Chapter 4: Biological Perspective (Inheritance, Evolution and Personality)

Question 1

Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart

Answer 1

Heritablity plays a role in following traits:

• sexual orientation
• cognition
• intelligence
• job satisfaction
• psychopathology
• religiosity
• aggression
• creativity
• temperament etc.

Question 2

The Biological Perspective

Answer 2

• personality characteristics are genetically determined
• personality and behavioral tendencies have been determined by evolutionary pressure
• personality is a result of a complex biological system, interaction between biological processes

Question 3

Heritability

Answer 3

degree of genetic influence on personality

Question 4

Temperament

Answer 4

• inherited personality traits present in early childhood
• theory: infant temperament = prediction for adult personality
• research is controversial: week predictor

Question 5

Temperament according to Buss and Plomin

Answer 5

• activity level: overall output of energy or behavior
• sociability: tendency to be with people rather than being alone, desire for interaction, social rewards
• Emotionality: tendency to become physiologically aroused in stressful situations

Question 6

Temperament and the Five Factor Model

Answer 6

• Emotionality - Neuroticism
• Sociability - Extroversion, Agreeableness
• Conscientiousness - lack of impulsivity
• Openness to experience - intelligence

Question 7

Personality Traits and Family History

Answer 7

• risk factors: divorce, social support, mental illness, alcoholism etc.
• evidence suggest family history influences traits
• nature or nurture?

Question 8

Inheritance and Sexual Orientation

Answer 8

• concordance rate for homosexuality is higher among MZ twins than DZ twins
• family history studies: homosexual men have more homosexual males on the maternal side of the family (genetic influence might be on the X chromosome)

Question 9

Effects of the Environment on Personality

Answer 9

• peer influences
• experience-seeking
• reward patterns

Question 10

Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 10

behavior and social interaction are products of human evolution (sociobiology)

Question 11

How do evolutionary psychologists explain behavior and personality?

Answer 11

studying evolutionary roots of the individual, family or species

Question 12

Biological Altruism

Answer 12

• altruistic behavior when it benefits other organisms at cost of oneself
• costs and benefits are measured in terms of reproductive fitness (expected number of offspring)
• altruistic behavior: organism reduces the number of offspring it is likely to produce itself, but boosts the number of offspring that other organism are likely to produce
• Self-sacrifice: helps gene pool survive

Question 13

Genetic Similarity Theory

Answer 13

• attraction to individuals with similar genetic characteristics
• ensure that genetic characteristics are passed on
• couples with children share 52% of genetic markers
• couples without children share 44%

Question 14

Characteristics women seek when mating

Answer 14

• more invested in offspring
• men who can provide resources for offspring
• focused on status, dominance, wealth and potential wealth

Question 15

Characteristics men seek when mating

Answer 15

• women who can provide offspring

- fertility indicators: youth, beauty, health

Question 16

Evolutionary Explanation for Jealousy

Answer 16

• men fear other male genes might be passed on

- women are more upset about emotional infidelity: fear that man will no longer support their offspring

Question 17

Inheritance of Abnormal Behavior

Answer 17

• if normal personality traits can be passed on, abnormal can be too
• psychopathology is caused by genetic vulnerabilities, abnormalities, neurotransmitter and hormonal imbalances (schizophrenia)
• according to this perspective: ability to modify maladaptive personality traits is limited