Genetics and Behavior

Question 1

Temperament

Answer 1

Characteristic emotional reactivity, intensity, and sociability. Much broader than personality; hardwired at birth and persistent with age

Question 2

Nature vs Nurture

Answer 2

The effects of genetics and biology and the effects of the social environment; most things are influenced by both

Question 3

Family studies

Answer 3

Studies used to determine how genetics play a role in various things; includes twin studies

Question 4

Adoption studies

Answer 4

Studies of adopted people to understand how the social environment plays a role in various things

Question 5

Heritability

Answer 5

The variability of traits that can be attributed to genetics (the amount of variance in traits that can be attributed to genes in specific subgroups of people; it is dependent on the population studied); as the environment becomes more controlled, heritability is higher for variations seen

Question 6

What is the function of behavior?

Answer 6

To maintain homeostasis

Question 7

Innate behaviors

Answer 7

Genetically programmed; includes reflexes, fixed-action patterns, and orientation behaviors

Question 8

Learned behaviors

Answer 8

Persistent changes in behavior that resulted from experience with environment

Question 9

Complex behavior

Answer 9

Behavior that is both innate and learned; usually a spectrum of efficiency

Question 10

Covert behavior

Answer 10

Behavior that cannot be observed