PP test 2 Flashcards

1
Q

genome

A

the complete set of genes an organism possesses. The human genome contains somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 genes

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2
Q

genome

A

the complete set of genes an organism possesses. The human genome contains somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 genes

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3
Q

genetic junk

A

the 98% of the DNA in human chromosomes that are protein-coding genes; scientists believed that these parts were functionless reside

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4
Q

DNA junk

A

not junk at all - parts of these chunks of DNA have an impact on humans affecting everything from persons physical size to personality

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5
Q

eugenics

A

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

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6
Q

percentage variance

A

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

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7
Q

Heritability

A

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

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8
Q

phenotype variance

A

observed individual differences, such as in height, weight or personality

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9
Q

genotype variance

A

genetic variance that is responsible for individual differences in phenotype expression of specific traits

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10
Q

environmentally

A

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

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11
Q

Nature-Nurture debate

A

the ongoing debate as to whether genes or environment are more important determinate of personality

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12
Q

selective breeding

A

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

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13
Q

family studies

A

correlate the degree of genetic overlap among family members with the degree of personality similarity

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14
Q

equal environments assumptions

A

assumption that environments experienced by identical twins are no more similar to each other than are the environments experienced by fraternal twins

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15
Q

equal environments assumptions

A

assumption that environments experienced by identical twins are no more similar to each other than are environments experienced by fraternal twins

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16
Q

selective placement

A

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

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17
Q

shared environmental influences

A

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

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18
Q

non-shared environmental influences

A

features of the environment that siblings do not share

ex- some children may get special or different treatment from parents, different groups of friends

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19
Q

genotype environment interaction

A

the differential response of individuals with different genotypes to the same environment

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20
Q

genotype environment correlation

A

the differential exposure of individuals with different environments

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21
Q

passive genotype environment correlation

A

occurs when parents provide both genes and environment to children, yet the children do nothing to obtain that environment

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22
Q

reaction genotype environment correlation

A

occurs when parents (or others) respond to children differently depending on the genotype

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23
Q

active genotype environment correlation

A

occurs when a person with a particular genotype creates or seeks out a particular environment

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24
Q

molecular genetics

A

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

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25
Q

DRD4 gene

A

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

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26
Q

environmentalist view

A

environmentalist believe that personality is determined by socialization practices, such as parenting style and other agents of society

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27
Q

physiological systems

A

organ systems within the body

ex - the nervous system, the cardiac system and the musculoskeletal system

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28
Q

theoretical bridge

A

the connection between two different variables

ex - dimensions of personality and physiological variables

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29
Q

electrodes

A

a sensor usually placed on the surface of the skin and linked to a physiological recording machine

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30
Q

telemetry

A

the process by which signals are sent from electrodes to a polygraph using radio waves instead of wires

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31
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

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

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32
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

the part of the peripheral nervous system that connects to vital bodily structures associated with maintaining life and responding to emergencies

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33
Q

electrodermal activity

A

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

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34
Q

Cardiac reactivity

A

the increase in blood pressure and heart rate during times of stress. Evidence suggests that chronic cardiac reactivity contributes to coronary artery disease

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35
Q

ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)

A

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

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36
Q

Arousal level and arousability

A

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

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37
Q

reinforcement sensitivity theory

A

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
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38
Q

behavioural inhibition system (BIS)

A

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

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39
Q

behavioural inhibition system (BIS)

A

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

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40
Q

genetic junk

A

the 98% of the DNA in human chromosomes that are protein-coding genes; scientists believed that these parts were functionless reside

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41
Q

DNA junk

A

not junk at all - parts of these chunks of DNA have an impact on humans affecting everything from persons physical size to personality

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42
Q

eugenics

A

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

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43
Q

percentage variance

A

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

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44
Q

Heritability

A

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

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45
Q

phenotype variance

A

observed individual differences, such as in height, weight or personality

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46
Q

Monoamine oxidase

A

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

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47
Q

environmentally

A

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

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48
Q

Nature-Nurture debate

A

the ongoing debate as to whether genes or environment are more important determinate of personality

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49
Q

selective breeding

A

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

50
Q

family studies

A

correlate the degree of genetic overlap among family members with the degree of personality similarity

51
Q

equal environments assumptions

A

assumption that environments experienced by identical twins are no more similar to each other than are the environments experienced by fraternal twins

52
Q

equal environments assumptions

A

assumption that environments experienced by identical twins are no more similar to each other than are environments experienced by fraternal twins

53
Q

selective placement

A

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

54
Q

shared environmental influences

A

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

55
Q

non-shared environmental influences

A

features of the environment that siblings do not share

ex- some children may get special or different treatment from parents, different groups of friends

56
Q

genotype environment interaction

A

the differential response of individuals with different genotypes to the same environment

57
Q

alpha wave

A

a particular type of brain wave that oscillates 8 to 12 times a second. The amount of alpha wave present in a given time period is an inverse indicator of brain activity during that time period. The alpha wave is given off when the person is calm and relaxed. In a given time period of brain wave recording, the more alpha wave activity present the more we can assume that part of the brain was less active

58
Q

passive genotype environment correlation

A

occurs when parents provide both genes and environment to children, yet the children do nothing to obtain that environment

59
Q

reaction genotype environment correlation

A

occurs when parents (or others) respond to children differently depending on the genotype

60
Q

active genotype environment correlation

A

occurs when a person with a particular genotype creates or seeks out a particular environment

61
Q

molecular genetics

A

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

62
Q

DRD4 gene

A

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

63
Q

environmentalist view

A

environmentalist believe that personality is determined by socialization practices, such as parenting style and other agents of society

64
Q

physiological systems

A

organ systems within the body

ex - the nervous system, the cardiac system and the musculoskeletal system

65
Q

theoretical bridge

A

the connection between two different variables

ex - dimensions of personality and physiological variables

66
Q

electrodes

A

a sensor usually placed on the surface of the skin and linked to a physiological recording machine

67
Q

telemetry

A

the process by which signals are sent from electrodes to a polygraph using radio waves instead of wires

68
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

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

69
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

the part of the peripheral nervous system that connects to vital bodily structures associated with maintaining life and responding to emergencies

70
Q

electrodermal activity

A

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

71
Q

Cardiac reactivity

A

the increase in blood pressure and heart rate during times of stress. Evidence suggests that chronic cardiac reactivity contributes to coronary artery disease

72
Q

ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)

A

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

73
Q

Arousal level and arousability

A

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

74
Q

reinforcement sensitivity theory

A

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
75
Q

behavioural activation system (BAS)

A

in Gray reinforcement sensitivity theory, the system that is responsive to incentives, such as cues for rewards and regulates approach behaviour. when some stimulus is recognized as potentially rewarding, the BAS triggers approach behaviour. When some stimulus is recognized as potentially rewarding, the BAS triggers approach behaviour. This system is highly correlated with trait extraversion

76
Q

behavioural inhibition system (BIS)

A

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

77
Q

anxiety

A

an unpleasant, high-arousal emotional state associated with perceived threat. In the psychoanalytic tradition, anxiety is seen as a signal that the control of the ego is being threatened by reality, impulses from the id, or harsh controls exerted by the superego. Freud identified three different types of anxiety; neurotic anxiety, moral anxiety, and objective anxiety. According to Rogers the unpleasant emotional state of anxiety is the result of having an experience that does not fit with one’s self conception

78
Q

impulsively

A

a personality trait that refers to lowered self-control, especially in the potentially rewarding activities, the tendency to act before one thinks, and a lowered ability to anticipate the consequences of one’s behaviour

79
Q

Sensation seeking

A

a dimension of personality postulated to have physiological basis. It refers to the tendency to seek out thrilling and exciting activities, to take risks, and to avoid boredom

80
Q

Sensory deprivation

A

often done in a sound-proof chamber containing water in which a person floats, in total darkness, such that sensory input is reduced to a minimum. Researchers use sensory deprivation chambers to see what happens when a person is deprived of sensory input

81
Q

Optimal level of arousal

A

Hebb believed that people are motivated to reach an optimal level of arousal. if they are under-aroused relative to this level, an increase in arousal is rewarding; conversely, if they are over-aroused, a decrease in arousal is rewarding. By optimal level of arousal, Hebb meant a level that is “just right” for any given task

82
Q

Comorbidity

A

the presence of two or more disorders of any type in one person

83
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemicals in the nerve cells that are responsible for the transmission of a nerve impulse from one cell to another. some theories of personality are based directly on different amounts of neurotransmitters found in the nervous system

84
Q

Monoamine oxidase

A

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

85
Q

dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter that appears to be associated with pleasure, dopamine appears to function something like the “reward system” and has been called the ‘feel good’ chemical

86
Q

serotonin

A

a neurotransmitter that plays a role in depression and other mood disorders. Drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil block the rep-uptake of serotonin, leaving it in the synapse longer, leading depressed persons to feel less depressed

87
Q

norepinephrine

A

a neurotransmitter involved in activating the sympathetic nervous system for flight or fight

88
Q

tridimensional personality model

A

Cloninger’s tridimensional personality model ties three specific personality traits to levels of the three neurotransmitters, The first trait is called novelty seeking and is based on low levels of dopamine. The second personality trait is harm avoidance, which he associates with low levels of serotonin. The third trait is reward dependance, which coninger sees as related to low levels of norepinephrine

89
Q

novelty seeking

A

in Clongingers tridimensional personality model, the personality trait of novelty seeking is based on low levels of dopamine. Low levels of dopamine create a drive state to obtain substances or experiences that increase dopamine. Novelty and thrills and excitement can make up for low levels of dopamine, and so novelty-seeking behaviour is thought to result from low levels of this neurotransmitters

90
Q

Harm avoidance

A

in cloninger’s tridimensional personality model, the personality trait of harm avoidance is associated with low levels of serotonin. People low in serotonin are sensitive to unpleasant stimuli or to stimuli or events that have been associated with punishment or pain. Consequently, people low in serotonin seem to expect that harmful and unpleasant events will happen to them, and they are constantly vigilant for signs of such threatening events

91
Q

reward dependance

A

In Cloninger’s tridimensional personality model, the personality trait of reward dependence is associated with low levels of norepinephrine. people high on this trait are persistent; they continue to act in ways that produce reward. They work long hours, put a lot of effort into their work, and will often continue striving after others have given up

92
Q

morningness - eveningness

A

The stable differences between persons in preferences for being active at different times of the day. The term was coined to refer to this dimension. Differences between mornings - and evening - types of persons appear to be due to differences in the length of there underlying circadian biological rhythms

93
Q

circadian rhythm

A

many biological processes fluctuate around an approximate 24 - to 25 - hour cycle. These are called circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms in temporal isolation studies have been found to be as short as 16 hours in one person, and as long as 50 hours in another person.

94
Q

free running

A

a condition in studies of circadian rhythms in which participants are deprived from knowing what time it is (ex - meals are served when the participant asks for them, not at prescheduled times). when a person is free running in time, there is no time cues to influence behaviour or biology

95
Q

frontal brain asymmetry

A

asymmetry in the amount of activity in the left and right part of the frontal hemispheres of the brain. Studies using EEG measures have linked more relative left brain activity with pleasant emotions and more relative right brain activity with negative emotions

96
Q

cortisol

A

a stress hormone that prepares the body to flee or fight. Increases in cortisol in the blood indicates that the animal has recently experienced stress

97
Q

natural selection

A

Darwin reasoned that variants that better enabled an organism to survive and reproduce would lead to more descendants. The descendants, therefore, would inherit the variant that led to their ancestors’ survival and reproduction. Through this process, the successful variants were selected, and unsuccessful variants weeded out. Natural selection, therefore, results in gradual changes in a species over time, as successful variants increase in frequency and eventually spread throughout the gene pool, replacing the less successful variants

98
Q

hostile forces of nature

A

hostile forces of nature are what Darwin called any event that impedes survival. Hostile forces of nature include food shortages, diseases, parasites, predators, and extremes of weather

99
Q

sexual selection

A

the evolution of characteristics because of their mating benefits rather than because of their survival benefits. according to Darwin, sexual selection takes two forms; intrasexual competition and intersexual selection

100
Q

intrasexual competition

A

In Darwin’s intasexual competition, members of the same sex compete with each other, and the outcome of their contest gives the winner greater sexual access to members of the opposite sex. Two stages locking horns in combat is the prototypical image of this. The characteristics that lead to success in contents of this kind, such as greater strength, intelligence, or attractiveness to allies, evolve because the victors are able to mate more often and hence pass on more genes

101
Q

intersexual selection

A

in Darwin’s intersexual selection, members of one sex choose a mate based on their preferences for particular qualities in that mate. These characteristics evolve because animals that posses them are chosen more often as mates, and their genes thrive. Animals that lack the desired characteristics are excluded from mating, and their genes perish

102
Q

differential gene reproduction

A

reproductive success relative to others. the genes of organisms who reproduce more than others get passed down to future generations at a relatively greater frequency than the genes of those who reproduce less

103
Q

inclusive fitness theory

A

modern evolutionary theory based on differential gene reproduction. The “inclusive” part refers to the fact that the characteristics that affect reproduction need not affect the personal production of offspring; they can affect the survival and reproduction of genetic relatives as well

104
Q

adaptive problem

A

anything that impedes survival or reproduction. all adaptations must contribute to fitness during the period of time in which they evolve by helping an organism to survive, reproduce, or facilitate the reproductive success of genetic relatives

105
Q

xenophobia

A

the fear of strangers

106
Q

byproducts of adaptations

A

evolutionary mechanisms that are not adaptations, but rather are byproducts of other adaptations.
- ex; nose is adaptation for smelling, but the fact that we use of nose to hold up eye glasses is incidental byproduct

107
Q

domain specific

A

domain specificity implies thats election tends to fashion specific mechanisms for each specific adaptive problem

108
Q

functionality

A

the notion that our psychological mechanisms are designed to accomplish particular adaptive goals

109
Q

deductive reasoning approach

A

the top-down, theory driven method of empirical approach

110
Q

inductive reasoning approach

A

the bottom-up, data-driven method of empirical research

111
Q

social anxiety

A

discomfort related to social interactions, or even the anticipation of social interactions
- Baumeister and Tice propose that social anxiety is a species-typical adaptation that functions to prevent to prevent social exclusion

112
Q

evolutionary-predicted sex differences

A

evolutionary psychology predicts that males and females will be the same or similar in all those domains where the sexes have faced the same or similar adaptive problems
- ex; both sexes have sweat glands because both sexes have faced the adaptive problem of thermal regulation

113
Q

effective polygyny

A

because female mammals bear the physical burden of gestation and lactation, there is considerable sex differences in minimum obligatory parental investment.

  • this difference leads to differenaces in the variance in reproduction between the sexes
  • ex; most females have some offspring, whereas a few males will sire many offspring, and some will have none at all
114
Q

sexually dimorphic

A

species that show high variance in reproduction within one sex tend to be highly sexually dimorpic, or different in size and structure

115
Q

reactively heritable

A

traits that are secondary consequences of heritability traits

116
Q

balanced selection

A

when genetic variation is maintained by section because different levels of personality trait are adaptive in different environments

117
Q

psychopathy

A

a term often used synonymously with the antisocial personality disorder. it is used to refer to individual differences in antisocial characteristics

118
Q

unrestricted mating strategy

A

a women seeking a man for the quality of his genes is not interested in his level of commitment to her. if the man is pursuing a short term sexual strategy, any delay on the women’s part may deter him from seeking sexual intercourse with her, thus defeating the main adaptive reason for her mating strategy
- gangestad and Simpson

119
Q

restricted sexual strategy

A

a women seeking a high-investing mate would adopt a restricted sexual strategy marked by delayed intercourse and prolonged courtship. this would enable her to assess the man’s level of commitment, detect the existence of prior commitments to other women and/ or children, and simultaneously signal to the man the women’s sexual fidelity and, hence, assure him of his paternity of future offspring

120
Q

psychic energy

A

a source of energy within each person