Questions and Answers
What do behavioral geneticists study?
The degree to which individual differences in personality are caused by genetic and environmental differences.
Which of the following are controversies surrounding behavioral genetics? (Select all that apply)
What is Eugenics?
The notion that we can design the future of the human species by fostering the reproduction of persons with certain traits and by discouraging the reproduction of persons without those traits.
What is heritability?
Signup and view all the answers
What is environmentality?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the relationship between heritability and environmentality?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following are misconceptions about heritability? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
What is a phenotype?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a genotype?
Signup and view all the answers
What does selective breeding in behavioral genetics involve?
Signup and view all the answers
What do the findings in selective breeding suggest about the heritability of human personality characteristics?
Signup and view all the answers
What are family studies?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a potential limitation of family studies?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an advantage of family studies?
Signup and view all the answers
What do twin studies estimate?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the equal environments assumption?
Signup and view all the answers
What are adoption studies?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Behavioral Genetics
- Behavioral geneticists investigate the influence of genetics and environment on personality differences.
- Focus on the role of genetics versus environmental factors in shaping individual personalities.
Controversies in Behavioral Genetics
- Issues include the ethics of "designer babies" and potential societal implications.
- Concerns about creating a master race and assigning accountability based on genetic predisposition.
Eugenics
- Concept of controlling human reproduction for desired traits, while discouraging those without those traits.
Heritability
- Refers to the genetic contribution to observed variance in personalities within a group.
- Indicates how much of the phenotypic differences can be attributed to genetic differences.
Environmentality
- Represents the percentage of variance attributed to environmental factors affecting individuals.
Relationship Between Heritability and Environmentality
- Individual influences of heritability and environmentality are often equal.
- Population influences depend on the characteristic:
- Height: Genetic differences are crucial.
- Weight: Equal influence from both genetic and environmental factors.
- Mate preferences: Heavily influenced by environmental factors.
Misconceptions About Heritability
- Not applicable to individuals; pertains to populations at a specific time and context.
- Heritability can change with environmental shifts.
- Considered an estimate, not a precise measurement of genetic influence.
Phenotype and Genotype
- Phenotype: Observable traits of an individual.
- Genotype: Underlying genetic differences responsible for individual variations in traits.
Selective Breeding
- A research method where traits are identified and animals are bred for those traits.
- Effective only with traits having a genetic basis, as learned traits cannot be selectively bred.
Implications of Selective Breeding on Human Personality
- Findings suggest hereditary factors play a role in personality traits like aggressiveness and agreeableness.
Family Studies
- Focus on genetic relatedness among family members to evaluate personality similarity.
- Rely on genetic overlap to gather heritability estimates.
Limitations of Family Studies
- Correlations may arise from shared environments rather than heritable traits, affecting result validity.
Advantages of Family Studies
- Provide estimates of heritability based on genetic relatedness and personality trait similarity.
Twin Studies
- Utilized to estimate heritability by comparing similarity in identical twins (100% genetic overlap) versus fraternal twins (50% genetic overlap).
Equal Environments Assumption
- Assumes that identical twins do not share more similar environments than fraternal twins, maintaining the integrity of heritability estimates.
Adoption Studies
- Examine personality correlations between adopted children and their adoptive parents versus biological parents.
- Aid in understanding the influence of genetics versus environment in personality development.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the intricate relationship between genetics and personality in this flashcard quiz. Delve into concepts like behavioral genetics, the controversies surrounding it, and the implications of eugenics. Perfect for students studying psychology or genetics.