Heritability & Behavioral Genetics Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the Heritability & Behavioral Genetics lecture, focusing on various psychological constructs related to genetics, behavior, and emotion.

Genotype

A person’s total collection of genes.

Phenotype

The sum of all a person’s observable traits.

Heritability

The proportion of variance in phenotype that can be accounted for by variance in genotype.

Variance in phenotype

Differences between people in looks, personality, IQ, etc.

Variance in genotype

Differences in the genes that people possess.

Identical Twins

Twins that are monozygotic; 100% of genes are the same.

Fraternal Twins

Twins that are dizygotic; 50% of genes are the same.

Shared Environment

Non-genetic influences that make siblings more alike.

Non-shared Environment

Non-genetic influences that make children more different.

Gene-Environment Correlations

A similarity between a person’s genes and their environment.

Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)

Regulates response to punishment and frustration, leading to avoidance behavior.

Behavioral Activation System (BAS)

Regulates response to incentives and reward, leading to approach behavior.

Sensation-seeking

Tendency to seek out thrilling and exciting activities.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that carry messages from one nerve cell to another.

Cloninger’s Tridimensional Model

A theory linking dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to personality traits.

Evolutionary Psychology

Using the theory of evolution by natural selection to understand human psychology.

Natural Selection

Inherited trait variations that confer a survival advantage are more likely to be passed down.

Kin Selection

The tendency to favor the survival of one's genetic relatives.

Altruism

Helping behavior directed towards others, particularly those who are genetically related.

Universal Emotions

Certain emotions that are recognized across cultures, such as fear, happiness, and anger.

Emotion Frequency

The frequency with which individuals experience various emotions.

Effect Size (Cohen’s d)

A statistical measure of the strength of the difference between two groups.

Socialization Theories

Theories that suggest behavior is shaped by societal influences and expectations.

Hormonal Theories

Theories positing that sex-linked behaviors are influenced by levels of hormones like testosterone.