Nonshared Environmental Factors in Behavioral Genetics

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What is the best way to demonstrate the importance of environment in studying human behavior?

Genetically sensitive designs

What do genetically sensitive designs enable researchers to do?

Disentangle genetic and environmental effects

Why do shared environmental effects often decrease over time?

They have different impacts on different people

What does the nonshared environment primarily account for in terms of individual differences in behavior?

Most individual differences in psychological traits and behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What is the main limitation when trying to study nonshared environmental factors?

They are understudied Signup and view all the answers

What are shared environmental effects in twin and adoption designs?

Factors that make family members similar to each other, beyond genetic relatedness Signup and view all the answers

What is the key finding about shared environmental effects in twin studies?

Shared environmental effects are often very small. Signup and view all the answers

How does little shared environmental contribution to variance impact the importance of factors like parenting or neighborhood?

It implies the need to study the effects of differential parenting within a family. Signup and view all the answers

When do nonshared environmental effects come into play in twin studies?

Nonshared environmental effects are evident when MZ resemblance is not 100%. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of nonshared environmental factors in twin studies?

Examples include substance use, different educational attainments, and prenatal environment. Signup and view all the answers

How can nonshared environmental risk and protective factors be identified in twin studies?

By choosing measures sensitive to individual differences and focusing on individual-specific measures. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for differences between MZ twins in twin studies?

Differences between MZ twins are due to nonshared environmental factors. Signup and view all the answers

What are some possible causes of the 'Missing nonshared environment'?

Many influences are unsystematic and/or unstable, Some influences vary across stages of development Signup and view all the answers

Why is progress in identifying nonshared environmental factors slow?

Progress is slow due to the difficulty in identifying unsystematic and unstable influences, as well as variations in influences across stages of development. Signup and view all the answers

How can measures of the environment show significant heritability?

Measures of the environment can show significant heritability by evoking reactions in others, reacting differently to experiences, and actively choosing environments. Signup and view all the answers

What are some ways in which measures of the environment can show substantial heritability?

Evoke reactions in others, React differently to experiences, Actively choose environments Signup and view all the answers

How do some influences vary across stages of development?

Some influences vary across stages of development due to the dynamic nature of environmental factors that impact individuals at different points in their growth. Signup and view all the answers

Nonshared Environmental Factors in Behavioral Genetics

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