Review #1 (Chapter 4)

Question 1

What methods are used to study genetics and the limitations?

Answer 1

twin studies, limitations include leaving out culture, restriction of range (both are adopted into similar households)

Question 2

How much of personality is determined by genetics?

Answer 2

about half (40-60%)

Question 3

What is gene-environment interaction?

Answer 3

environment shapes how genes are expressed, genes can also be changed by the environment, biology can shape genes via culture

Question 4

How does evolutionary psychology explain personality?

Answer 4

survival and reproduction, need to belong, sociality, sex differences

Question 5

How is brain structure related to the big five?

Answer 5

frontal lobe- makes plans and considers decisions, helps regulate emotions. if damaged, self control is impaired and leads to disagreeableness and low conscientiousness
amygdala- process reactions to fear
extraversion increases activation in amygdala, low conscientiousness has greater activity in the vertical striatum (higher levels of neurotransmitter dopamine)

Question 6

What role do hormones play in personality?

Answer 6

men respond differently to women depending on whether they are fertile in their cycle, women express different mate differences based on hormonal variations, testosterone