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Intro to Psych > Chapter 4 > Flashcards

Chapter 4 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is behaviour genetics?

A

“The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour.”

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2
Q

What is the environment?

A

Any influence that isn’t genetic.

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3
Q

What are chromosomes?

A

Threadlike structures contained in the nucleus of cells that are made up of DNA molecules which contain genes.

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4
Q

What is DNA?

A

“A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.”

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5
Q

What are genes?

A

Small segments of DNA molecules that code for particular proteins.

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6
Q

What do genes provide the code for?

A

Protein molecules, our body’s building blocks.

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7
Q

What is a genome?

A

“the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.”

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8
Q

What does the term polygenetic refer to?

A

The fact that our traits cannot be traced to a single gene, but are influenced by the effects of many genes.

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9
Q

Put the following cell structures in order from smallest to largest: nucleus, gene, chromosome.

A

Gene, chromosome, nucleus.

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10
Q

How do behavior geneticists explain our individual differences?

A

“Most of our differing traits are polygenetic, and are influenced by the interaction of our individual environments with our genetic predispositions.”

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11
Q

What is the human genome?

A

The shared genetic profile of all humans.

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12
Q

What are monozygotic twins?

A

Genetically identical twins, who grow from a single egg that splits.

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13
Q

What are some possible biological differences between monozygotic twins?

A

They may not have the same number of copies of their genes repeated within their genome. There may be slight differences in the wiring structures of their brains. 1/3 sets of twins have separate placentas, one of which may be more nutritious, causing differences between them.

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14
Q

What are dizygotic twins?

A

Fraternal twins, who develop from two separate eggs fertilized by two different sperm.

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15
Q

How much does family environment influence personality?

A

Very little. Family environment can influence intelligence, values, attitudes, politics, etc, but genetics has the greatest influence over personality traits.

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16
Q

How do researchers use twin and adoption studies to learn about psychological principles?

A

“Researchers use twin and adoption studies to understand how much variation among individuals is due to genetic makeup and how much is due to environmental factors.”

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17
Q

What is temperament?

A

One’s level of emotional intensity and emotional reactivity.

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18
Q

What have psychologists learned about temperament?

A

It is genetically inherited and apparent from infancy. Physiological differences in heart rate and nervous system reactivity are impacted by genetics.

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19
Q

What is heritability?

A

“the extent to which variation among individuals in a group can be attributed to their differing genes.” (“how much differences among people in a specific group are due to genes.”)

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20
Q

How does heritability relate to individuals and groups?

A

“Heritable individual differences (in traits such as height or intelligence) need not imply heritable group differences. Genes mostly explain why some people are taller than others, but not why people are taller today than they were a century ago.”

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21
Q

What is molecular genetics?

A

The study of the molecular structure and function of genes.

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22
Q

What is molecular behaviour genetics?

A

The study of how the molecular structure and function of genes interacts with the environment to influence human behaviour.

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23
Q

What is epigenetics?

A

“Above” or “in addition to” genetics. The study of the molecular mechanisms that allow environmental factors to influence gene expression, without any change of DNA.

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24
Q

What are epigenetic marks?

A

Usually organic methyl molecules attached to part of a DNA strand that can be created by experiences and effect gene expression by instructing that DNA segment to turn off certain genes.

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25
Adoption studies seek to understand genetic influences on personality. They do this mainly by:
"evaluating whether adopted children’s personalities more closely resemble those of their adoptive parents or their biological parents."
26
Heritability is:
"the proportion of variation among individuals in groups that we can attribute to genes."
27
Epigenetics is the study of the molecular mechanisms by which:
environments trigger or block genetic expression.
28
What is the difference between behaviour geneticists and evolutionary psychologists?
Behaviour geneticists study how biology and environment make people different from each other. Evolutionary psychologists study what makes human beings alike.
29
What is evolutionary psychology?
The study of how the principles of natural selection influence the evolution of human psychology and behaviour.
30
What is natural selection?
The principle that genetic variations are in competition with one another, and those that are most well adapted to survival and reproduction in a particular environment are more likely to be passed down to offspring.
31
What is a mutation?
A "random error in gene replication."
32
How do evolutionary psychologists use natural selection to explain behavior tendencies?
Humans are "predisposed to behaviours that promoted their ancestors' survival and reproduction."
33
What are the three main criticisms of the evolutionary explanation of human sexuality?
Evo psychologists start with an effect and work backwards. Don't take into account social learning theory/social scripts. Genetic determinism undermines movements for positive social change.
34
What is a social script?
"A culturally modelled guide for how to act in certain situations."
35
Natural selection favors traits and behaviors that:
Aid survival and reproduction.
36
What is the pruning process?
The "use it or lose it" principle of neural pathways - unused neural pathways will weaken and eventually disappear with age.
37
How do early experiences modify the brain?
Early experiences result in neural pruning, where heavily used connections strengthen and unused ones weaken and disappear.
38
What is selection effect?
The tendency to choose peer groups who behave similarly to us and have shared interests and values.
39
In what ways do parents and peers shape children’s development?
Parenting can effect children's levels of motivation and likelihood of success, but doesn't have much of any impact on personality. Peers help to shape children's culture and way of speaking.
40
What is culture?
Values, attitudes, behaviours, traditions, and ideas shared in common by a group of people that endure and are taught by one generation to the next generation.
41
How does culture affect our behavior?
Cultural norms dictate many behaviours, such as how we dress, how we greet one another, and the pace of our lives. These norms differ greatly from culture to culture.
42
How do people in individualist and collectivist cultures differ?
"Individualists give priority to personal goals over group goals and tend to define their identity in terms of their own personal attributes. Collectivists give priority to group goals over individual goals and tend to define their identity in terms of group identifications."
43
What is gender?
The behavioral characteristics a culture associates with boys and girls, men and women.
44
What is sex?
The biological characteristics that define someone as male, female, or intersex.
45
How does the meaning of gender differ from the meaning of sex?
Gender is in the mind and is a product of interacting with culture, while sex is determined by the body.
46
What is aggression?
Any behaviour intended to harm someone emotionally or physically.
47
What is relational aggression?
Behaviour intended to hurt someone's social standing or their relationships.
48
What are some ways that males and females tend to be alike?
They are alike in intelligence, creativity, memory, learning, and emotions.
49
What are some ways that males and females tend to be different?
In their levels of aggression, social power, independence, life expectancy, predisposition to certain disorders, onset of puberty, emotional expressiveness, and level of social connectedness.
50
Which parent contributes the chromosome responsible for sex distinction?
The father.
51
What is the difference between X and Y chromosomes?
They are both sex chromosomes. If a child inherits the Y chromosome from the father, the child usually develops into a male.
52
What is testosterone?
The main androgen hormone, triggering the development of male genitalia and male sex characteristics during puberty.
53
What are estrogens?
Hormones that cause the development of female sex characteristics and are present in higher levels in females.
54
What is puberty?
The period during which humans reach reproductive maturity, lasting about 2 years.
55
Prenatal sexual development begins about:
Seven weeks after conception.
56
What are the effects of sexual aggression?
Sleep disruptions, poor physical health, difficulty trusting new romantic partners.
57
How have cultural views about sexual aggression changed?
It is less acceptable to blame victims in many cultures.
58
How can sexual aggression be prevented?
Encouraging victims to speak up and report, empowering victims, and educating people about bystander intervention strategies.
59
What are gender roles, and what do their variations tell us about our human capacity for learning and adaptation?
Gender roles are cultural expectations around gender. These vary widely from culture to culture, proving that humans are capable of adapting to a wide variety of social demands.
60
What is social learning theory?
The theory that we learn behaviours through observation and imitation, with social reward or punishment determining whether or not we continue in those behaviours.
61
What is gender typing?
"The acquisition of a male or female role."
62
What is androgyny?
Possessing a mix of traditionally masculine and feminine psychological characteristics.
63
What is a schema?
A concept that helps us organize and make sense of our world.
64
What biological factors influence individual development?
Natural selection/evolution, brain structure, hormones, genes,
65
What social-cultural factors influence individual development?
Parental and peer influences, cultural individualism or collectivism, gender norms.
66
What psychological factors influence individual development?
Beliefs, experiences, feelings, and expectations.
67
What is sexual aggression?
Any sexual behaviour that is either unwanted or intended to harm.
68
At what age do most females hit puberty?
10
69
At what age do most males hit puberty?
12
70
“Some 95 percent of genetic variation exists within populations.” This is best demonstrated by the:
high level of genetic diversity among those from Africa.
71
Although we may be unaware of our gender prejudices, they often influence the way we consciously perceive men and women. This best illustrates:
Dual processing.
72
What is gender typing?
Taking on a traditional masculine or feminine role.
73
The heritability of a specific trait will be greatest among:
Genetically dissimilar individuals who have been raised in similar environments.

Intro to Psych (9 decks)

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