller the heritability, the larger the environmentatily
Nature-Nurture debate
the ongoing debate as to whether genes or environment are more important determinate of personality