Personality Psychology: Statistics, Genetics, and Physiology

These flashcards cover introductory statistics in personality psychology, behavioral genetics methods and findings, environmental influences, and physiological theories of personality.

Moderation

A statistical concept where the effect of variable A on variable B varies depending on the levels of variable C; also referred to as an interaction or modifier.

Mediation

A statistical concept where the effect of variable X on variable Y is a function of variable M, representing a causal pathway or chain reaction.

Human Genome

The complete set of genetic material in humans, containing anywhere from $30,000$ to $80,000$ genes located on $23$ pairs of chromosomes.

Eugenics

The controversial notion of improving the genetic quality of a human population, which has historically been misused to promote racial segregation and the idea of a pure race.

Heritability

The proportion of phenotypic variance (the expression of a gene) in a population that is attributed to genotypic variance.

Environmentality

The proportion of observed variance in groups of individuals that is attributable to environmental influence.

Family Studies

Research methods that examine the similarity of traits among family members based on their degree of genetic relatedness.

Twin Studies

Research methods that estimate heritability by comparing the similarity between identical (monozygotic) twins and fraternal (dizygotic) twins.

Monozygotic (MZ) Twins

Identical twins who share $100\%$ of their genes.

Dizygotic (DZ) Twins

Fraternal twins who share $50\%$ of their genes.

Adoption Studies

Research methods that look at correlations between adopted children and their adoptive parents (evidence for environment) or genetic parents (evidence for heritability).

Selective Placement

The practice where adoption agencies place children with families that have similar characteristics to the child's biological family, potentially confounding adoption study results.

Shared Environment

Features of the family environment that are experienced by all siblings, such as the types of books in the home or shared family meals.

Non-shared Environment

Features of the environment that differ across siblings, such as having different teachers, friends, or participating in different sports.

Passive Genotype-Environment Correlation

A situation where parents provide both genes and the environment to children, yet the child does nothing to obtain that environment.

Reactive Genotype-Environment Correlation

Occurs when parents or others respond to children differently depending on the child's genotype, such as reacting more to a baby who likes cuddling.

Active Genotype-Environment Correlation

Also known as niche picking, this occurs when a person with a particular genotype actively seeks out a specific environment based on their personality.

Phlegmatic

One of Galen's four styles where an abundance of phlegm made a person passive, calm, and thoughtful.

Sanguine

One of Galen's four styles where an abundance of blood made a person happy, outgoing, and lively.

Choleric

One of Galen's four styles where an abundance of yellow bile made a person unstable, aggressive, and excitable.

Melancholic

One of Galen's four styles where an abundance of black bile made a person unhappy, pessimistic, and somber.

Hysterical

A historical medical term meaning 'wandering uterus,' used erroneously to describe women in distress.

Electrodermal Activity

Also known as skin conductance; a non-invasive physiological measure that detects changes in perspiration via electrodes to gauge anxiety or arousal.

Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS)

The brain system that regulates arousal; introverts are thought to have higher activity levels, making them more reactive to stimulation than extroverts.

Behavioral Activation System (BAS)

A hypothesized brain system responsive to incentives and cues for reward that regulates behavior toward approaching situations.

Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)

A hypothesized brain system responsive to cues of punishment, frustration, or uncertainty that causes behavioral inhibition or avoidance.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward seeking; higher levels are linked to enjoyable activities and addiction.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter associated with affect and mood; low levels are sometimes associated with depression and other mood disorders.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter associated with physiological arousal levels.

Tri-dimensional Personality Model

A model linking novelty seeking to low dopamine, harm avoidance to low serotonin, and reward dependence to low norepinephrine.