Question 1

Research on extraversion introversion has found

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently found evidence for a genetic component to extraversion-introversion, indicating that these personality traits have a heritable aspect.

Question 2

For extraverts, friends often serve as an important buffer against stress. This finding supports the idea that extraverts

Accepted Answer

The statement "For extraverts, friends often serve as an important buffer against stress" suggests that extraverts have a greater tendency to engage in social activity, which in turn is likely to lead to higher positive affect. This aligns with option D. Options A and B are not supported by the information provided, and option C is not directly relevant to the information given.

Question 3

As reported in the textbook, research demonstrating a genetic influence on a person's level of extraversion- introversion comes primarily from research

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, research demonstrating a genetic influence on a person's level of extraversion-introversion comes primarily from twin studies, which compare the similarity of personality traits in monozygotic (identical) twins and dizygotic (fraternal) twins. This allows researchers to estimate the heritability, or proportion of variance in a trait that is due to genetic factors, of extraversion-introversion.

Question 4

Which of the following hypothetical research findings would present a problem for researchers trying to interpret results from a twin-study design?

Accepted Answer

One of the assumptions of the twin-study design is that the environments experienced by monozygotic and dizygotic twins are comparable. If parents of monozygotic twins treat them more similarly than parents of dizygotic twins, this would violate the assumption of equivalent environments and could impact the interpretation of results.

Question 5

Critics have pointed to several weaknesses in the research used to make a case for the role of genetics on personality development. Their criticisms include each of the following points except one. Which one?

Accepted Answer

A) is incorrect because it contradicts the common assumption in twin studies that dizygotic (fraternal) twins and monozygotic (identical) twins share their environments to a similar degree. The criticisms usually focus on the genetic interpretations of similarities between twins, not on the environmental similarities being greater for dizygotic twins.

Question 6

Research on the genetic heritability of extraversion-introversion has made use of

Accepted Answer

Research on the genetic heritability of extraversion-introversion has primarily made use of the twin-study method. By comparing the similarities of identical twins (who share 100% of their genetic material) and fraternal twins (who share approximately 50% of their genetic material), researchers can estimate the degree to which genes contribute to individual differences in extraversion-introversion. Other measures like brain electrical activity and differences in sensitivity to stimulation may provide additional insights into the neural mechanisms underlying these traits, but they do not directly quantify genetic heritability. Additionally, studies on twins reared together and apart can also help tease apart the effects of genetics and environment, but it's not explicitly stated that only twins reared together have been used in this research.

Question 7

A team of researchers examined where extraverts and introverts sat in the library. Which of the following did the team find?

Accepted Answer

The team found that extraverts preferred open, accessible locations, whereas introverts preferred isolated locations.

Question 8

Anna and Hannah are monozygotic twins who have agreed to take part in a research study on the heritability of personality traits. Which of the following is an issue that might act as a confound in this research?

Accepted Answer

The shared environment is a confounding variable in twin studies because it can contribute to the similarity between twins. Since monozygotic twins share all of their genes, any observed differences between them can be attributed to environmental factors. Therefore, it is important to control for the shared environment in twin studies. The other options, A and B, are not related to the shared environment and are not confounding variables in this context.

Question 9

Nonadditive effects would be likely to show up in which of the following pairs of siblings?

Accepted Answer

Nonadditive effects are due to interactions between alleles at different loci and are more likely to be observed in identical twins like Rock and Jacque, who share 100% of their genetic material, allowing for the expression of these interactions.

Question 10

Research finds that, compared to introverts, extraverts tend to

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently found that extraverts have higher levels of subjective well-being and happiness compared to introverts. They tend to be more sociable, experience more positive emotions, and have a stronger sense of self-esteem and purpose in life. These factors contribute to their overall greater levels of happiness.

Question 11

Some investigators suggest that genetic influences on personality may not be seen unless a unique combination of more than one gene is inherited. Researchers refer to these complex influences as__________ effects.

Accepted Answer

Nonadditive effects refer to the concept that the influence of one gene can be dependent on the presence or absence of another gene, indicating that the effect of inheriting a specific combination of genes is not merely the sum of their individual effects. This aligns with the idea that a unique combination of more than one gene is required to see genetic influences on personality, as described in the question.

Question 12

Margaret is an extravert. She has to study for a test in the morning. Where is the most likely place she will choose to study?

Accepted Answer

As an extravert, Margaret is energized by being around other people. Therefore, she is more likely to choose a study area where she can see and be around other students in order to feel more productive and engaged in the studying process. A quiet room or isolated area would not provide her with the social stimulation she needs, and studying outside may be too distracting with the potential for noise and activity.

Question 13

Research on genetic determinants of personality tell us that

Accepted Answer

Research on genetic determinants of personality suggests that genetics play a significant role in determining around half of adult personality, but experience also plays a large role in shaping who we become. This suggests that personality is a combination of both nature and nurture.

Question 14

Which of the following kinds of data provide the weakest scientific evidence for a genetic influence on personality?

Accepted Answer

Similarity between personalities of parents and children raised by their parents may be influenced by genetic factors, but could also be influenced by environmental factors such as parenting style and modeling of behavior. Therefore, it provides weaker evidence for a genetic influence on personality compared to twin studies and adoption studies. Comparing personalities of twins separated at birth provides strong evidence for a genetic influence on personality.

Question 15

One reason twin studies produce higher estimates of heritability than some other methods may be that the twin studies

Accepted Answer

Twin studies are able to capture the nonadditive effects of genetics, which means that the combined influence of multiple genes working together may have a greater impact on a trait than any individual gene. This can result in higher estimates of heritability compared to methods that only look at individual genes or environmental factors.

Question 16

You know a woman who has many friends and is often out having fun. But this woman also typically acts before thinking, thus bringing her a lot of trouble. This woman is probably

Accepted Answer

The woman described is likely an extravert, as she has many friends and is often out having fun. However, her impulsive behavior suggests that she may not score high on conscientiousness, which is not one of the options given. Therefore, the best answer is C.

Question 17

Based on research on extraversion introversion, which piece of advice seems justified?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that introverts tend to perform better in quiet, low-stimulation environments. Therefore, it is justifiable to advise introverts to study in quieter places than extraverts.

Question 18

One team of investigators examined where extraverts and introverts sat in the library. They based their predictions on which of the following notions?

Accepted Answer

This hypothesis aligns with the idea that extraverts and introverts have different levels of preferred arousal and stimulation. It suggests that extraverts prefer a higher level of stimulation while introverts prefer a lower level, which makes the library an ideal place for introverts to study without being distracted by external stimuli.

Question 19

Those acquaintances of yours who prefer quiet and perhaps isolated rooms in which to study are, according to research, more likely to be

Accepted Answer

According to research, individuals who prefer quiet and isolated rooms to study are more likely to be introverts. This makes choice C the best answer.

Question 20

A researcher asks extraverts and introverts to work on a series of math problems while listening to loud or soft music. Based on past research, we would expect to find that

Accepted Answer

Past research suggests that introverts perform better in environments with lower levels of stimulation and extraverts perform better in environments with higher levels of stimulation. Therefore, we would expect the extraverts to perform better with loud music and the introverts to perform better with soft music.

Quiz 10: The Biological Approach: Relevant Research