67 Questions
What percentage of our enduring personality traits and cognitive abilities are attributed to genetic influence?
50% to 60%
What is the range of heritability estimates for specific cognitive abilities, such as memory or ability to perceive spatial relations, in the study conducted by McClearn and colleagues?
30% to 50%
What factors can overwhelm the influence of genes in determining cognitive abilities?
Adverse life events
Which of the following statements about gene dominance is true?
Gene dominance occurs when one member of a gene pair is consistently expressed over the other.
Which of the following characteristics are likely to be polygenic?
Height
Which of the following disorders is determined by a single gene defect?
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Which of the following statements about genes and environmental factors is true?
Genes provide boundaries to our development, but environmental factors determine where we go within those boundaries.
Which chromosomes determine an individual's sex?
The last pair of chromosomes
What is the structure of DNA molecules that contain genes?
A double helix
How many base pairs are there on the X chromosome?
Approximately 160 million pairs
What is the difference between a dominant gene and a recessive gene?
A dominant gene strongly influences a trait, while a recessive gene must be paired with another gene to determine a trait
According to the diathesis-stress model, individuals inherit tendencies to express certain traits or behaviors, which may then be activated under conditions of stress. What is a diathesis?
A genetic vulnerability or susceptibility to developing a disorder
According to the diathesis-stress model, what activates an individual's genetic tendency to develop a disorder?
Certain environmental conditions
What does the reciprocal gene-environment model propose?
Genes and environment have a reciprocal and interactive influence on each other
What did the study by Caspi and colleagues (2003) reveal about the relationship between a specific gene and depression?
The gene studied affects the transmission of serotonin in the brain
Which of the following is true about the absence of normal maternal behavior in rat pups?
It increases sensitivity to stress hormones
What does the text suggest about the relationship between genes and psychological disorders?
Many genes each have a relatively small effect on psychological disorders
What is the purpose of linkage studies in genetics research?
To study individuals with the same disorder and other shared features
What does the text suggest about the structure and function of the brain?
The brain is subject to continual change in response to the environment
Which allele(s) is associated with an increased risk of depression in individuals who experience severe and stressful maltreatment during childhood?
SS alleles
What is the effect of stressful childhood experiences on the incidence of depression in adulthood for individuals carrying the LL alleles?
Stressful childhood experiences do not affect the incidence of depression in adulthood
In the diathesis-stress model, what is the relationship between underlying vulnerability and the amount of stress needed to trigger a disorder?
The greater the underlying vulnerability, the less stress is needed to trigger a disorder
What did the Kilpatrick et al. (2007) study find about individuals with the SS genetic makeup and the experience of the Florida hurricanes?
They were more likely to develop PTSD after the hurricanes
Which model provides support for the gene-environment interaction in the development of depression and other disorders?
The gene-environment correlation model
What do psychologists now believe about the relationship between genetic endowment and stressful life events?
Genetic endowment increases the probability of experiencing stressful life events
What is an example of the gene-environment correlation model?
People with a genetic vulnerability to develop depression are more likely to experience stressful life events
What is the relationship between genetic vulnerability and environmental risk factors?
Genetic vulnerability increases the likelihood of environmental risk factors
What do subsequent studies provide for the gene-environment interaction model?
Preliminary support
What have psychologists found about the interrelationships between genes and environment?
They are complex
Which of the following is an example of a disorder that is determined by a single gene defect?
Huntington's disease
What is the purpose of restricting the amount of phenylalanine in the diet of a child with phenylketonuria (PKU)?
To prevent cognitive impairment
What is the relationship between genes and physical appearance?
Genes provide boundaries to physical development
What is the relationship between genes and behavior?
Genes provide boundaries to behavior
Which of the following statements about chromosomes is true?
The first 23 pairs of chromosomes determine an individual's sex.
What is the structure of DNA molecules that contain genes?
A double helix
What is the difference between a dominant gene and a recessive gene?
A dominant gene is always expressed, while a recessive gene is only expressed when paired with another recessive gene.
How many base pairs are there on the X chromosome?
Approximately 160 million pairs
What is the best estimate for the genetic contribution to our enduring personality traits and cognitive abilities?
50%
In the study conducted by McClearn and colleagues, what was the range of heritability estimates for specific cognitive abilities, such as memory or ability to perceive spatial relations?
32% to 62%
What is the range of heritability calculation for personality traits such as shyness or activity levels?
30% to 50%
In the study of more than 1,200 twins spanning 35 years, what factors determined stability in cognitive abilities during adulthood?
Genetic factors
Which allele(s) is associated with an increased risk of depression in individuals who experience severe and stressful maltreatment during childhood?
SS alleles
What did the Kilpatrick et al. (2007) study find about individuals with the SS genetic makeup and the experience of the Florida hurricanes?
They were more likely to develop PTSD.
What do subsequent studies provide for the gene-environment interaction model?
Support for the gene-environment interaction model.
Which of the following is a key finding from studies with rat pups regarding maternal behavior and stress hormones?
Maternal behavior prevents the genetic expression of a stress hormone receptor in rat pups.
What do behavioral geneticists conclude about the role of genes in psychological disorders?
Contributions to psychological disorders come from many genes, each having a relatively small effect.
What is the purpose of linkage studies in genetics research?
To identify specific genes associated with psychological disorders.
According to Eric Kandel, what effect can learning have on genes?
Learning can activate dormant genes and change the genetic structure of cells.
Which model proposes that individuals inherit tendencies to express certain traits or behaviors, which may then be activated under conditions of stress?
The diathesis-stress model
What is the relationship between genetic vulnerability and the amount of stress needed to trigger a disorder, according to the diathesis-stress model?
Greater genetic vulnerability requires less stress to trigger a disorder
What did the study by Caspi and colleagues (2003) reveal about the relationship between a specific gene and depression?
The short allele of the gene is associated with a higher risk of depression
What is the purpose of linkage studies in genetics research?
To identify specific genes associated with a disorder
Which model provides support for the gene-environment interaction in the development of depression and other disorders?
The diathesis-stress model
What is the relationship between genetic vulnerability and environmental risk factors?
Genetic vulnerability increases the likelihood of experiencing environmental risk factors.
According to the diathesis-stress model, what activates an individual's genetic tendency to develop a disorder?
Environmental factors
What do psychologists now believe about the relationship between genetic endowment and stressful life events?
Genetic endowment increases the probability of experiencing stressful life events.
What is an example of the gene-environment correlation model?
Genetic endowment causing accidents
Which type of study records changes over time as they occur?
Prospective studies
What is the main reason for studying clinical problems over time?
To design interventions and services to prevent these problems
How do parents typically report the onset of a disorder in their child's behavior?
They remember drastic changes
What is the purpose of prevention research in studying clinical problems over time?
To design interventions and services to prevent these problems
What do prospective studies sometimes reveal compared to retrospective studies?
Dramatic differences in the development of psychological disorders
What type of studies ask people to remember what happened in the past?
Retrospective studies
What is the main goal of studying clinical problems over time?
To design interventions and services to prevent these problems
What is the pattern of the onset of disorders according to parents' reports?
Drastic changes
What is the main benefit of prevention research in studying clinical problems over time?
To design interventions and services to prevent these problems
What type of studies record changes over time as they occur?
Prospective studies
Discover the Link Between Stressful Life Events and Depression Risk in this Eye-Opening Quiz! Learn about the impact of S and L alleles on the likelihood of experiencing a major depressive episode. Test your knowledge and uncover the fascinating findings of this groundbreaking study.
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