Chapter 4: "nature, Nurture And Human Diversity" - Psychology, Myers 9Th Edition

Front 1

behavior genetics

Back 1

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

Front 2

environment

Back 2

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

Front 3

chromosomes

Back 3

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.

Front 4

DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid)

Back 4

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

Front 5

genes

Back 5

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein.

Front 6

genome

Back 6

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes.

Front 7

identical twins

Back 7

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.

Front 8

fraternal twins

Back 8

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs.

(genetically no closer than siblings, but share a fetal environment)

Front 9

temperament

Back 9

a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Front 10

heritability

Back 10

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.

Front 11

interaction

Back 11

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity).

Front 12

molecular genetics

Back 12

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of 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 principle that, among the range of inherited train variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Front 15

mutation

Back 15

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

Front 16

gender

Back 16

in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define "male" and "female."

Front 17

culture

Back 17

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

Front 18

norm

Back 18

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe "proper" behavior.

Front 19

personal space

Back 19

the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies.

Front 20

individualism

Back 20

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

Front 21

collectivism

Back 21

giving priority to goals of one's group (extended family, work group) and defining one's identity accordingly.

Front 22

X chromosome

Back 22

the sex chromosome found in both men and women.

Front 23

Y chromosome

Back 23

the sex chromosome found only in males.

Front 24

testosterone

Back 24

the most important of the male sex hormones. Both males and females have it, but the additional amount in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of male sex characteristics during puberty.

Front 25

role

Back 25

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.

Front 26

gender role

Back 26

a set of expected behaviors for males or for females

Front 27

gender identity

Back 27

our sense of being male or female

Front 28

gender typing

Back 28

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.

Front 29

social learning theory

Back 29

the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.