PSY 1101 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Stereotype Threat, Savant Syndrome

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1101
• Professor: Kenneth Campbell

Document Summary

Behavior genetics: study how heredity and environment contribute to human differences. Ability to direct assembly of proteins that build the body. Genetic protein assembly can be turned on and off by the environment or by other genes. Identical twins more alike than fraternal twins in: personality traits, behaviors and outcomes, abilities/intelligence, attitudes, interest/tastes, fears, brain waves and heart rate. Adopted children are more similar to their genetic relatives than their environmental relatives. 3 general types of temperament appear in infancy: easy, difficult, slow to warm up. The amount of variation in the population that is explained by genetic factors. Does not tell us the proportion that genes contribute to the trait for any one person. Does not tell us whether genetics explain difference between groups/populations. Genetic traits influence the social environment, which in turn affects behavior. Self-regulation: genes turn each other on and off in response to environmental conditions. Shortened daylight triggers animals to change fur color or to hibernate.