Psychology 3 Flashcards
Behavioral Genetics
- Genes, Temperament, and Heredity
- Define “Temperament”
- When is one’s temperament established?
- How does it change throughout one’s life span?
- Define “Temperament”
TEMPERAMENT
- Describes one’s general emotional disposition
- Temperament has been shown to be established at birth and relatively persistent across the life span
Behavioral Genetics
- Nature vs. Nurture: “The Grand Debate,” Heredity vs. Environment
Interdependence of Genes & Environment
- Scenario #3: Same Genes, Different Environment
Environment⇒Disease OR No Disease
- In many cases, a gene will remain phenotypically irrelevant in the absence of disease-inducing environmental conditions
- Genetic mutations that result in loss of enzymatic function are prime examples
- e.g., PKU, galactosemia
- A child born with galactosemia lacks one or more enzymes specific to the metabolism of galactose
- The results can be fatal
- However, if the child is kept on a low-galactose diet (environmental change), the disease has essentially no harmful effect
- e.g., PKU, galactosemia
- Genetic mutations that result in loss of enzymatic function are prime examples
Behavioral Genetics
- Nature vs. Nurture Study Methods
- A less-frequent Twin Study design type is to compare the frequency of a trait among DZ (fraternal; non-identical) twins raised together to the frequency of that same trait among DZ twins raised apart
- Why is this design less likely to be employed?
- What are its potential limitations?
The population of DZ twins raised apart is considerably smaller
- ∴ access to this limited population can be challenging
This particular design can also be problematic because:
- DZ twins are no more genetically similar than any non-twin siblings
- There would be a host of potential confounding variables
- …that might have contributed to the NEED to rear the twins separately
- i.e. overall lack of consistency all-around
- …that might have contributed to the NEED to rear the twins separately
Behavioral Genetics
Genetically-based Behavior Variation in Natural Populations
- Do the following hypothetical findings, if true, most support a genetic influence on behavior (nature), or an environmental influence on behavior (nurture)? Why?
1. Bipolar Disorder is more likely among individuals who have a sibling who has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
2. Adopted children who exhibit aggressive behavior are more likely to have a biological parent who also exhibits aggressive behaviors than they are to have an adoptive parent who exhibits aggressive behaviors
3. The concordance rate for alcoholism among MZ twins raised together is higher than the concordance rate for MZ twins raised apart
4. MZ twins raised together have more similar IQs than do DZ twins raised together
5. Strain X of MZ twin rats had a hereditary disposition toward obesity, while Strain Y did not- Both strains were divided into groups and fed either a below-average amount of food, or an above-average amount of food
- The amount of food fed to the rats was a effective predictor of life span than was Strain X or Y
- Arguments could be made for both nature and nurture
- Given the genetic relatedness among siblings, one could argue that there is a strong genetic component involved in bipolar disorder
- However, given that most siblings are raised in the same family environments, there could be key shared experiences in that context that increase the likelihood of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
- This would support a nature argument
- If aggression levels are more similar to biological relatives compared to adopted relatives, then this would suggest a genetic underpinning.
- This would support a nurture argument
- MZ twins are genetically identical
- therefore, one would argue that differences in alcoholism could be attributed to different environmental contexts in which these individuals are raised
- MZ twins are genetically identical
- This would support a nature argument
- Given that both sets of twins are raised in similar environments, one would assume that the higher concordance of IQs among MZ twins would be attributable to genetics.
- This would support a nurture argument
- Amount of food available was more predictive than genetic predisposition to obesity
Behavioral Genetics
- Nature vs. Nurture: “The Grand Debate,” Heredity vs. Environment
- For every ___al, ____al, or ___al characteristic or behavior, scientists ask WHAT question?
- What almost always the answer?
- For every psychological, sociological, or biological characteristic or behavior, scientists have asked the question
- “Is this primarily the result of genes (nature), or the influence of the environment (nurture)?”*
- The answer is most often (but not always)
BOTH!
Behavioral Genetics
- Nature vs. Nurture: “The Grand Debate,” Heredity vs. Environment
Interdependence of Genes & Environment
- Scenario #2: Different Genes, Same Environment
Genes⇒Environment
- Suppose you have a genetic predisposition toward high IQ and your adopted brother has a predisposition toward low IQ
- You are raised in the same home and loved equally
- One would assume environment will be controlled, or the same, for both of you
- However, as your genes are expressed, they impact your mother
- When she smiles at you, you smile back
- You talk earlier than your brother and are more interactive
Almost unavoidably, your mother will begin treating YOU differently
- While you do have the genes for higher IQ, those genes are not acting ALONGSIDE the environment
- …they are actually CHANGING the environment!
- The same is true of your adopted brother
- He gets less attention and praise because he interacts less
- In this case, the influence of genes on environment makes the disparity between you and your brother greater than one would expect based on the genetic differences
Behavioral Genetics
-
EXPERIENCE-BASED (Environmental) INFLUENCES ON BEHAVIOR:
- The influence of experience on behavior would include everything that is NOT ______
- Give some examples
- The influence of experience on behavior would include everything that is NOT ______
The influence of experience on behavior would include everything that is NOT GENETIC
- Learning
- Conditioning
- Socializing
- One’s environment, and
- any other experience you encounter in life
…all impact your behavior
Behavioral Genetics
- Regulatory Genes and Behavior
- Define & Describe “Regulatory Genes”
Regulatory genes
are genes that code for a substance that regulates the transcription of ANOTHER GENE
- Includes:
- up or down regulation
- promotion
- inhibition
Behavioral Genetics
-
Genetically-based Behavior Variation in Natural Populations
- …provide evidence for the influence of genetics on behavior
Describe the following 3 observations and how they show the influence of genetics on behavior
- Species-Specific Behaviors
- Animal Breeding
- Familial Concordance
-
Species-Specific Behaviors
- Behavior observed only among members of the same species
-
Animal Breeding
- Animals can be bred to exhibit target behaviors, such as:
- Aggression being genetically-selected for in rodeo bulls
- Hunting skills being genetically-selected for in certain dog breeds
- Animals can be bred to exhibit target behaviors, such as:
-
Familial Concordance
- Behaviors shown to run in families
OR
- be more frequent among children of parents with that behavioral trait
Behavioral Genetics
- Behavior and Natural Selection:
Describe:
- Innate Behavior
- Learned Behavior
- Adaptive Value
- Traits with high adaptive value are more likely to…?
- Why?
- Traits with high adaptive value are more likely to…?
- What is “Adaptive Evolution,” and what 2 things can it occur with?
Innate Behavior
- Behavior thought to be predominantly genetic and present regardless of environmental influences
Learned Behavior
- Behaviors thought to be predominantly environmental (i.e., learned via experience), and independent of heredity
Adaptive Value
- The degree to which a behavior INCREASES EVOLUTIONARY FITNESS
- Traits with high adaptive value are more likely to be represented in future generations
- Because natural selection favors the most fit individuals and behaviors, these behaviors will eventually result in a change in the gene pool—
- an increase in the more adaptive trait
- Because natural selection favors the most fit individuals and behaviors, these behaviors will eventually result in a change in the gene pool—
- Traits with high adaptive value are more likely to be represented in future generations
This is adaptive evolution and it can occur with:
- both physical traits
- e.g., Darwin’s Finches and beak structure
- …and behavioral traits
- e.g., Different dog breeds bred for different behaviors
Behavioral Genetics
Nature vs. Nurture Study Methods
- Describe:
- FAMILY studies
- ADOPTION studies
Family Studies
- Compare frequency of behavior/condition/trait among related individuals to the frequency of that same measure among non-relatives
Adoption Studies
- Compare the behaviors/conditions/traits of an adopted child to those of its adoptive parents;
- Simultaneously compare that same child, on those same measures, to its biological parents.
Behavioral Genetics
- Nature vs. Nurture Study Methods
- For the following twin study experimental design types, identify the dependent variable, independent variable, any obvious study limitations, and—if present—the control:
- Family Studies
- Adoption Studies
- Twin Study
- MZ vs. DZ, both raised together
- Twin Study
- MZ and MZ, raised together vs. apart
- For the following twin study experimental design types, identify the dependent variable, independent variable, any obvious study limitations, and—if present—the control:
Family Studies
Dependent variable:
- rates of neurodegenerative disease
“Independent” variable:
- degree of relatedness
- this is not a true independent variable
- because it cannot be actively manipulated
- ∴ this research is correlational in nature (and has all the inherent problems of correlational research)
- because it cannot be actively manipulated
- this is not a true independent variable
This is usually referred to as a quasi-independent variable
Think “Quasimodo”= DEFORMED
- Family studies are limited –
-
because families in which the disease occurs will be selectively recruited
- which makes sample representativeness problematic
- “Sampling Bias”
-
because families in which the disease occurs will be selectively recruited
Adoption Studies
- Dependent variable:
- IQ
-
Quasi-independent variable:
- adopted vs. biological
- These types of studies are difficult to do because:
- there is a relatively small population to select from
- Difficulty in attaining information about biological relatives of adopted individuals
Twin Study
MZ vs. DZ, both raised together
- Dependent variable:
- aggression level
-
Quasi-independent variable:
- degree of relatedness (MZ vs. DZ twin)
- Potential limitations lie again in generalizability
Twin Study
MZ and MZ, raised together vs. apart
- Dependent variable:
- obesity
-
Quasi-independent variable:
- reared together or apart
- These studies are difficult because access to these populations is very limited
Behavioral Genetics
- Nature vs. Nurture: “The Grand Debate,” Heredity vs. Environment
- Describe “Interdependence”
INTERDEPENDENCE
- The influence of genes and environment on biology and behavior goes well beyond the simple fact that BOTH factors influence most traits
- The two influences are often interdependent—literally changing each other
Behavioral Genetics
- Nature vs. Nurture: “The Grand Debate,” Heredity vs. Environment
Interdependence of Genes & Environment
- Scenario #1: Same Genes, Different Environment
Environment⇒Gene Expression
- Suppose your genes predispose you to a high IQ, but your environment includes a mother who is biased against people who “think they are smart.”
- Your mother’s reinforcement can actually CHANGE the way your genes are expressed
- Suppose your identical twin is adopted by a mother with a PhD who constantly encourages learning
- YOUR brain may perform neuronal pruning on underused synapses that are underused because your mom discourages learning
- Your twin brother has those neuronal synapses strengthened because he uses them—
- under the influence of an encouraging mother
- One would expect the same “IQ genes” to produce the same neurological structures and capacity, but that is NOT the case
- because environment altered gene expression
Behavioral Genetics
Nature vs. Nurture: “The Grand Debate,” Heredity vs. Environment
- Interdependence of Genes & Environment
Scenario #4: Same Genes, Different Environment
Environment⇒Covalent Modification of the DNA⇒Dramatically Different Physiology
- Evidence exists for cases where the gene (i.e., DNA structure) itself is covalently altered by the environment
- One study showed that increased licking behavior by a mother rat resulted in methylation of a segment of DNA (preventing transcription) that codes for a regulatory protein which upregulates transcription of a membrane receptor
- This direct change in physiology persisted into adulthood
- Amazingly, the methylation occurred within one week and could be reversed if the mother’s licking behavior was reversed!
Behavioral Genetics
Nature vs. Nurture Study Methods
- Describe Twin Studies
- Also, differentiate b/t the 2 types:
- Dizygotic Twins (“DZ”) aka?
- Monozygotic Twins (“MZ”) aka?
- Also, differentiate b/t the 2 types:
Twin Studies
- Compare concordance rates between monozygotic (MZ) twins raised in the same family to dizygotic (DZ) twins raised in the bfamily
OR
- Compare concordance rates for monozygotic twins raised in the same family to those raised apart
Monozygotic Twins
a.k.a., “Identical Twins”
- Genetic influence is CONTROLLED
- Studies examine twins raised in different homes–
- so that environmental influence is VARIABLE
Dizygotic Twins
a.k.a., “Fraternal Twins” or NON-identical
- Genetic influence is VARIABLE
- Studies examine twins in the same home–
- so that environmental influence is CONTROLLED
Behavioral Genetics
- Nature vs. Nurture Study Methods
- Suppose you are asked to design a study to investigate the degree to which Behavior X is HERITABLE
- also–what does “heritability” refer to?
- Rank the studies outlined above (Family, Adoption, Twin) according to their increasing ability to produce accurate results WITHOUT confounding variables
- Discuss the individual limitations of each study for this purpose
- Suppose you are asked to design a study to investigate the degree to which Behavior X is HERITABLE
“Heritability” refers to the percentage (%) of trait variability that is attributable to GENES
Twin studies
- involving DZ twins raised together compared to MZ twins raised together
- would be one of the BEST TOOLS AVAILABLE to estimate a given trait’s heritability–
- because it is generally assumed that the shared environments would be so similar as to be inconsequential to contributing to trait variability
- ∴ less confounding variables
- because it is generally assumed that the shared environments would be so similar as to be inconsequential to contributing to trait variability
- would be one of the BEST TOOLS AVAILABLE to estimate a given trait’s heritability–
Family studies
- Would be another way to get at this question
- However, as one moves outside of one’s immediate family, larger variations would be expected
- …in terms of environmental factors
Adoption studies
- Are also potential tools provided that:
- information is available about the trait of interest from the biological parents
- If the adopted child is more similar to biological parents than to the adopted parents
- then one could argue that there was substantial heritability for that trait
Behavioral Genetics
- Regulatory Genes and Behavior
- Describe how the example below shows how Regulatory Genes influence behavior
Same Genes, Different Environment
Environment ⇒Covalent Modification of the DNA⇒Dramatically Different Physiology
Evidence exists for cases where the gene (i.e., DNA structure) itself is covalently altered by the environment
One study showed that increased licking behavior by a mother rat resulted in methylation of a segment of DNA (preventing transcription) that codes for a regulatory protein which upregulates transcription of a membrane receptor
LICKING=A WAY RAT COPED WITH STRESS
This direct change in physiology persisted into adulthood
Amazingly, the methylation occurred within one week and could be reversed if the mother’s licking behavior was reversed
- In this case, a certain gene influenced an individual’s ability to cope with stress
- However, it wasn’t this “stress coping” gene that was regulated–
- It was the regulator OF the “stress coping” gene that was “turned off”–
- via methylation of the DNA sequence (gene) coding for the regulator
- It was the regulator OF the “stress coping” gene that was “turned off”–
Under normal conditions, the regulator promotes transcription (and therefore translation) of a glucocorticoid membrane receptor
**By preventing the synthesis of the promoter**, thebehavior of the mothereffectivelyALTEREDthegenetically-determined behavior of the child (i.e., the child’s ability to cope with stress).
The ENTIRE CNS=___+___
=BRAIN + SPINAL CORD
Personality
- Other (aka Non-Freud or Jung) Personality Types:
Describe the most basic components of the personality theories of ALFRED ADLER
- Creative Self
- Style of life
- Fictional Finalism
- Inferiority Complex

Alfred Adler (A Neo-Freudian)
- Adler espoused a much more OPTIMISTIC view of human nature than did Freud
As such, Adler believed that all human behavior was guided through a process of self-improvement and success
- and that each individual’s personality was forged through his/her choices
- …and was often motivated by feelings of inferiority that each of us experiences in some aspect of our lives
- This is known as the concept of “Creative Self”
-
…and it helps to forge a person’s “Style of Life”,
- or “unconscious patterns of behavior in dealing with all aspects of life”
-
…and it helps to forge a person’s “Style of Life”,
- Adler believed that Freud’s focus on childhood experiences and their role in establishing adult personality represented “Fictional finalism”
- …because this approach ignores the active role that individuals play in determining their own personalities
- Individuals who fail to use their feelings of inferiority as motivation for self-improvement may experience an inferiority complex–
- by which they feel entirely overwhelmed and powerless as a result of their shortcomings
Theories of Personality
- Humanistic Personality Theories
Psychoanalytic vs. Humanistic Perspectives on Personality
- Think of “Psychoanalytic” as:
- Think of “Humanistic” as:
How do compare a person with their neuroses?
(aka mental illnesses)
THINK of Psychoanalytic as:
- Patients are “sick”, repressed, or have other troubles in need of treatment
A person is DEFINED by their neuroses
THINK of Humanistic as:
- How healthy individuals strive toward self-realization
- Has a more HOLISTIC view
A person is MORE than just the sum of their neuroses
Theories of Personality
- Humanistic Personality Theories
Describe Max Wertheimer’s “Gestalt Therapy”

MAX WERTHEIMER: Gestalt Therapy
- A humanist approach to therapy emphasizing the treatment of the individual as a whole
- Rather than* reducing the person to a sum of their individual behaviors, drives, or neuroses
Theories of Personality
- Humanistic Personality Theories
Describe Kurt Lewin’s “Field Theory”

KURT LEWIN: Field Theory
- Focuses on the state-of-mind of the patient as
- the sum of interactions between:
- their individual personality, and
- the “total field” (environment)
- the sum of interactions between:
Personality Theories
- Humanistic Personality Theories
Describe Carl Rogers’ “Client-Centered Therapy” (CCT)

CARL ROGERS: Client-Centered Therapy (CCT)
- One of the most widely-used psychotherapeutic approaches
- In CCT, therapists should NOT direct the therapy or offer solutions
THE CLIENT DIRECTS THE DISCUSSION
- Further, the therapist must always be:
- empathetic,
- genuine and
- show unconditional positive regard for the client
…REGARDLESS of circumstance
- Finally, Rogers emphasized calling the recipient a “client” rather than a “patient”
- to avoid the concept that they are “sick” and need help
- –which he viewed as judgmental
- to avoid the concept that they are “sick” and need help

























































