Traits & Biological Approaches (Chapter 9

Question 1

mbti critique

Answer 1

not empirically tested
no one personality type
low re-test reability
ignore the spectrum

Question 2

·Nature-nurture debate (e.g., height: both genetic and environmental)

Answer 2

while 5% is shared environmental influences

ex. height is genetically predisposed but because of our environment our height can be stunned

Question 3

Genetic findings: twin designs (identical and fraternal) and adoption designs (why do we use these and what can we conclude?

Answer 3

• When MZ twins were raised in different environments there was some correlation
  of having similar traits in the .45 to .50 range. Being raised in the same household did not make a difference in having similar traits

-genetics showed a bigger contribution than shared environmental influence

-genetics show contributed 45% of personality

Question 4

Shared and nonshared influences on personality

Answer 4

shared influences did not have a huge effect on personality non-shared influences have a greater impact
explains why siblings raised in the same house have different personalities

Question 5

unshared influences

Answer 5

peer groups, and any activities that are not shared with siblings

Question 6

·Examples of non-shared environmental effects: birth order and sibling niches (Frank Sulloway

Answer 6

Frank Sulloway created niches that fit the birth order similar to Adler oldest siblings are stronger
Birth order plays a role in personality development because the order in which an individual was born, affects their experience, such as how their parents treated them, which influences their personality.

Birth order represents a unique environment since
siblings have individual experiences that shape them

-First borns are more likely to have high C, high E, high, N= Surrgoate parents
-Later borns are more likely to have high O, high , A

Question 7

The importance of the peer group (Judith Harris)

Answer 7

peer group influences ones personality says parents do not influence children’s personality that much

genes and the peer group together
are more important than the parents’ behavior

non-shared environment more important than share/unique environment

Question 8

Eysenck’s optimal arousal model;

Answer 8

extraverts are less sensitive stimuli so they seek more intense stimuli ex. Louder music, bigger parties, to reach the same arousal level than others

LOOK FOR STIMUL

Introverts react more strongly to the same stimuli

Question 9

Positive Emotionality;

Answer 9

Experiencing & expressing positive emotions is a core trait. Emotions are biologically pre-wired so E has a biological basis

more sociabily=smiles to be approachable

Question 10

Behavioral Approach System (BAS)

Answer 10

Active pursuit of rewards/reinforcements.
They pursue what feels food such as friends,popularity, statues, and mates

LOOK FOR WHAT FEELS GOOD

Question 11

Evolutionary Psychology: “mate selection” and male vs. female preferences and gender differences in jealousy

Answer 11

Males are wired to seek women for reproduction value, since they cannot be sure that the child is theirs they get more jealous over sexual cheating

Women seek mates for resources and protection if they see their mates emotionally cheating they feel threaten and see their security & resources being taken away

Question 12

The nature of trait effects on behavior and life outcomes (punctuality study;
conscientiousness predicting health and longevity—small effects that accumulate over time

Answer 12

Behavior = function of both traits and situation
We behave differently in different situations

Behavior varies across situations but individual differences show some cross-situational consistency.
Effects of traits are small in any situation (5 min. late for low C participants) but these effects accumulate
over time (e.g., 2 hrs of work missed in a month; C effects on health over life time