PSYC 305 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Cleaner Fish, Dopamine Receptor D4, Dopamine Receptor
Document Summary
High sensation seekers expose themselves to risky environment. Epigenetics: the study of changes in organisms caused by changes in gene expression due to environmental influences. Only 2 candidate genes with direct links to personality: dopamine receptor gene drd4 linked to novelty-seeking and extraversion (among many psychiatric conditions, serotonin transporter gene 5-httlpr linked to neuroticism and other depressive and anxiety-related traits. For most traits, there are many genes involved. Almost everything is partially heritable: self-esteem, personality, iq, sexual orientation, political orientation, and even divorce. Genes affect nts, hormones, and physiological arousal, which affect thoughts, feelings, and behaviors over time, which form traits (e. g. neuroticism) that influence relationship behavior and may lead to divorce. Personality is the set of psychological traits and mechanisms within the individual that are organized and relatively enduring; and that influence interactions with, and adaptations to, the intrapsychic, physical, and social environments. Identified differences in strategies of honesty and cheating (stealing mucus) in cleaner fish.
