Lecture 8: Biological Perspective on Personality Psychology

Flashcards covering key concepts, definitions, and studies from personality psychology, prepared for exam review.

What is the climato-economic hypothesis in cultural psychology?

Countries have to use money to deal with climate change (no matter hotter or what). If rich enough, then can help others→ altruism. If poor→ then lower altruism

What did Ng's geographical analysis (2025) reveal about altruism across cultures?

Warmer, low-income countries often exhibited higher levels of altruism, possibly due to a greater necessity for mutual support in challenging environments or cultural adaptations to heat stress.

According to Ng's temporal analysis (2025), how does temperature affect altruism within cultures over time?

Ng's temporal analysis indicated that within individual cultures, a general increase in the annual average temperature over time corresponded with an observable increase in altruism. This suggests a potential long-term adaptive response or shift in social dynamics influenced by climate changes.

What were the three temperament types identified by the New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS) in children?

The New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS) identified three primary temperament types: Easy children (adaptable, positive mood, regular routines), Difficult children (negative mood, intense reactions, irregular routines), and Slow-to-warm-up children (low activity, mild negative reactions, slow to adapt).

*three dimensions: adaptibility, mood, reactivity

What key dimensions did Buss and Plomin identify in their EASI model for temperament?

Buss and Plomin's EASI model for temperament identified four key dimensions: Emotionality (intensity of emotional reactions), Activity (overall energy level and pace), Sociability (preference for being with others), and Impulsivity (tendency to act quickly without thinking).

What is Kagan's approach to understanding child temperament?

Kagan's approach focused on children's inhibition and their characteristic reactions to novel stimuli. He distinguished between inhibited children, who are shy, cautious, and avoidant of new situations, and uninhibited children, who are bold, sociable, and approach novelties with ease, often linking these behaviors to underlying biological differences (e.g., amygdala reactivity).

How does effortful control relate to parenting styles?

Effortful control refers to a child's ability to regulate their attention, emotions, and behavior, which influences their capacity to resist temptation and follow rules. This ability is significantly influenced by parenting styles, with authoritative parenting often fostering better effortful control through warmth, clear expectations, and support for autonomy, while other styles may hinder it.

What implications did Grazyna Kochanska's findings on authoritarian parenting suggest?

Grazyna Kochanska's research suggested that authoritarian parenting, characterized by high demands and low responsiveness, may negatively impact a child's development of effortful control and moral conscience. This is because strict control without explanation or warmth can undermine a child's internal motivation to regulate their behavior and understand moral principles.

What does temperament determinism contrast with?

Temperament determinism, the idea that an individual's temperament rigidly predetermines future behavioral development, contrasts sharply with the goodness-of-fit model. The goodness-of-fit model posits that optimal development occurs when a child's temperament is compatible with the demands and expectations of their environment,

How are the Big Five personality traits thought to be adaptive?

The Big Five personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism) are considered adaptive because each trait offers distinct costs and benefits that can influence an individual's survival, reproductive success, and social dynamics. For example, high conscientiousness leads to reliability and goal attainment but might reduce flexibility, while high openness fosters creativity but can lead to greater risk-taking.

What cultural influences were discussed regarding gender differences in personality?

The discussion noted that gender differences in personality traits, often observed cross-culturally, tend to diminish in societies with greater gender equality. This suggests that as cultural evolution progresses and traditional gender roles weaken, individuals have more freedom to express a wider range of personality traits, regardless of biological sex.

What is the role of observational learning in personality development?

Observational learning, a key concept from social learning theory, plays a crucial role in personality development. Through observing and imitating the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others, particularly significant role models, individuals acquire a wide array of personality traits and social behaviors, influenced heavily by their cultural experiences.

What is the heritability coefficient in twin studies?

In twin studies, the heritability coefficient (h^2) is a statistical estimate that represents the proportion of phenotypic variance in a given trait within a population that can be attributed to genetic variation. It is important to note that it's a population-level statistic, not an indicator of how much a particular individual's trait is due to genes.

What is the significance of shared and unshared environments in twin studies?

In twin studies, shared environments refer to environmental factors experienced similarly by siblings (e.g., family income, parenting style), while unshared environments are unique experiences not shared by siblings (e.g., different peer groups, unique life events, sibling specific treatment). Their significance lies in highlighting how both common and unique environmental factors, alongside genetic factors, contribute to the development of personality and other traits.

What factors influence the interaction of genetic and environmental effects?

The interaction of genetic and environmental effects is influenced by two main factors: gene-environment interaction (where genetic makeup can lead to different individuals responding to the same environment in distinct ways) and gene-environment correlation (where an individual's genes can influence the environments they are exposed to or evoke specific responses from their environment).

What are epigenetic mechanisms?

Epigenetic mechanisms are processes that alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence itself. Key examples include DNA methylation, where a methyl group is added to DNA to silence genes, and histone modification, which involves altering proteins around which DNA is wrapped, consequently making genes more or less accessible for transcription. These mechanisms can be influenced by environmental factors.

What insight did Weaver, Meany, and Szyf's rodent research provide about maternal care and personality?

Weaver, Meany, and Szyf's rodent research elegantly demonstrated that poor maternal care (low licking/grooming) in rat pups led to increased fearfulness and stress reactivity in adulthood. This effect was mediated by epigenetic changes, specifically DNA methylation, in genes related to stress response pathways in the hippocampus, offering a crucial model for understanding how early environmental experiences can epigenetically shape personality traits like anxiety and fear in humans.

How do hormonal responses relate to personality traits according to the lecture?

According to the lecture, various hormone levels can correlate with specific personality traits. For example, higher cortisol levels might be linked to neuroticism or stress reactivity, while testosterone levels can be associated with aggression or dominance. However, the stability and causal direction of these patterns, and the complex interplay between hormones and personality over time, remain subjects of ongoing debate and research.

What advice was given regarding studying the biological basis of personality?

To comprehensively understand the biological basis of personality, it was advised to utilize a wide variety of research methods. This approach acknowledges that each method (e.g., neuroimaging, genetic sequencing, hormonal assays, twin studies) has unique strengths and limitations, and combining them provides a more robust and nuanced understanding that single methods cannot achieve.

What are some cautionary notes regarding heritability estimates?

Cautionary notes regarding heritability estimates include understanding that they are population-specific statistics and do not apply to individuals. They can vary significantly across different populations and environments, meaning a trait's heritability is not fixed and can be influenced by environmental variations within a given group or across different contexts.

How do neurotransmitters impact personality?

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain that play vital roles in regulating mood, cognition, and behavior, thereby significantly influencing personality traits. For example, imbalances in serotonin are linked to neuroticism and mood disorders, dopamine is associated with reward-seeking and extraversion, and norepinephrine affects arousal and vigilance.

What conclusion is drawn about the complexity of linking biology and personality?

The conclusion emphasizes that a simplistic 'top-down' approach, attempting to directly link complex personality traits to single biological causes, is often unrealistic. This is due to the multifaceted nature of personality, which emerges from intricate interactions between multiple biological systems (genetics, epigenetics, neurobiology, hormones) and continuous environmental influences, necessitating a more integrated and multi-level approach.