Ch. 4 Nature, Nurture, And Human Diversity

Front 1

Behavior genetics

Back 1

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

Front 2

Environment

Back 2

every nongenetic, or external, influence on our traits and behaviors

Front 3

Chromosomes

Back 3

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes

Front 4

DNA

Back 4

deoxyribonucleic acid, complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosome

Front 5

Genes

Back 5

biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; they are segments of the DNA molecules capable of synthesizing a protein

Front 6

Genome

Back 6

complete genetic instructions for making an organism

Front 7

Identical twins

Back 7

develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two and therefore are genetically identical

Front 8

Fraternal twins

Back 8

develop from two separate eggs fertilized by different sperm and therefore ate no more genetically similar than ordinary siblings

Front 9

Temperament

Back 9

refers to a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

Front 10

Heritability

Back 10

refers to the proportion of variation among individuals that can be attributed to genes

Front 11

Interaction

Back 11

when the effects of one factor (such as environment) depend on another factor (such as heredity)

Front 12

Molecular genetics

Back 12

the study of the molecular structure and function of specific genes

Front 13

Evolutionary psychology

Back 13

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

Front 14

Natural selection

Back 14

the evolutionary principle that traits lead to increased reproduction and succeeding generations

Front 15

Mutations

Back 15

random errors in gene replication that are the source of genetic diversity within a species

Front 16

Gender

Back 16

refers to the biological and social characteristics by which people define male and female

Front 17

Culture

Back 17

enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shares by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Front 18

Norms

Back 18

understood rules accepted and expected behavior

Front 19

Personal space

Back 19

the buffer zone that people like to maintain around their bodies

Front 20

Individualism

Back 20

giving priority to personal goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identification

Front 21

Collectivism

Back 21

giving priority to the goals of one's group and defining one's identity accordingly

Front 22

Aggression

Back 22

physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone

Front 23

X chromosome

Back 23

the sex chromosome found in both men and women, females inherit an X chromosome from each parent

Front 24

Y chromosome

Back 24

the sex chromosome found in only men, males inherit an X chromosome from their mothers and a Y chromosome from their fathers

Front 25

Testosterone

Back 25

the principal male sex hormone. during prenatal development, testosterone stimulates the development of the external male sex organs

Front 26

Role

Back 26

a cluster of prescribed behaviors expected of those who occupy a particular social position

Front 27

Gender role

Back 27

set of expected behaviors for males and females

Front 28

Gender identity

Back 28

one's sense of being male or female

Front 29

Gender typing

Back 29

the acquisition of a traditional feminine or masculine role

Front 30

Social learning theory

Back 30

people learn social behavior (such as gender roles) by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished