Psychology-nature vs. nurture
shared environments account for less than ___% of children's personality differences
10%
how many chromosomes does a human sperm cell contain?
23 chromosomes
genetic variations produce __%-___% of our individual variations in personality
40-50%
how many chromosomes does one person have?
46: 23 from father's sperm and 23 from mother's egg
natural selection
Darwin's principle that those inherited traits that will most likely lead to increased reproduction and survival will be passed on to future generations
who is more likely to crave and initiative sex? men or women? why?
Men, because they are biologically-disposed to try and spread their genes out as widely as possible.Females automatically look to send their genes into the future by wisely picking a partner
Y-chromosome
ONLY IN MEN. When paired with an X-chromosome from the mother, forms male child
heritability
Refers to the extent to which differences among people can be attributed to genes. May vary trait-to-trait, depending on population and environment.
gender-typing
acquisition of a traditional male or female role
genes
biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes; segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein
gender
characteristics, whether biological or socially-influenced, from which people define male or female
gender schema theory
children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male or female, and then adjust their behavior accordingly.
genome
complete genetic make-up of an organism, consisting of all genetic info in chromosomes
DNA
complex molecule containing genetic info that makes up chromosomes. In shape of a double helix - held together by bonded nucleotides
what are parents important for?
discipline, responsibility, education, orderliness, selflessness, and interacting w/ authority figures
culture
enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and passed on from one generation to next
environment
every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
what kind of women are males attracted to?
fertile-looking, youthful women
in studies, which share more similarities in personality: identical or fraternal twins?
identical twins
testosterone
most important male sex hormone. In both men and women, but influx in males promotes development of secondary sex characteristics & growth of sex organs
gender identity
one's sense of being male or female
who influences children's personalities more: parents or peers?
peers because children seek out friends with similar interests/attitudes and their personality further develops. More important for learning cooperation and social interaction
temperament
person's emotional reactivity and intensity
mutation
random error in nucleotide sequences. The source of genetic diversity
memes
self-replicating ideas, fashions, and innovations passed from person to person
role
set of expectations (norms) about a social position
gender role
set of expected behaviors for males and females
X-chromosome
sex chromosome found in both men and women. Females have 2, men only have 1. One from father and mother forms female child
evolutionary psychology
study of evolutionary behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
behavior genetics
study of the relative power and limits of genetics and environmental influences on behavior
molecular genetics
subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes
chromosome
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes
identical twins
twins who develop from a single, fertilized egg that splits into two, creating two genetically-identical organisms
fraternal twins
twins who develop from separate eggs. Are not any genetically closer than brothers or sisters, but they share a feta; environment
norm
understood rule for accepted and expected behavior
what kind of men do women prefer?
usually dominant and powerful men
social learning theory
we learn social behavior by observing and imitating, and by rewards and punishments
what does heritability NOT reveal?
what percentage of an individual's personality or intelligence is inherited