The Family

Question 1

What is Socialization and individualization?

Answer 1

Socialisation: acquisition of norms, values and behaviours that are normative [i.e. expected] for a given culture
Individualization: acquisition of characteristics that are unique to a given individual

Question 2

Describe Maccoby and Martin(1983) models of parenting

Answer 2

Two parental attitudes towards offspring:
– Warmth/closeness (acceptance of the child, responsiveness to his/her needs)
– Control (demand, achievement expectations)

Question 3

Describe Maccoby and Martin(1983) four child rearing styles

Answer 3

Acceptance - Control + = AUTHORITARIAN (power assertive) STYLE
Acceptance + Control + =AUTHORITATIVE
(reciprocal) STYLE
Acceptance - Control - = NEGLECTING
(uninvolved) STYLE
Acceptance + Control - = INDULGENT (permissive) STYLE

Question 4

Name some problems with the Maccoby and Martins model

Answer 4

1. Model is simplistic, doesn’t cover a lot of examples
2. Model does not capture current challenges of parenting
3. What makes best parenting style may be based on context
4. Different children require different styles
5. Different children may evoke different parenting styles
6. Relationship between what parents do (parenting styles) may in fact be a matter of biology rather than experience

Question 5

What are Behavioral genetics

Answer 5

The field of science that tries to explain human (or animal) behaviour in terms of relative contribution of genetics and environment

Question 6

Name some key concepts of behavioral genetics?

Answer 6

• Phenotype: observable traits (characteristics) of an organism
• Genotype: genetic makeup of an organism, information encoded in cell DNA
• Heritability: proportion of phenotypical differences between organisms that can be attributed to genotypical differences
  (i.e. differences in their DNA)

Question 7

Behavioral genetics: environment types

Answer 7

Shared environment: All environmental input (resources and experiences) that is shared by two (or more) people and results in them becoming more alike
Unique environment: All environmental input that is: specific to one person (i.e. not shared with others), or Shared by two (or more) people but experienced differently by them, resulting in them becoming more different

Question 8

Are traits heritable?

Answer 8

Conclusion: virtually all traits (including psychological ones) are heritable to some extent – though how much depends on a
trait

Question 9

Name Three types of gene-environment
correlation?(occur when there are genetically influenced differences in exposure to environmental risk factors.)

Answer 9

1. Passive gene-environment correlation. Insofar as parents and children share the genotype, the child should respond favorably to parental upbringing efforts
2. Evocative gene-environment correlation. Reactions of other people triggered (evoked) by person’s inherited characteristics
3. Active gene-environment correlation: niche picking. Actively seeking an environment that is congenial with one’s own inherited characteristics