Chapter 3

norm

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Perscribed "proper" behavior.

aggression

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.

gender

in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female.

gender identity

one's sense of being male or female.

gender-typing

the acquistion of a traditonal masculine or feminine role.

genes

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein.

personal space

the bufferzone we like to maintain around our bodies.

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes.

interaction

the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity).

culture

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.

x chromosome

the sex chromosome found in both men found in both men and women, Females have two; males have one.

y chromosome

the sex chromosome found only in males. When paired with an x chromosome from the mother. It produces a male child.

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

molecular genetics

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.

gender schema theory

the theory that children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male and female and that they adjust their behavior accordingly.

DNA

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

temperament

a person's characteristic emotional reacitvity and intensity.

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

role

a set of expectations (norms) about a social postion, definging how those in the position ought to behave.

gender role

a set of expected behaviors for males and for females.

environment

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

individualism

giving priority to one's own goals over group goals, and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.

collectivism

giving priority to the goals of one's group (often one's extended family or work group) and defining one's identity accordingly.

testosterone

the most important of the male sex hormones. Both males and females have it.

heritability

the porportion of variation amoung individuals that we can attribute to genes.

natural selection

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

social learning theory

the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.

identical twins

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two creating two genetically identical organisms.

fraternal twins

twins who develop from seperate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than bothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.