Term
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Definition
The approach to personality, rooted in inheritance and evolution, has two facets. One of them emphasises that your personality is tied to the biological body you inherit. This idea goes far back in history, but today's version of the idea is quite different, emphasising the role of genes.
Behavioural genetics provides ways to find out whether personality differences are inherited. In twin studies, correlations among identical twins are compared with correlations among fraternal twins; in adoption studies, children are compared with their biological and adoptive families. Studies of identical twins raised apart provide yet a different look at the effects of inheritance and environment. |
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Term
| sociobiology or evolutionary psychology. |
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Definition
| The idea that dispositions are genetically influenced can be extended a step further, to the suggestion that many aspects of human social behaviour are products of evolution. This idea is behind an area of work termed sociobiology or evolutionary psychology. |
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Definition
| behavioral genetics.This is the study of genetic influences on behavioral qualities, including personality |
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Term
| Temperaments: Activity, Sociability, and Emotionality (Arnold Buss and Robert Plomin) |
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Definition
| Arnold Buss and Robert Plomin (1984) used the term temperament to refer to an inherited personality trait present in early childhood.They looked for signs of possible temperaments in observations of the behav- iors of young children. Further work indicated that three dimensions of individual differences in normal personality deserve to be called temperaments: activ- ity level, sociability, and emotionality. |
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Term
| Activity, Sociability, and Emotionality (Temperament) |
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Definition
- Activity level is the person’s overall output of energy or behavior. It has two highly correlated aspects: vigor (the intensity of behavior) and tempo (its speed). People high in activity level prefer high-intensity, fast-paced activities. Those who are lower in activity level take a more leisurely approach to things. Sociability is the tendency to prefer being with other people, rather than alone.
- Sociability is a desire for sharing activities, along with the responsiveness and stimulation that are part of interaction.To be sociable is to value intrinsically the process of interacting with others.
- Emotionality is the tendency to become emotionally aroused—easily and intensely—in upsetting situations.
Correlations between parent ratings of activity, emotionality, and sociability were strong for MZ twins; they were next to nonexistent for DZ twins |
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Term
| approach and avoidance temperaments (Mary Rothbart) |
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Definition
| Mary Rothbart and her colleagues argue for approach and avoidance temperaments, which reflect tendencies to approach rewards and avoid threats, |
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| Effortful Control (Temperaments) |
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Definition
| The newer theorists also posit a third temperament that’s generally termed effort- ful control.This temperament is about being focused and restrained. In part, it reflects attentional management (persistence of attention during long tasks). It also reflects the ability to suppress approach behavior when approach is situationally inappropriate. This temperament seems to imply a kind of planfulness versus impulsiveness. High levels of this temperament early in life relate to fewer problems with antisocial behav- ior later in life |
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Term
| Environmental Effects on Gene Expression |
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Definition
| Environments don’t change the strands of DNA that make up the gene, but they do affect their ability to function. Gene expression is the term used when the gene engages in the processes that create a protein. Interestingly, gene expression is not the same throughout the body.Gene expression varies by region and type of cell involved (e.g., brain cells, blood cells). Gene expression is influenced by several factors that affect the gene’s accessibility to other chemicals. One influence is methylation: the attachment of methyl chemical groups to what’s called the gene’s promoter region (its “on” switch).When there’s more methylation, there’s less gene expression. This effect doesn’t involve a change in the gene itself. For that reason, it’s called an epigenetic effect (meaning “in addition to genetic”). Methylation can be affected by stress level and even by diet ( |
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Term
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Definition
| uses on the parts that vary.When different patterns of DNA (genetic material) can occur at a particular location, they are called alleles.The existence of a difference is called a polymorphism. A genotype difference between persons means they have different alleles at some particular location.Whereas twin research is referred to as quantitative genetics, the attempt to relate differences in particular gene locations to other measurable differences among persons is called molecular genetics (Carey, 2003) or genomics. |
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Term
| Dopamine gene involved in reward pursuit |
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Definition
| Several genes have been identified that have clear relevance to normal personal- ity. One example is a gene called DRD4, which relates to receptors for dopamine in the brain. It has several alleles, one longer than the others.Two research teams found almost simultaneously that people with the long allele have high scores on personal- ity scales that relate to novelty seeking (Benjamin et al., 1996; Ebstein et al., 1996). Another candidate gene related to dopamine function, called DRD2, has also been linked to a personality measure of fun seeking (Reuter, Schmitz, Corr, & Hennig, 2006).These findings fit with the view that dopamine is involved in reward pursuit. |
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| Serotonin and Neuroticism Link |
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Definition
Another candidate gene relates to the use of serotonin in the brain. It’s called the serotonin transporter gene, or 5HTTLPR. Several groups of researchers have found a link of the short allele of that gene to high scores on neuroticism and low scores on agreeable- ness (e.g., Greenberg et al., 2000; Lesch et al., 1996; Sen et al., 2004). Others have related it to
impulsivity and aggressiveness
Evidence is beginning to accumulate that the 5HTTLPR polymorphism is more about impulse versus constraint than about neuroticism per se |
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Term
| genome-wide association studies (GWAS), |
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Definition
| It’s now possible to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS), in which the entire genome is examined for any and all differences that relate to an outcome of interest. Done properly, this kind of study involves a huge number of research participants (there are so many genes to test that the large number alone creates the potential for false positives).This kind of study also is very costly. Some believe, however, that this is the path of the future in behavioral genomics. |
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Definition
| Sociobiology was proposed as the study of the biological basis of social behavior (Alexander, 1979; Barash, 1986, 2001; Crawford, 1989; Crawford, Smith, & Krebs, 1987; Dawkins, 1976; Lumsden & Wilson, 1981; Wilson, 1975). The core assump- tion underlying this field is that many—perhaps all—forms of social interaction are products of evolution.That is, the patterns were retained genetically because at some point in prehistory they conferred an adaptive advantage. |
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| Genetic similarity theory (Rushton) |
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Definition
| o genetic similarity theory. The idea is what we’ve said already: A gene “survives” (is repre- sented in the next generation) by any action that brings about reproduction of any organism in which copies of the gene exist.That may mean altruism to your kinship group, but Rushton says it means other things, as well. |
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| Assortative Mating (different from choosing similar gene pools for reproductions i.e. people that look or smell like your kin) |
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Definition
| There’s at least one finding that contradicts this principle.Garver-Apgar et al.(2006) looked at genes that help the immune system to distinguish the self from pathogens. It’s most adaptive to be able to detect as many pathogens as possible, so your immune system can neutralize them.The researchers reasoned that this is a case in which you should be attracted not to others who resemble you but to others who differ from you. As predicted, they found that women who differed from their partners in these specific genes were more sexually responsive to them and less attracted to other men. The general idea that people choose mates on the basis of particular character- istics is called assortative mating |
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Definition
| When males face hard competition for scarce resources (females), the result sometime is confrontation and potentially seri- ous violence (Hilton, Harris, & Rice, 2000). This pattern has been referred to as the young male syndrome (Wilson & Daly, 1985). It’s viewed as partly an effect of evolutionary pressures from long ago and partly a response to situations that elicit the pattern.That is, although the pattern of behavior may be coded in every man’s genes, it’s most likely to emerge when current situations predict reproductive failure.The worst case would be a single man who’s unemployed and thus a poor candidate as a mate |
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Term
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Definition
- Adoption study A study of resemblances between chil- dren and their adoptive and biological parents.
- Allele Some version of a particular gene.
- Approach temperament The temperamental tendency to approach rewards.
- Assortative mating Mating based on the choice of specific characteristics, rather than at random.
- Avoidance temperament The temperamental ten- dency to avoid threats.
- Behavioral genetics The study of the inheritance of behavioral qualities.
- Candidate gene strategy Testing specific genes because evidence links them to particular biological processes and theory links those processes to personality.
- Concordance Agreement on some characteristic between a twin and a co-twin.
- Directional selection Evolution in which one extreme of a dimension is more adaptive than the other.
- Dizygotic (DZ) twins Fraternal twins (overlapping genetically 50%, on average).
- Ectomorphy A tendency toward frail thinness.
- Effortful control A tendency to be focused, restrained, and planful. |
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Term
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Definition
- Endomorphy A tendency toward obesity.
- Epigenetic An effect that isn’t on DNA but affects DNA functioning and can be inherited.
- Gene expression Activity in which the gene engages in the processes that create a protein.
- Genetic similarity theory The idea that people work toward reproducing genes similar to their own.
- Genome The sequence of the genes contained in the full complement of chromosomes.
- Genome-wide association study (GWAS) Study in which all genes are tested at once. |
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Term
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Definition
- Genomics See Molecular genetics.
- Genotype The particular version of a gene that a given person or group has.
- GxE Gene-by-environment interaction, in which the environment produces different outcomes depending on genetic composition.
- Heritability An estimate of how much variance of some characteristic is accounted for by inheritance.
- Inclusive fitness The passing on of genes through the survival of relatives.
- Mesomorphy A tendency toward muscularity.
- Methylation The attachment of methyl chemical groups to a gene or surrounding material.
- Molecular genetics The study of how alleles of spe- cific genes relate to other observed differences.
- Monozygotic (MZ) twins Identical twins (overlapping genetically 100%).
- Nonshared environment effect An effect of the envi- ronment that makes twins differ. |
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Term
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Definition
- Quantitative genetics The study of how much vari- ance in a characteristic is attributable to genetics versus environment.
- Polymorphism The characteristic of having more than one allele for a given gene.
- Reciprocal altruism Helping others with the expecta- tion the help will be returned.
- Siblings Brothers and sisters.
- Sociobiology The study of the evolutionary basis for social behavior.
- Stabilizing selection Evolution in which intermediate values of a dimension are most adaptive.
- Temperaments Inherited traits that appear early in life.
- Twin study A study comparing the similarity between MZ twins against the similarity between DZ twins. |
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Term
| Sheldon believed each quality relates to one of three layers of the embryo. For that reason, he named them after the layers: (Mesomorphy, Endomorphy, Ectomorphy) |
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Definition
- Endomorphy is the tendency toward plumpness (reflecting digestion). Endomorphs are soft and round
- Mesomorphy is the tendency toward muscularity (reflecting pre- dominance of bone and muscle). Mesomorphs are rectangular, hard, and strong.
- Ectomorphy is the tendency toward thinness (reflecting the skin and nervous system). Ectomorphs are delicate and frail, easily over- whelmed by stimulation.
Most people have a little of each quality. |
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Term
Mesomorphy (related to somatotonia)
Endomorphy (to viscerotonia), and
Ectomorphy (to cerebrotonia.) |
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Definition
Sheldon proposed three aspects of temperament.
- Viscerotonia means qualities such as relaxation, tolerance, sociability, love of comfort, and easygo- ingness. Somatotonia means qualities such as boldness, assertiveness, and a desire for adventure and activity. Cerebrotonia means avoidance of inter- action, restraint, pain sensitivity, and a mental intensity approaching apprehen- siveness. |
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Term
Temperaments and the Five-Factor Model
(people see links between temperament and the Big-5) |
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Definition
- avoidance tempera- ment very closely resembles neuroticism.
- Extraversion has overtones of an approach temperament
- agreeableness—also has overtones of sociability
- conscientiousness is defined partly by the absence of impulsiveness. Related to impulsivity, or effortful control, is a temperament
...there are linked connections between temperament and the big-5 |
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Term
Environmental Influences
(nonshared environmental influence vs |
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Definition
| nonshared environmental influence (For example, siblings often have different sets of friends, sometimes totally different. Peers have a big influence on children) |
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Term
| Heritability vs. Shared Environment |
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Definition
| Heritability is very low among children with poorly educated parents, but it is very high among children with highly educated parents (but its hard to know where your heritability takes off and the environment begins. Its a mix) |
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Term
| Gene Expression and the Environment (Eipgenetics) |
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Definition
| An astonishing aspect of research into gene expression is the discovery that epi- genetic changes (patterns of methylation) can be passed from one generation to the next, just as genetic influences are passed onward (Gilbert & Epel, 2009). Now, put that together in your mind with the fact that the epigenetic changes reflect experience with the environment.The inescapable conclusion is that changes caused by experi- ence with the environment can be inherited |
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Term
candidate gene strategy
(linking those biological processes to personality) |
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Definition
candidate gene strategy.
This means that particular gene locations were examined selectively, based on evidence linking those genes to particular biologi- cal processes, as well as theoretical reasoning linking those biological processes to personality. |
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Term
| Universal Adaptations and Why There Are Individual Differences |
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Definition
| If a characteristic dif- fers from person to person, it means that each gene behind that charac- teristic has several potential forms, or alleles. Selection means that one allele is more likely to show up in the next generation because it helped with survival or reproduction, or is less likely to show up because it interfered with survival or reproduction. This is directional selection: a shift toward a higher proportion of the adaptive allele in the population’s next generation. If it goes on long enough, directional selection can even eliminate individual differences. Over many generations, those without the adaptive allele fail to reproduce, and a larger proportion of the next generation has the adaptive one. In principle, this is how a char- acteristic can become universal in the population. |
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Term
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Definition
| In the long run, genetic variability in the population is necessary for the population to survive in a world that changes. Thus, the importance of another kind of selection, termed stabilizing selection, which maintains genetic variability (Plomin, 1981). Stabilizing selection occurs when an intermediate value of a characteristic is more adaptive than the value at either extreme. Presumably, inter- mediate values reflect combinations of alleles, rather than specific alleles, and probably involve multiple genes. Predominance of intermediate values thus implies genetic variability. |
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Term
| Kin Selection and Inclusive Fitness |
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Definition
| Your genes are helped into the next generation by anything that helps your part of the gene pool reproduce, an idea called inclusive fitness (Hamilton, 1964). If you act altruistically for a relative, it helps the relative survive. If an extremely altruistic act (in which you die) saves a great many of your relatives, it helps aspects of your genetic makeup be passed on because your relatives resemble you genetically. This phenomenon is sometimes called kin selection. |
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Term
| Also important is co-operation for survival (reciprocal altruism) |
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Definition
| Thus, they acquired a tendency toward being helpful more generally. One person helps the other in the expectation that the help will be returned, an idea termed reciprocal altruism |
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Term
Mate Selection and Competition for Mates
(Sex Objects from Men vs. Success Objects from Women to Men) |
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Definition
| . In contrast, the strategy of males is to maximize sexual opportunities, copulating as often as possible.This means seeking partners who are available and fer- tile (Buss, 1994a, 1994b). In this view, men tend to view women as sex objects, whereas women tend to view men as success objects. |
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Definition
| Some tactics are used by men and women alike, but others differ by gender. For example, men report spending a lot of money and giving in to their mates’wishes.Women try to make themselves look extra attrac- tive and let others know their mate is already taken |
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Term
| concordance (inheritance plays a role in schizophrenia) |
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Definition
| The term concordance is used to describe similarity of diagno- sis. A pair of twins were concordant if they were both diagnosed as schizo- phrenic. This study found concordance rates of 50% among identical twins and 9% among fraternal twins. It thus appears that inheritance plays a role in schizophrenia. |
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Term
| concordance (inheritance plays a role in schizophrenia but.... the environmental interaction is important for it to occur) |
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Definition
- However, Some people have the genetic susceptibility but don’t develop the disorder.This interaction between a susceptibility and a suitable context to touch it off reflects a diathesis-stress view of disorder (a GxE interaction).
For example, lack of sleep makes people with the disorder especially vulnerable to manic episodes. |
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| Evolution and Problems in Behavior (Biological vs. Cultural Evolution) |
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Definition
two kinds of evolution influence people.
- There is biological evolution, a very slow process that occurs over millennia.
- There is also cultural evolution, which is much faster.Your experiences of life stem partly from what biological evolution shaped humans to be during prehistory and partly from the cultural circumstances in which you live. Barash (1986) pointed out that biological evolution prepared us to live in a world very different from the one we live in now. Cultural evolution has raced far ahead, and biological evolution can’t keep up |
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| Ultimately, the theoretical viewpoint being tested by the genetic research must be rooted somewhere else.. (I don't really understand what this slide means) |
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Definition
- Trait Psychology
- biological process model.
- sociobiology
- evolutionary psychology. |
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Term
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Definition
The approach to personality rooted in inheritance and evolution has two facets.
- One emphasizes that your personality is tied to the biological body you inherit, emphasizing the role of genes.
- Twin research has been used to look at genetic contributions to a variety of dispositions, starting with temperaments: broad, inherited traits that appear early in life. |
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Definition
- Other views of temperaments have also bee n suggested, including temperaments for approach, avoidance, and effortful control.There’s also evidence of genetic influence in the “big five” supertraits and other variables. It’s unclear whether the “big five” derive from (or duplicate) the temperaments studied under other names.
- Now, there’s evidence of specific genes playing roles in traits, including novelty seeking, neuroticism, and perhaps effortful control or impulsivity. |
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Term
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Definition
- The idea that dispositions are genetically influenced can be extended to suggest that many aspects of human social behavior are products of evolution. This idea is behind an area of work termed sociobiology or evolutionary psychology.
- The genetic approach to personality says little about assessment except to suggest what dispositions are particularly important to assess—those that have biological links. Assessment directly from genes will not likely occur soon, due to the probable involvement of many genes in any given trait. |
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Term
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Definition
| - With regard to problems in behavior, there is substantial evidence that schizophrenia and manic– depressive disorder are affected by heredity, as are tendencies toward substance abuse and antisocial behavior. Like other topics, the study of disorder is beginning to use the tools of molecular biology to search for genetic influences |
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