| A | B |
|---|
| behavior genetics | study of relative power and limits of genetic and enviornmental influences on behavior |
| environment | every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us |
| chromosomes | threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes |
| DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) | a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes |
| genes | the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein |
| genome | the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes |
| identicial twins | twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms |
| fraternal twins | twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs, share the same fetal environment but have different DNA |
| temperament | a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity |
| heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes |
| interaction | the interplay that occus when the effect of one factor depends on another factor (environment and heredity) |
| molecular genetics | subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes |
| evolutionary psychology | study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection |
| natural selection | the principle that, among the range of inhertied trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations |
| mutation | a random error in gene replication that leads to a change |
| gender | biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female |
| culture | the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next |
| norm | an understood rule for acceptedand expected behavior, norms prescribe proper behavior |
| personal space | the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies |
| individualism | giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's idenntity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications |
| collectivism | giving priority to goals of one's group (often one's extended family or work group) and defining one's identity accordingly |
| aggression | physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone |
| X chromosome | the sex chromosome foung in both men and women, females have 2 X chromosomes, males have 1 X chromosome, an X chromosome from each parent produces a female child |
| Y chromosome | the sex chromosome found only in males, when paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child |
| testosterone | most important of the male sex hormones, both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs inthe fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty |
| role | a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those inteh position ought to behave |
| gender role | a set of expected behaviors for males or females |
| gender identity | our sense of being male or female |
| gender typing | the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role |
| social learning theory | the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished |
