Deck 6: Genetics, Evolution, and Personality

Question 1

Hippocrates proposed___________ personality types.

A) 4
B) 6
C) 8
D) 10

Answer 1

4

Question 2

According to Buss and Plomin, temperaments include:

A) activity level.
B) sociability.
C) emotionality.
D) all of the above

Answer 2

D

Question 3

If dizygotic twins think they are monozygotic twins:

A) they are more resentful of their siblings.
B) they are less resentful of their siblings.
C) they are more like their siblings.
D) they are less like their siblings.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In the first half of the twentieth century, physical makeup referred to ____________, whereas now it refers to ___________.

A) genes, physique
B) physique, genes
C) genes, brain processes
D) brain processes, genes

Question 5

Neuroticism is highly similar to the temperaments of:

A) emotionality and avoidance.
B) emotionality and need for intimacy.
C) emotionality and dependence.
D) none of the above

Question 6

Emotionality is defined by Buss and Plomin as the:

A) tendency to experience positive emotion.
B) tendency to experience disgust.
C) tendency to become aroused easily.
D) all of the above

Question 7

If heredity is REALLY important, then:

A) fraternal twins should be more similar than identical twins if they have been raised apart.
B) identical twins raised apart should be nearly as similar as identical twins raised together.
C) fraternal twins raised apart should be more similar than identical twins raised together.
D) there should be no differences between identical twins and fraternal twins raised together.

Question 8

If the correlation for a given personality trait in a set of same-sex fraternal twins is .25 and the correlation for that same personality trait is .75 in a set of identical twins, we can assume the heritability estimate is approximately:

A) .50
B) .25
C) 1.00
D) none of the above

Question 9

Twin studies are based on the assumption that:

A) fraternal twins raised together are exposed to much the same life experiences.
B) fraternal twins raised together are treated differently because of their differing physical characteristics.
C) identical twins raised together are treated differently because of their differing personalities.
D) both identical and fraternal twins raised together are exposed to much the same life experiences.

Question 10

When researchers examine whether the five basic factors of personality are genetically influenced, they have found:

A) no evidence for a genetic influence.
B) self-report evidence suggests that they are but observer reports are inconclusive.
C) self-report and observer reports both suggest that they are, but research has not been done cross-culturally.
D) self-report, observer report, and cross-cultural research all suggest that they are.

Question 11

Dizygotic twins:

A) share the same amount of genetic material as a pair of brothers/sisters.
B) are the result of an unusual occurrence shortly after conception.
C) develop from one fertilized egg.
D) all of the above

Question 12

Galen added to Hippocrates' four personality types the idea that:

A) there were two additional types.
B) the personality types could be combined.
C) the personality types could not be combined.
D) each type reflect an excess of some bodily fluid.

Question 13

A recent developmental approach to understanding temperaments suggests which of these?

A) approach
B) avoidance
C) effortful control
D) all of the above

Question 14

The concept of emotionality is most similar to the big five trait of:

A) extraversion.
B) neuroticism.
C) openness.
D) agreeableness.

Question 15

When twins have no more in common than other siblings, they are said to be___________ twins.

A) monozygotic
B) identical
C) dizygotic
D) congenital

Question 16

Parent ratings of Buss's and Plomin's temperaments for their twins are:

A) weakly correlated for both monozygotic and dizygotic twins.
B) strongly correlated for both monozygotic and dizygotic twins.
C) strongly correlated for monozygotic twins, but virtually uncorrelated for dizygotic twins.
D) weakly correlated for monozygotic twins, but virtually uncorrelated for dizygotic twins.

Question 17

The two aspects of activity level are:

A) vigor and tempo.
B) vigor and arousal.
C) tempo and arousal.
D) arousal and responsiveness.

Question 18

In an adoption study, resemblances are measured between the adopted child and:

A) the biological parent.
B) the biological parent and siblings (if any).
C) the adoptive parent and siblings (if any).
D) both biological parent and adoptive parent.

Question 19

Recent evidence suggests that ___________has all the characteristics Buss and Plomin use to define temperaments.

A) hostility
B) intelligence
C) conscientiousness
D) greediness

Question 20

According to Eysenck, the big-five trait of extraversion may be a blend of which of the following temperaments?

A) emotionality and sociability
B) activity and emotionality
C) activity and sociability
D) none of the above

Question 21

The environment tends to affect twins:

A) by making them more similar.
B) by making them more different.
C) by making dizygotic twins more similar.
D) not at all in terms of similarity/difference.

Question 22

The idea that people choose mates on the basis of particular characteristics is called:

A) directional selection.
B) assortative mating.
C) selective mating.
D) intuitive mating.

Question 23

In the competition for mates, Buss found that women tend to:

A) play hard to get.
B) enhance their physical appearance.
C) are drawn to cues regarding availability of resources.
D) all of the above

Question 24

The young male syndrome refers to the fact that:

A) when given a choice most parents would rather adopt a young male.
B) young men often father unwanted children.
C) young males may have evolved to behave violently when confronted with scarce resources.
D) none of the above

Question 25

Recent research on sexually involved couples indicated that genetically similar couples:

A) were less likely to get divorced.
B) were more likely to get married.
C) were more likely to have reproduced.
D) all of the above

Question 26

Sociobiologists explain altruism by invoking the concept of:

A) docility.
B) inclusive fitness.
C) imprinting.
D) moral exclusivity.

Question 27

When different patterns of genetic differences can occur at a particular location, they are called:

A) polymorphisms.
B mutations.
C) alleles.
D) genomes.

Question 28

The current sociobiological view is that aggression:

A) is part of human nature, expressed indiscriminately.
B) is both a male and a female phenomenon.
C) results from sexual selection pressures.
D) all of the above

Question 29

Single-gene discoveries have found genetic influences for:

A) novelty-seeking.
B) neuroticism.
C) agreeableness.
D) all of the above

Question 30

Compared to women, men are:

A) more concerned about thoughts of sexual infidelity.
B) more concerned about thoughts of emotional infidelity.
C) equally concerned about sexual and emotional infidelity.
D) none of the above

Question 31

Methylation:

A) affects gene expression.
B) can be affected by stress.
C) can be affected by diet.
D) all of the above

Question 32

Which of the following is true about what psychologists have thought about the interplay between genes and environment?

A) It was originally assumed these influences are distinct, and that has been supported by the evidence.
B) It was originally assumed these influences are distinct, and that has turned out to be overly simplified.
C) It was originally assumed these influences are independent, and that has been supported by the evidence.
D) It was originally assumed these influences are independent, and that has turned out to be overly simplified.

Question 33

Rushton's genetic similarity theory suggests that:

A) people will be more attracted to those who resemble them genetically.
B) same-sex pairs do not contribute to gene reproduction.
C) altruism toward one's kinship group is maladaptive.
D) opposites attract.

Question 34

According to the evolutionary perspective on sex differences in mating tendencies, women are most jealous of ___________whereas men are most jealous of___________ .

A) emotional infidelity, sexual infidelity
B) sexual infidelity, emotional infidelity
C) emotional infidelity, emotional infidelity
D) sexual infidelity, sexual infidelity

Question 35

In terms of assessment, the biological orientation to personality is most similar to the:

A) psychodynamic perspective.
B) learning perspective.
C) trait perspective.
D) phenomenological perspective.

Question 36

There is evidence that ___________explains the effect of genetic relatedness on altruism.

A) similar upbringing.
B) parental directives.
C) emotional closeness.
D) all of the above

Question 37

Compared to women, men are:

A) less selective in their critieria for one-night stands.
B) more interested in casual sex.
C) more easily excited by visual erotica.
D) all of the above

Question 38

Both men and women view the following qualities as necessities in a potential mate:

A) attractiveness and status
B) intelligence and status
C) intelligence and kindness
D) attractiveness and kindness

Question 39

The attempt to relate differences in gene locations with other differences in persons is called:

A) quantitative genetics.
B) molecular genetics.
C) bio-behavioral genetics.
D) none of the above

Question 40

Men tend to___________ cues from potential mates in terms of implying sexual interest; women tend to ___________cues from potential mates in terms of commitment levels.

A) overinterpret, overinterpret
B) underinterpret, underinterpret
C) underinterpret, overinterpret
D) overinterpret, underinterpret

Question 41

Hippocrates proposed that there were 12 different personality types.

Question 42

The basic assumption of twin studies is that both identical and fraternal twins who are raised together are exposed to essentially the same life experiences.

Question 43

Buss and Plomin proposed the three basic temperaments of neuroticism, sociability, and emotionality.

Question 44

Behavioral genetics is the study of genetic influences on behavioral expression

Question 45

In discussing physical makeup, psychologists early in the last century meant physique whereas now they mean genetics.

Question 46

The majority of behavioral genetics research on problem behavior has focused on:

A) alcoholism and schizophrenia.
B) schizophrenia and biplar disorder.
C) depression and alcoholism.
D) bipolar disorder and alcoholism.

Question 47

If two eggs are released from the mother's ovary and both are fertilized and develop simultaneously, the result is monozygotic twins.

Question 48

According to Barash, behavior problems reflect the fact that:

A) biological evolution has progressed faster than cultural evolution.
B) there is more biological variability in the present than ever before.
C) cultural evolution has progressed faster than biological evolution.
D) none of the above

Question 49

The interaction between genetic susceptibility for schizophrenia and an environmental context that touches it off resembles the ___________model.

A) cross-over
B) inclusive fitness
C) heritability
D) diathesis-stress

Question 50

Research has found that parent ratings of the temperaments were strongly correlated for both monozygotic and dizygotic twins.

Question 51

In addition to research using parent ratings, adoption research has also supported the notion that temperaments are genetically influenced.

Question 52

Activity level consists of two aspects, vigor and tempo

Question 53

Mary Rothbart and colleagues proposed three different temperaments: approach, avoidance, and effortful control.

Question 54

The long allele on DRD4, a gene related to measures of reward seeking, has been linked to:

A) alcoholism but not heroin addition.
B) heroin addition but not alcoholoism.
C) both alocholism and heroin addition.
D) none of the above, it is only related to schizophrenia

Question 55

Adoption studies are a means of studying the effects of adoption on a child's psychological characteristics such as self-esteem.

Question 56

Galen added to Hippocrates' ideas by arguing that each personality "type" reflects an excess of some bodily fluid.

Question 57

Both sociobiology and evolutionary psychology have been criticized because:

A) they are not theoretically grounded.
B) their statements have disturbing political overtones.
C) there are no data to support either of them.
D) all of the above

Question 58

Monozygotic twins are 100% alike genetically

Question 59

Genetically, dizygotic twins are like any other pair of brothers, pair of sisters, or brother and sister.

Question 60

Molecular genetics researchers suggest that, in terms of genes contributing to personality, effects are likely due to:

A) single genes exerting large effects.
B) multiple genes, each exerting large effects.
C) singles genes exerting small effects.
D) singles genes, each exerting small effects.

Question 61

The mere presence of women tends to lead men to flex their muscles, brag about earning capacity, and display expensive items.

Question 62

Gene expression is the term used to describe the process of genes creating protein

Question 63

According to sociobiologists, inclusive fitness explains why human beings are altruistic

Question 64

The young male syndrome is more likely to appear among unmarried, unemployed men.

Question 65

According to Buss, married men try to retain their wives by spending money on them and by giving in to their wives' wishes.

Question 66

When researchers tried to videotape behavior and have people who didn't know participants code their behavior, they did not find evidence for genetic influences on traits.

Question 67

Eysenck has suggested that extraversion may be a blend of sociability and activity

Question 68

There's little difference between men and women in the circumstances that elicit jealousy.

Question 69

There's not much evidence for the heritability of personality factors in general

Question 70

In the competition for mates, Buss reports clear cultural differences in what attracts males and females.

Question 71

According to Dickens and Flynn, researchers have a clear understanding of the correlations between genetic and environmental influences on the same outcome.

Question 72

Evidence for the heritability of the five personality dimensions is consistent across all of the traits.

Question 73

Men and women have very similar needs in communication.

Question 74

Effortful control involves attentional management in addition to the ability to suppress behavior when situationally inappropriate.

Question 75

Researchers have suggested that most genetic influences involve small contributions from many genes.

Question 76

Exposure to a dominant man does nothing to affect women's commitment if they are already in a relationship.

Question 77

The environment affects twins' personality primarily by making them different from one another.

Question 78

Although there is good evidence for the heritability of the five personality dimensions in the West, there is no evidence that this holds cross-culturally.

Question 79

Heredity does not appear to influence how much social support people have

Question 80

Genetic competition does not play a role in violence within families