Behavioral Genetics, Intelligence, and Personality Disorders

Behavioral Genetics

The study of how/why inherited biological material influences behavioral patterns. Specifically, "personality traits" - broad patterns of behavior.

Disclaimer! This is NOT eugenics.

Heritability Quotient

About populations, not individuals. Genes interact (multiply) to create a personality trait. If one gene doesn't work properly, another gene will not work properly. The combination of genes that interact to make a trait, are different in everyone.

Heritability Coefficient

The percentage of variation in that trait (in the population), not the % of one's personality attributing to genes.

Population Level Phenotypes

Heritability estimates apply to groups, not individuals.

Inherited Propensities

Genes influence your → Neurology then leads to→ Psychological Propensities (tendencies) which influence your → Behavioral Expression situated in context

Psychological Propensities

Require an outlet for expression, Environment can influence heritability or the access to nutrition can lead to different outcomes. The interaction between the two leads to infinite numbers of interactions.

Behavioral Expression

Observable actions influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

GWAS Studies

Genome-wide association studies exploring genetic influences; it's more about our lack of understanding, complexity of problem.

Mental Abilities

The whole range of things your brain can do, & how well you do them. The combination of speed & effectiveness; it's very abstract

General Intelligence (G Factor)

Single factor representing overall mental ability.

Charles Spearman

Pioneered scientific study of intelligence through factor analysis and found the G-factor for intelligence.

Factor Analysis

Statistical method to identify underlying relationships among variables.

Primary Mental Abilities

Seven distinct factors of intelligence identified by Thurstone instead of a single G-factor.

Louis Thurstone

Expanded on Spearman's work, identifying multiple intelligence factors through factor analyzation. He felt that to measure intelligence, you need to measure all of them in a very thorough way.

Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory

Developed from Spearman and Thurstone's things and then factor analyzed everything together and found a hierarchy of mental abilities.

G factor → Primary mental abilities → Individual abilities

Howard Gardner

Linguistic, Musical, Logical/Mathematical, Spatial, Kinaesthetic (Bodily), Intrapersonal (self), Interpersonal (Social), but no compelling evidence for this existing.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

Standardized measure of intelligence, historically calculated in various ways.

Ratio IQ

Outdated method: mental age divided by biological age.

Deviation IQ

Collects a bunch of "ability" scores and aggregates it into a single g factor score.

IQ Percentile in distribution

Normalizes it so that the means = 100 and the SD is 16. Percentile in distribution = z-score of your IQ score.

Attainment

Achievement of goals or skills in education and life.

Flynn Effect

Observed increase in IQ scores over generations.

Enculturation

Process of learning the culture one is born into.

Acculturation

Process of adopting a new culture

WEIRD

Describes research focused on Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic societies.

Boundary Conditions

Limitations on the predictive power of IQ.

Social Determinants of IQ

Factors like SES affecting intelligence outcomes.

Generalizability of Theory

Extent to which findings apply across different cultures. (Remember Person + Situation)

Collectivistic Cultures

Tend to be more sociable, have other-focused emotions, and are happier when "connecting" with others. They are less risk-taking and less focused on self-enhancement.

Collectivistic Vertical Culture

The self is different from others, communal sharing, authority ranking, low freedom, low equality (e.g. China)

Collectivistic Horizontal Culture

The self is the same as others, communal sharing, low freedom, high equality, (e.g. Israel)

Individualistic Vertical Culture

The self is different from others, market economy, authority ranking, high freedom, low equality (e.g. France)

Individualistic Horizontal Culture

The self is the same as others, market economy, high freedom, high equality, (e.g. Norway)

Individualistic Cultures

Low-context communication; emphasis on personal rights.

Tightness vs. Looseness

Enforcement of social norms varies by population density.

Dignity

Value derived from individual worth, not others.

Honor

Desire to protect oneself and one's extensions.

Face

Hierarchies based on cooperation and social harmony.

Cultural Influence on Personality

Cultures shape personality; both influence each other due to social influence, selective migration, and ecology.

Social Norms

The shared expectations, rules, or standards of behaviors that are considered acceptable within a group, community, or society

Big Five Personality Traits

Common traits, but may miss culture-specific traits.

Cultural Relativism

All cultural views are valid; avoid ethnocentrism.

Egosyntonic

Traits align with self-view; perceived as self.

Egodystonic

Traits conflict with self-view; perceived as foreign.

Schizotypal Personality

Idiosyncratic, original; unique perspective on reality.

Schizoid Personality

Independent, self-sufficient; prefers solitude.

Paranoid Personality

Vigilant and wary; distrustful of others.

Histrionic Personality

Dramatic, flamboyant; seeks attention and approval.

Narcissistic Personality

Self-confident, proud; seeks admiration.

Antisocial Personality

Strong-willed, self-reliant; disregard for others.

Borderline Personality

Mercurial, intense emotions; unstable relationships.

Dependent Personality

Devoted, reliable; excessive need for support.

Avoidant Personality

Sensitive, quiet; fears social interaction.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality

Conscientious, reliable; preoccupation with order.

Personality Disorder (PD) Characteristics

Unusual, Causes problems, Impacts social relations, Stable over time, Egosyntonic

Cluster A

Personality disorders: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal.

Cluster B

Personality disorders: Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic.

Cluster C

Personality disorders: Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive.

ICD-11

It is a massive healthcare manual published by the WHO (global authorship, public submissions, feedback & updates) and coverage of medical/mental illnesses and is very broad. A comprehensive diagnostic manual with a dimensional approach: classification is based on severity. In relation to mental health, it focuses on general personality dysfunction.

Negative Affectivity

Trait measuring emotional instability and neuroticism.

Detachment

Social withdrawal and lack of emotional connection.

Disinhibition

Impulsive behavior without regard for consequences.

Anankastia

Preoccupation with orderliness and control issues.

Borderline Pattern

Catch-all for unstable personality and behaviors.

Severity Classification of ICD-11

Mild, Moderate, Severe based on trait intensity.

Diagnostic Requirements for ICD-11

All traits must be present for diagnosis.

Strengths of ICD-11

Simpler, flexible, tailored treatment plans.

Weaknesses of ICD-11

Less specific for research, lacks nuanced subtypes.

Internalizing Traits

Focus on internal thoughts and feelings.

Externalizing Traits

Behavioral issues affecting external interactions.

Strengths of HiTOP

Emphasizes traits, better for research and treatment planning

Weaknesses of HiTOP

Complexity of diagnostic process, developmental stage for clinical use

HiTOP

Maps psychological disorders in general senses to internalizing/externalizing parts. It's hierarchy: board dimensions down to specific traits. Top-level: p-factors (general psychopathology factor).

P-factors

General psychopathology factor in HiTOP model.

Treatment for DSM-5

Separate treatments for each diagnosed disorder.

Treatment for ICD-11

Focus on changing severity traits.

Treatment for HiTOP

Integrated interventions addressing multiple traits.

Ethical Implications

Pathologizing normal psychological variations can occur.