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43 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Behavioural Genetics |
The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour |
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Environment |
Accounts for all non-genetic influences |
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Chromosomes |
Threadlike DNA structures containing genes |
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DNA |
A molecule containing genetic information |
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Genes |
The biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes; capable of coding for proteins |
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Genome |
The complete genetic information comprising an organism's biological structure |
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Monozygotic Twins |
Twins that develop from a single fertilized embryo, creating genetically identical individuals |
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Dizygotic Twins |
Twins that develop from two separately fertilized eggs; share only their prenatal environment |
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Behavioural Similarities in Twins |
Monozygotic twins often have more behavioural similarities than dizygotic twins, such as extraversion and neuroticism. In addition, predispositions such as drinking and driving are twelve times more likely to be shared by identical twins than by fraternal ones |
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Twin Similarity Criticism |
Critics of anecdotal evidence about striking similarities in twins separated at birth argue that even strangers compared under similar circumstances would seem remarkably similar if enough variables were considered |
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The Two Groups of Relatives |
Genetic relatives include biological parents and siblings; environmental relatives adoptive ones. As it turns out, the environment shared by a family's children has virtually no impact on their personalities |
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Temperament |
A person's characteristic emotional reactivity |
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Heritability |
The proportion of variation among individuals based on differences in genetics. The heritability of a trait may very depending on the demograp |
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Molecular Genetics |
A subfield of biology that studies the molecular structures and functions of genes |
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Molecular Behavioural Genetics |
The study of how the structure of genes relates to interaction with the environment and behavioural influences |
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Epigenetics |
The study of the effect of environment on human genes |
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Evolutionary Psychology |
The study of the evolution of behaviour and the mind with respect to natural selection |
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Natural Selection |
The concept that nature favours those individuals that have developed specific traits that make them 'fitter' than other members of the species, thus allowing them to pass on their genetic information to the next generation by surviving and prospering more efficiently |
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Mutation |
A random change to a DNA sequence that may be advantageous or a hindrance |
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Sexual Overperception Bias |
The sometimes false belief that a desired mate is showing more interest in the initiator than they actually are |
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Social Script |
The culturally affected guide modelling how to act in various situations |
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Interaction |
The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor |
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Culture |
The enduring behaviours and ideas to shared from one generation to the next |
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Norm |
An understood rule describing accepted and expected behaviour |
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Individualism |
Giving priority to one's own goals over the goals of the group, defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes |
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Collectivism |
Giving priority to the goals of the group, and defining one's personality accordingly |
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Culture Shock |
The phenomenon where one does not understand the expectations of a culture different to one's own |
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Sex |
In psychology, the biologically influenced characteristics distinguishing males and females |
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Gender |
In psychology, the socially influenced characteristics distinguishing males and females |
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Aggression |
Any physical or verbal behaviour intended to harm another person |
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Relational Aggression |
Any physcial or verbal behaviour intended to harm another person' relationships or social standing |
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Male Answer Syndrome |
The tendency for males to be more likely to hazard answers about something they are unsure of than females |
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X Chromosome |
The sex chromosome found in both males and females |
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Y Chromosome |
The sex chromosome found exclusively in men |
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Testosterone |
The most significant of the male sex hormones; it is present in both sexes, but is more prevalent in men, leading to the development of male sex organs during the fetal period, as well as the development of male sex characteristics during puberty |
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Puberty |
The period during which a person matures sexually, thus becoming able to reproduce |
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Primary Sex Characteristics |
The body structures, such as external genitalia, that enable sexual reproduction |
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Secondary Sex Characteristics |
Non-reproductive sexual traits, such as bodily hair, breasts and hips, and body hair |
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Gender Identity |
Our sense of being male or female |
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Social Learning Theory |
The theory that we learn social behaviour by watching and imitating, and by being rewarded or punished |
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Gender Typing |
The acquisition of a typical masculine or feminine role |
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Androgynous |
Displaying both masculine and feminine psychological characteristics |
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Transgender |
A term describing those whose gender identity differs from their sex |