Briefly describe the research into behavioral genetics and personality and its conclusions, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the biological approach to personality
What will be an ideal response?
Biological theories stress the genetic origins of personality. Twin studies indicate that identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins in personality characteristics, with heritability estimates in the vicinity of 50%. Interestingly, shared family environment does not lead to similar personality characteristics among siblings, leading some theorists to assert that parents matter very little in how their children develop.
Researchers have compiled convincing evidence that biological factors affect personality; however, heritability estimates vary depending on sampling procedures and other considerations, and should only be used as ballpark figures.
Additionally, the results of efforts to carve behavior into genetic and environmental components are artificial, as they interact in complicated ways.
You might also like to view...
A medical records clerk was reviewing patient files when he came across one that had the name of a procedure he did not recognize: cingulotomy. When he looked up the procedure he found that it is a surgical procedure used in cases in which the diagnosis i
a. schizophrenia. b. major depression. c. obsessive-compulsive disorder. d. antisocial personality disorder.
Bipolar disorder is to ____ disorder as major depression is to ____ disorder
a. dysthymic; cyclothymic b. cyclothymic; anxiety c. cyclothymic; dysthymic d. psychotic; neurotic
Opponent-process theory accounts for
a) color blindness. b) why we need rods and cones. c) our ability to see in the light and the dark. d) color processing by the bipolar cells and thalamus.
6-year-old David believes that people on TV are talking directly to him whenever they use
the word "you." David may be experiencing which symptom of childhood-onset schizophrenia? a. Auditory hallucinations b. Persecutory delusions c. Grandiose delusions d. Ideas of reference e. Somatic hallucinations