Personality Theory Ch. 9

Twin studies are important to research on trait inheritance. Which of the following statements about monozygotic (MZ, or identical) and dizygotic (DZ, or fraternal) twin studies is true?

MZ twins share all the genes that can very between individuals; DZ twins share about half of these genes

Which of the following are explanations for why genome-wide association studies are not frequently conducted? a) It is still difficult to determine environmental effects on genes. b) So many analyses are performed that many and maybe nearly all the results that arise will be due merely to chance. c) Early results have not been very promising. d) Most scientists aren't sufficiently trained to conduct the studies properly. e) They are extremely time-consuming and expensive.

So many analyses are performed that many and maybe nearly all the results that arise will be due merely to chance; They are extremely time-consuming and expensive.

How might a behavioral geneticist explain the statistically significant finding that television watching is heritable?

There are related heritable propensities, such as sensation seeking or lethargy, that might lead one to watch television more often.

Which of the following are common methodological concerns about evolutionary psychology? a) All its theories lack experimental evidence. b) The process of evolution is far too long for researchers to observe its influence on behavior. c) Many of the theories are "just so" explanations. d) Many of the theories are difficult to disprove.

a) All its theories lack experimental evidence. c) Many of the theories are "just so" explanations. d) Many of the theories are difficult to disprove.

According to evolutionary theory, women prefer _______ mates, whereas men prefer _______ mates.

older; younger

What are different forms of the same gene called (e.g., the long and short variants of the 5-HTT gene)?

alleles

The field of behavioral genetics has changed dramatically in the past few years by moving into molecular biology. Most studies use the __________, which tries to determine whether differences in a __________ correlate with differences in a particular __________ across individuals.

association method; trait; gene

According to the text, why is depression a useful adaptation?

pain signals promote survival

What is the main reason why cloning one's personality will never be feasible?

personality is the result of a complex interaction between one's genes and environment

Studies on heritability concern the degree to which variation in the observable traits of a person, or __________, can be attributed to variation in the __________, or underlying genetic structure.

phenotype; genotype

Place the personality characteristics in order from most to least heritable: a) generalized anxiety disorder b) extraversion c) schizophrenia

schizophrenia, extraversion, generalized anxiety disorder

Which of the following accurately describes the theory of inclusive fitness?

self-sacrificing behaviors can still be evolutionarily advantageous if they help the survival of others that share your genes

In contrast to evolutionary theorizing, how do Eagly and Wood (1999) explain behavioral differences between men and women?

social norms better reflect men's greater size and strength and women's role in childbearing than biological hardwired behavioral tendencies

According to __________ theory, our feelings of self-esteem evolved to monitor the degree to which we are accepted by others.

sociometer

Twin studies are useful in determining heritability because researchers can parse genetic influences from that of shared family environment. Which of the following are examples of shared family environment? a) twins' country of origin b) the neighborhood that the twins grow up in c) the college that the twins attend d) twins' parents e) twins' other siblings

b) the neighborhood that the twins grow up in d) twins' parents e) twins' other siblings

The point of view that tries to explain everything about behavior by exploring brain structure and physiology is called ______________ reductionism.

biological

According to evolutionary theory, what is the mechanism for sex differences?

biology

Place the types of studies in chronological order from the least to most recently developed. a) genome-wide association studies b) molecular genetics studies c) twin studies

c) twin studies b) molecular genetics studies a) genome-wide association studies

What is the evolutionary approach to personality psychology?

certain behaviors developed because they were successful or necessary for survival in the evolutionary history of the species

According to evolutionary psychology, which of the following does not account for individual differences?

certain levels of maladaptive traits, such as neuroticism, ensure that populations are not so excessively large that it threatens the survival of the gorup

According to evolutionary theory, animals and humans generally exhibit one of two different approaches to reproduction. Individuals who follow a fast-life history strategy tend to live in _______ environments and have children when they are _______. Individuals who follow a slow-life history strategy tend to live in _______ environments and have children when they are _______.

dangerous; young; stable; older

In terms of jealousy, women are more upset by__________ infidelity and men are more upset by__________ infidelity.

emotional; sexual

What is the term for the way experience, especially early in life, can determine how or even whether a gene is expressed during development?

epigenetics

What is the correct term for the belief that humans should be improved through selective breeding?

eugenics

Charlies Darwin's book On the Origin of Species (1859 ) is one of the basic foundations for which area of psychology?

evolutionary psychology

Rachel and Rakim are friends who are experiencing different kinds of depression that evolutionary theorists would consider evolved mechanisms beneficial to survival. Rachel was just fired from her job, and Rakim was just broken up with by his girlfriend. According to a recent study, Rachel is likely experiencing depression characterized by _______, whereas Rakim is likely experiencing depression characterized by _______.

fatigue, pessimism, and guilt; emotional pain, crying, and seeking social support.

In a(n) ________ study, data concerning hundreds of thousands of genes in thousands of people are dumped into a computer, and together with data about these individuals' ________ are analyzed to find consistent associations among them.

genome-wide association; personality

A statistic called the_______ reflects the degree to which variance of a trait in the populations can be attributed to variance in genes. If a trait is influenced by genes, then it ought to be more highly correlated across pairs of ________ twins than across pairs of _______ twins.

heritability coefficient; identical; fraternal

According to the text, biology will never be able to explain which of the following?

how people act in their daily social environments

According to the text, so far, evolutionary psychology has been much more concerned with the origins of _______ than with _______.

human nature; individual differences

The tendency to aid and protect other people, especially close relatives, to ensure the survival of one's own genes into succeeding generations is referred to as __________ fitness.

inclusive

Behavioral genetics focuses exclusively on _______, whereas evolutionary biology focuses on the inheritance of _______.

individual differences; traits that all humans share

In mate selection across a variety of cultures, __________ are more likely to place a higher value on __________, while __________ are more likely to value __________.

men; physical attractiveness; women; economic security

Which of the following is most comparable to the debate between evolutionary theories on sex differences and Eagly and Wood's theory on social structure (1999, 2002)?

nature vs nurture

According to the text, what statement is a widely accepted summary of behavioral genetics?

"Everything is hereditary"

According to estimates based on twin studies, what is the average heritability coefficient of many traits of personality when using self-reports of personality?

.40

Erica and Laura are monozygotic twins whose average correlation for the trait of extraversion is .70. Manuel and Julian are dizygotic twins whose average correlation for the trait of extraversion is .40. Use the heritability formula to calculate the heritability coefficient for extraversion, and type the value here.

.60

If there is no phenotypic variation in a trait, then what will the heritability coefficient of that trait be?

0

Match each gene to the behavior or personality trait it is most likely to influence: 1. 5-HTT 2. DRD4 3. COMT A) risky behavior B) extraversion C) neuroticism

1. 5-HTT = C) neuroticism 2. DRD4 = A) risky behavior 3. COMT = B) extraversion

Monozygotic (MZ) twins share _____ percent of the genes that vary across individuals, and dizygotic (DZ) twins share, on average, _____ percent of the genes that vary across individuals.

100; 50

Lukas and Ashley have the same father but different mothers. About how much genetic material do Luke and Ashley share?

25%

Linda suffers from depression, whereas her brother Kyle is more emotionally stable. Which gene is likely to differ between Kyle and Linda?

5-HTT

Frans de Waal is known for the "dilemma of the rarely exercised option" in evolutionary psychology. Based on this dilemma, what is the most likely explanation for why someone would be unfaithful in a relationship?

Being unfaithful is a side effect of another evolutionary adaptation

Which of the following is not a theory that evolutionary psychology uses to account for individual differences in personality?

For a species to remain viable, it must discourage diversity

Match each type of person-environment transaction to its example. a) An adventurous individual decides to move to another country and experiences many new situations. b) An individual develops an anxiety disorder after experiencing a stressful event. c) A girl who inherits a genetically based tendency to be easily angered may tend to create and experience hostile social situations because of her negative reactions to other people. 1. evocative 2. reactive 3. active

a) An adventurous individual decides to move to another country and experiences many new situations. 3. active b) An individual develops an anxiety disorder after experiencing a stressful event. 2. reactive c) A girl who inherits a genetically based tendency to be easily angered may tend to create and experience hostile social situations because of her negative reactions to other people. 1. evocative

Which of the following are criticisms of evolutionary theorizing? a) Evolutionary theorists assume that everybody wants many children when, in fact, many people limit their own reproduction. b) Conducting evolutionary psychology studies is expensive and requires technical expertise. c) Evolutionary theorizing consists of after-the-fact speculations that cannot be put to empirical test. d) Evolutionary theory is unnecessarily complicated because it involves too many basic principles. e) Evolutionary theorists assume that behavior patterns present today are essentially inevitable and unchangeable because they are rooted in our biology.

a) Evolutionary theorists assume that everybody wants many children when, in fact, many people limit their own reproduction. c) Evolutionary theorizing consists of after-the-fact speculations that cannot be put to empirical test. d) Evolutionary theory is unnecessarily complicated because it involves too many basic principles. e) Evolutionary theorists assume that behavior patterns present today are essentially inevitable and unchangeable because they are rooted in our biology.

Which of the following are examples of gene-environment interactions? a) Genie grows up in a country that has experienced a food supply shortage for the last several years. She grows to be shorter than both of her parents. b) Samir, who is six feet tall, has a son who is six feet two inches tall. c) Laddie is quick-tempered and tends to create and experience hostile social situations. d) Amber and Jessi are sitting in class when the fire alarm goes off. They both evacuate with the rest of their class.

a) Genie grows up in a country that has experienced a food supply shortage for the last several years. She grows to be shorter than both of her parents. c) Laddie is quick-tempered and tends to create and experience hostile social situations.

Several criticisms of evolutionary psychology have "stress tests" that assess the degree to which the evolutionary approach is a viable explanation of behavior. Match each "stress test" of evolutionary psychology to its rebuttal. a) It is not necessary for people to be consciously aware of what evolutionary theory says is required for reproductive success. b) Evolution of the cerebral cortex enables humans to have the ability to overcome innate urges. c) Evolutionary psychologists are not concerned with the moral reasoning of the human psyche. d) Empirical research can address specific predictions. e) The differences between men and women in mate selection and other behaviors are built-in through biological evolution. 1. reproductive instinct 2. human flexibility 3. biological determinism 4. conservative bias 5. methodological limitations

a) It is not necessary for people to be consciously aware of what evolutionary theory says is required for reproductive success. 1. reproductive instinct b) Evolution of the cerebral cortex enables humans to have the ability to overcome innate urges. 2. human flexibility c) Evolutionary psychologists are not concerned with the moral reasoning of the human psyche. 4. conservative bias d) Empirical research can address specific predictions. 5. methodological limitations e) The differences between men and women in mate selection and other behaviors are built-in through biological evolution. 3. biological determinism

Identify the following as examples of either inclusive fitness or sociometer theory. a) Thea is helping her cousin write his college admissions essay. b) Maritza has high self-esteem and many close friends. c) Freddie defends his little brother from bullies after school. d) Ricky cries out in pain after falling from a tree.

a) Thea is helping her cousin write his college admissions essay. c) Freddie defends his little brother from bullies after school.

Which of the following scientific practices are controversial offshoots of behavioral genetics? a) cloning b) genome-wide association studies c) eugenics d) biological determinism

a) cloning c) eugenics

Match each evolutionarily based psychological trait with its proposed associated behavior. a) helps secure the reproductive success of close relatives b) useful in seeking social support c) enables social dominance and an increase in status 1. crying 2. altruism 3. aggression

a) helps secure the reproductive success of close relatives 2. altruism b) useful in seeking social support 1. crying c) enables social dominance and an increase in status 3. aggression

Which of the following are indicated by a heritability statistic? a) whether genetic factors play some role in shaping individual differences b) whether genes and environments interact to produce important life outcomes c) how much variability in a trait is due to nonshared environmental factors d) whether the influence of certain conditions, such as having an intellectual disability, is environmental e) the degree to which personality trait levels predict variation in behavior

a) whether genetic factors play some role in shaping individual differences c) how much variability in a trait is due to nonshared environmental factors d) whether the influence of certain conditions, such as having an intellectual disability, is environmental

Which of the following are indicated by a heritability statistic? a) whether genetic factors play some role in shaping individual differences b) whether genes and environments interact to produce important life outcomes c) the degree to which personality trait levels predict variation in behavior d) whether the influence of certain conditions, such as having an intellectual disability, is environmental e) how much variability in a trait is due to nonshared environmental factors

a) whether genetic factors play some role in shaping individual differences d) whether the influence of certain conditions, such as having an intellectual disability, is environmental e) how much variability in a trait is due to nonshared environmental factors

Which of the following groups are more likely to have a slow- or fast-life history? a) women living in a good neighborhood with a stable job b) children who live with both parents in a supportive and safe living situation c) prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities d) men living in a bad neighborhood without a stable job

a) women living in a good neighborhood with a stable job b) children who live with both parents in a supportive and safe living situation

Divorce has been found to be heritable: If one or more of your close relatives have been divorced, you are more likely to get divorced than if none of your relatives has been divorced. What does this finding imply about the causes of divorce?

that one or more genetically influenced traits are relevant to divorce

Numerous objections have been raised in response to the evolutionary approach to human behavior. Which of the following answers is not one of these objections?

the evolutionary assumption that built in behavior patterns can be overcome by rational, conscious thought is not upheld by psychological research

What might explain the difference in heritability coefficient outcomes between family resemblance studies that use twins and those that don't?

the fact that effects of genes are multiplication rather than addictive

What is the best description of the future of behavioral genetics, according to the text?

the further understanding of gene-environment correlations and interactions

What is the most important way that genes and environments interact?

the same environment can affect individuals in different ways

The idea that feelings of self-esteem have evolved to gauge social acceptance is known as _______, whereas ________ is the idea that self-sacrificing behaviors can still be evolutionarily advantageous if they help the survival of others that share your genes.

the sociometer theory; inclusive fitness

Which of the following is not a reason why heritability coefficients are useful?

they indicate whether severe mental illness runs in certain families

According to the text, what is the future potential for behavioral genetics?

to explore which genes are associated with personality traits using a technique called genome-wide association

The heritability of which type of trait is the most difficult to calculate?

traits that are only affected by one's environment