week 12 Flashcards
(20 cards)
Dopamine Theory of Mental Illness
Suggests that dopamine imbalances contribute to mental illnesses.
High dopamine → Linked to
schizophrenia
Low dopamine → Linked to
depression
States versus Traits
States: Temporary conditions influenced by the situation (e.g., mood, emotions).
Traits: Stable, long-term characteristics that define personality (e.g., extroversion, impulsivity)
Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale:
assess the mental age
general intelligence (g)
Charles Spearman
intelligence is composed of a general factor (g) underlying all cognitive abilities.
Charles Spearman: Noted that
different IQ test components are correlated.
Proposed that there is an underlying common factor called g (general intelligence).
Charles Spearman developped what model
the two-factor model of intelligence:
One factor is general intelligence (g), and the other is specific abilities for particular tasks.
Memetics
Memetics suggests that cultural ideas spread like genes, but through imitation instead of inheritance.
The study of how ideas, behaviors, and cultural elements spread and evolve, like how genes are passed down in evolution.
Gene-Culture Co-evolution (Sociobiology)
examines how genetic and cultural inheritance systems interact and influence each other over time
Gene-Culture Co-evolution (Evolutionary Theory):
This theory looks at how genes and culture interact and evolve together, focusing on how cultural behaviors can change over time and the link between biological and cultural evolution.
Niche construction:
When a species changes its environment, affecting its own evolution.
The evolutionary hangover hypothesis
Humans may enjoy alcohol due to primate ancestors being frugivores (fruit-eaters).
Ripe fruit naturally contains ethanol, and some animals evolved to detect and digest it.
The mating mind hypothesis
This theory suggests that human intelligence and many aspects of human culture evolved primarily as a way to attract mates.
Extended Phenotype
Refers to aspects of an organism’s phenotype (traits) that extend beyond its body.
Examples:
Bird nests
Beaver dams
Spider webs
Dual Inheritance Theory
Proposes that cultural and biological inheritance interact and influence each other.
Learning - True imitation
Copying someone else’s exact actions after watching them.
Learning - Emulation
Learning the goal of a task by watching someone, but not copying exactly how they did it
Social facilitation:
Doing something more or better just because others are around.
Local enhancement:
Paying attention to something because you saw someone else go near it.
