Individual Differences Lecture 7 Climate Psychology and Heritability of Personality

These flashcards are designed to help students remember key concepts from the lecture on climate psychology and the heritability of personality.

Who suffers most from climate change?

Small island nations and people in the global south.

What is the estimated number of deaths annually caused by climatic changes?

Over 150,000 deaths.

Why should psychologists care about climate change?

They need to address health and mental health impacts.

What is eco-anxiety?

A chronic fear of environmental doom.

What was the ratio of Americans who think global warming is happening vs those who do not?

About 5 to 1 (70% vs 13%).

What percentage of Americans believe climate change is mostly human-caused?

59%.

What factors might increase climate concern and anxiety?

Younger age, education, direct climate impacts, values, personality traits, and political leanings.

What is the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS)?

A measure used to assess individuals' anxiety regarding climate change.

What trait is correlated with higher climate anxiety?

Younger age and higher generalized anxiety.

How does media exposure affect climate anxiety?

Media exposure rather than direct experience predicts climate anxiety.

What is the nature vs nurture debate in personality?

Personality is influenced by genetics and environment.

What are genotype and phenotype?

Genotype is the genetic code; phenotype is the observable outcome influenced by genes and environment.

How is heritability defined?

The proportion of shared variation in phenotype within a population explained by shared genotype.

What is parental correlation in the context of personality traits?

The correlation coefficient that indicates how much trait similarity between parents and children is influenced by genetics.

Which type of twin studies help determine heritability?

Comparing identical twins (MZ) and non-identical twins (DZ).

What is one measure of personality stability over time?

Childhood personality predicts adult personality.

What is a possible method to study heritability?

Comparing twins reared together vs. apart.

Which personality trait had a high heritability estimate in the studies mentioned?

Neuroticism with up to .80 heritability.

What study looked at the heritability of personality traits?

Riemann et al. (1997) - heritability in personality reared together.

What role does education play in climate change perception?

Educational attainment is the strongest predictor of climate change awareness.

What impact might experiencing direct climate events have on perceptions?

It may increase perceived risk and concern about climate change.