Personality Psychology Week 11: Personality as Biology and Genetics I

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Personality Psychology lecture on the role of biology and genetics in personality.

Behavioural Genetics

The science of how genes and environments influence behavior.

Heritability Coefficient

A measure that examines how phenotypes may be attributed to variation in genotypes, ranging from 0 to 1.

Adoption Studies

Research method comparing children’s traits to their biological versus adoptive parents to understand nature versus nurture.

Twin Studies

Research that compares the behavior and traits of monozygotic (identical) twins and dizygotic (fraternal) twins.

Gene-Environment Interaction

The concept that genetic differences affect behavior under some environmental circumstances but not (or differently) under others.

Evolutionary Psychology

A field that seeks to understand traits through their adaptive value in promoting survival and reproduction.

Nature-Nurture Debate

The argument concerning whether genetics (nature) or environmental factors (nurture) play a larger role in shaping personality and behavior.

Genome-wide association studies (GWA)

Research efforts aimed at associating specific genetic variants with particular traits or behaviors.

Nature

The genetic or biological predispositions influencing behavior.

Nurture

The environmental and social experiences that shape behavior.

Gene-Environment-Interactions and IQ

Research demonstrating how social-economic status can influence the heritability of intelligence.

Probabilistic Genetics

The notion that genes influence traits in probabilistic terms rather than deterministic; genetics contributes to tendencies rather than certainties.

Four Laws of Behavioural Genetics

Key insights summarizing the heritability of behaviour and the influence of family vs. genetics.