Nature, Nurture, and Human Diversity

Question 1

behavior genetics

Answer 1

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Question 1

genome

Answer 1

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

Question 2

temperament

Answer 2

a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Question 3

transgender

Answer 3

an umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from that associated with their birth sex.

Question 4

gender role

Answer 4

a set of expected behaviors for males or for females.

Question 5

identical twins

Answer 5

twins who develop from a single (monozygotic) fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.

Question 6

fraternal twins

Answer 6

twins who develop from separate (dizygotic) fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.

Question 6

mutation

Answer 6

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

Question 7

environment

Answer 7

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

Question 8

interaction

Answer 8

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity).

Question 9

X chromosome

Answer 9

the sex chromosome found in both men and women. Females have two X chromosomes; males have one. An X chromosome from each parent produces a female child.

Question 10

natural selection

Answer 10

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Question 11

gender identity

Answer 11

our sense of being male or female.

Question 13

epigenetics

Answer 13

the study of influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change.

Question 14

norm

Answer 14

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe “proper” behavior.

Question 14

Y chromosome

Answer 14

the sex chromosome found only in males. When paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child.

Question 16

genes

Answer 16

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein.

Question 17

gender

Answer 17

in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female.

Question 18

chromosomes

Answer 18

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.

Question 19

individualism

Answer 19

giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.

Question 20

gender-typing

Answer 20

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.

Question 21

role

Answer 21

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.

Question 22

testosterone

Answer 22

the most important of the male sex hormones. Both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.

Question 24

aggression

Answer 24

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.

Question 25

molecular genetics

Answer 25

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.

Question 26

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Answer 26

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

Question 27

heritability

Answer 27

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.

Question 28

evolutionary psychology

Answer 28

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

Question 29

culture

Answer 29

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Question 30

social learning theory

Answer 30

the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.

Question 31

collectivism

Answer 31

giving priority to goals of one’s group (often one’s extended family or work group) and defining one’s identity accordingly.