Psyc 100 Chapter 4

Front 1

Behavioural Genetics

Back 1

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

Front 2

Environment

Back 2

Accounts for all non-genetic influences

Front 3

Chromosomes

Back 3

Threadlike DNA structures containing genes

Front 4

DNA

Back 4

A molecule containing genetic information

Front 5

Genes

Back 5

The biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes; capable of coding for proteins

Front 6

Genome

Back 6

The complete genetic information comprising an organism's biological structure

Front 7

Monozygotic Twins

Back 7

Twins that develop from a single fertilized embryo, creating genetically identical individuals

Front 8

Dizygotic Twins

Back 8

Twins that develop from two separately fertilized eggs; share only their prenatal environment

Front 9

Behavioural Similarities in Twins

Back 9

Monozygotic twins often have more behavioural similarities than dizygotic twins, such as extraversion and neuroticism. In addition, predispositions such as drinking and driving are twelve times more likely to be shared by identical twins than by fraternal ones

Front 10

Twin Similarity Criticism

Back 10

Critics of anecdotal evidence about striking similarities in twins separated at birth argue that even strangers compared under similar circumstances would seem remarkably similar if enough variables were considered

Front 11

The Two Groups of Relatives

Back 11

Genetic relatives include biological parents and siblings; environmental relatives adoptive ones. As it turns out, the environment shared by a family's children has virtually no impact on their personalities

Front 12

Temperament

Back 12

A person's characteristic emotional reactivity

Front 13

Heritability

Back 13

The proportion of variation among individuals based on differences in genetics. The heritability of a trait may very depending on the demograp

Front 14

Molecular Genetics

Back 14

A subfield of biology that studies the molecular structures and functions of genes

Front 15

Molecular Behavioural Genetics

Back 15

The study of how the structure of genes relates to interaction with the environment and behavioural influences

Front 16

Epigenetics

Back 16

The study of the effect of environment on human genes

Front 17

Evolutionary Psychology

Back 17

The study of the evolution of behaviour and the mind with respect to natural selection

Front 18

Natural Selection

Back 18

The concept that nature favours those individuals that have developed specific traits that make them 'fitter' than other members of the species, thus allowing them to pass on their genetic information to the next generation by surviving and prospering more efficiently

Front 19

Mutation

Back 19

A random change to a DNA sequence that may be advantageous or a hindrance

Front 20

Sexual Overperception Bias

Back 20

The sometimes false belief that a desired mate is showing more interest in the initiator than they actually are

Front 21

Social Script

Back 21

The culturally affected guide modelling how to act in various situations

Front 22

Interaction

Back 22

The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor

Front 23

Culture

Back 23

The enduring behaviours and ideas to shared from one generation to the next

Front 24

Norm

Back 24

An understood rule describing accepted and expected behaviour

Front 25

Individualism

Back 25

Giving priority to one's own goals over the goals of the group, defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes

Front 26

Collectivism

Back 26

Giving priority to the goals of the group, and defining one's personality accordingly

Front 27

Culture Shock

Back 27

The phenomenon where one does not understand the expectations of a culture different to one's own

Front 28

Sex

Back 28

In psychology, the biologically influenced characteristics distinguishing males and females

Front 29

Gender

Back 29

In psychology, the socially influenced characteristics distinguishing males and females

Front 30

Aggression

Back 30

Any physical or verbal behaviour intended to harm another person

Front 31

Relational Aggression

Back 31

Any physcial or verbal behaviour intended to harm another person' relationships or social standing

Front 32

Male Answer Syndrome

Back 32

The tendency for males to be more likely to hazard answers about something they are unsure of than females

Front 33

X Chromosome

Back 33

The sex chromosome found in both males and females

Front 34

Y Chromosome

Back 34

The sex chromosome found exclusively in men

Front 35

Testosterone

Back 35

The most significant of the male sex hormones; it is present in both sexes, but is more prevalent in men, leading to the development of male sex organs during the fetal period, as well as the development of male sex characteristics during puberty

Front 36

Puberty

Back 36

The period during which a person matures sexually, thus becoming able to reproduce

Front 37

Primary Sex Characteristics

Back 37

The body structures, such as external genitalia, that enable sexual reproduction

Front 38

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Back 38

Non-reproductive sexual traits, such as bodily hair, breasts and hips, and body hair

Front 39

Gender Identity

Back 39

Our sense of being male or female

Front 40

Social Learning Theory

Back 40

The theory that we learn social behaviour by watching and imitating, and by being rewarded or punished

Front 41

Gender Typing

Back 41

The acquisition of a typical masculine or feminine role

Front 42

Androgynous

Back 42

Displaying both masculine and feminine psychological characteristics

Front 43

Transgender

Back 43

A term describing those whose gender identity differs from their sex