AP Psychology Flashcards: Interaction Of Heredity And Environment

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Interaction Of Heredity And Environment, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Psychology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is an evocative gene-environment correlation?

Answer: Genes evoke responses from the environment that enhance genetic tendencies. Individual traits elicit specific responses from others.

Flashcard 2: What is the primary focus of behavioral genetics?

Answer: Understanding how genes and environment impact behaviors. It examines genetic contributions to psychological traits and behaviors.

Flashcard 3: Which term describes the effect of environment on gene expression?

Answer: Epigenetics. Studies how environment can turn genes on or off.

Flashcard 4: Identify a key environmental factor that affects cognitive development.

Answer: Nutrition. Essential for proper brain development and intellectual growth.

Flashcard 5: Identify a factor that demonstrates gene-environment interaction in health.

Answer: Diet and obesity. Genetic susceptibility modifies response to dietary factors.

Flashcard 6: What is an example of a shared environmental influence?

Answer: Family income. An environmental factor that siblings experience similarly.

Flashcard 7: Which study design helps separate genetic and environmental influences?

Answer: Adoption studies. Children share genes with biological parents, environment with adoptive.

Flashcard 8: What is the definition of 'nurture' in the nature vs. nurture debate?

Answer: 'Nurture' refers to environmental influences on behavior and traits. The environmental contribution to individual differences.

Flashcard 9: Identify a primary method used to study genetic influence on behavior.

Answer: Twin studies. Compares identical twins to assess genetic influence on traits.

Flashcard 10: What does the term 'gene-environment correlation' mean?

Answer: Genetic factors influence exposure to specific environments. Genes influence what environments individuals encounter.

Flashcard 11: Identify a primary method used to study genetic influence on behavior.

Answer: Twin studies. Compares identical twins to assess genetic influence on traits.

Flashcard 12: What is an example of a non-shared environmental influence?

Answer: Different peer groups. Unique experiences that make siblings different from each other.

Flashcard 13: Identify an example of a passive gene-environment correlation.

Answer: Parents pass on genes and also create a compatible environment. Children inherit both genes and matching environmental contexts.

Flashcard 14: What does the term 'genotype' refer to?

Answer: Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism. The DNA blueprint that influences an organism's traits.

Flashcard 15: Identify a factor that influences both heredity and environment.

Answer: Socioeconomic status. It affects both genetic expression and environmental opportunities.

Flashcard 16: What is the definition of a gene-environment interaction?

Answer: It is when genetic predisposition modifies response to environmental factors. Different genotypes respond differently to the same environment.

Flashcard 17: Which concept explains the influence of prenatal environment on development?

Answer: Fetal programming. Early environment permanently alters gene expression patterns.

Flashcard 18: What does the term 'cultural inheritance' refer to?

Answer: Transmission of cultural beliefs and practices across generations. Non-genetic transmission of learned behaviors and knowledge.

Flashcard 19: Which term describes the study of changes in organisms caused by gene expression?

Answer: Epigenetics. Focuses on heritable changes in gene activity without DNA changes.

Flashcard 20: Which concept explains how environment influences genetic expression?

Answer: Gene-environment correlation. When genes and environment mutually influence each other.

Flashcard 21: Identify an example of a passive gene-environment correlation.

Answer: Parents pass on genes and also create a compatible environment. Children inherit both genes and matching environmental contexts.

Flashcard 22: What is the primary focus of behavioral genetics?

Answer: Understanding how genes and environment impact behaviors. It examines genetic contributions to psychological traits and behaviors.

Flashcard 23: What is the definition of 'nurture' in the nature vs. nurture debate?

Answer: 'Nurture' refers to environmental influences on behavior and traits. The environmental contribution to individual differences.

Flashcard 24: What does the term 'genotype' refer to?

Answer: Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism. The DNA blueprint that influences an organism's traits.

Flashcard 25: Identify a method to measure the impact of environment on intelligence.

Answer: Environmental enrichment studies. Studies how improved environments affect cognitive performance.

Flashcard 26: What does the term 'plasticity' refer to in a genetic context?

Answer: The capacity for genes to be influenced by the environment. Genes can be responsive to environmental inputs.

Flashcard 27: What is an example of a shared environmental influence?

Answer: Family income. An environmental factor that siblings experience similarly.

Flashcard 28: What is the term for environmental influences that are consistent for siblings?

Answer: Shared environment. Common family experiences that affect all children similarly.

Flashcard 29: What does a high heritability score imply?

Answer: A large portion of trait variation is due to genetic differences. Most individual differences are explained by genetic factors.

Flashcard 30: What is the role of methylation in epigenetics?

Answer: Methylation can silence gene expression. A key epigenetic mechanism for controlling gene activity.

Flashcard 31: Which term describes the study of changes in organisms caused by gene expression?

Answer: Epigenetics. Focuses on heritable changes in gene activity without DNA changes.

Flashcard 32: What is the concept of 'reaction range' in genetics?

Answer: The range of possible phenotypes for a genotype influenced by the environment. Environment determines which potential phenotype is expressed.

Flashcard 33: What is the role of methylation in epigenetics?

Answer: Methylation can silence gene expression. A key epigenetic mechanism for controlling gene activity.

Flashcard 34: Which psychological disorder has a well-documented genetic component?

Answer: Schizophrenia. Shows strong genetic component with environmental triggers.

Flashcard 35: Which study design helps separate genetic and environmental influences?

Answer: Adoption studies. Children share genes with biological parents, environment with adoptive.

Flashcard 36: Identify a factor that influences both heredity and environment.

Answer: Socioeconomic status. It affects both genetic expression and environmental opportunities.

Flashcard 37: What is the role of genes in determining intelligence?

Answer: Genes contribute to intelligence but interact with environmental factors. Intelligence is polygenic and highly influenced by environment.

Flashcard 38: What is the role of genes in determining intelligence?

Answer: Genes contribute to intelligence but interact with environmental factors. Intelligence is polygenic and highly influenced by environment.

Flashcard 39: What is the definition of a genetic predisposition?

Answer: An increased likelihood of developing a particular trait based on genetics. Genes increase probability but don't guarantee trait expression.

Flashcard 40: What does the term 'gene-environment correlation' mean?

Answer: Genetic factors influence exposure to specific environments. Genes influence what environments individuals encounter.

Flashcard 41: What does a high heritability score imply?

Answer: A large portion of trait variation is due to genetic differences. Most individual differences are explained by genetic factors.

Flashcard 42: What is the definition of a phenotype?

Answer: Phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism. It's the visible expression of genetic and environmental factors.

Flashcard 43: Which concept explains how environment influences genetic expression?

Answer: Gene-environment correlation. When genes and environment mutually influence each other.

Flashcard 44: Identify a factor that demonstrates gene-environment interaction in health.

Answer: Diet and obesity. Genetic susceptibility modifies response to dietary factors.

Flashcard 45: Identify the concept describing how experience can shape brain structure.

Answer: Neuroplasticity. The brain's ability to reorganize based on experience.

Flashcard 46: Identify the concept describing how experience can shape brain structure.

Answer: Neuroplasticity. The brain's ability to reorganize based on experience.

Flashcard 47: Which concept explains the influence of prenatal environment on development?

Answer: Fetal programming. Early environment permanently alters gene expression patterns.

Flashcard 48: What does the term 'cultural inheritance' refer to?

Answer: Transmission of cultural beliefs and practices across generations. Non-genetic transmission of learned behaviors and knowledge.

Flashcard 49: What is the concept of 'reaction range' in genetics?

Answer: The range of possible phenotypes for a genotype influenced by the environment. Environment determines which potential phenotype is expressed.

Flashcard 50: Which factor can modify the expression of genetic traits?

Answer: Environmental conditions. Environment can activate or suppress genetic predispositions.

Flashcard 51: Identify a psychological trait with significant genetic influence.

Answer: Personality. Shows strong genetic influence with moderate heritability.

Flashcard 52: What is the definition of heritability?

Answer: Heritability is the proportion of variation among individuals attributable to genes. It quantifies genetic vs. environmental contributions to trait differences.

Flashcard 53: What is the definition of 'heritability coefficient'?

Answer: A statistic representing the proportion of phenotypic variance due to genetics. Ranges from 0 to 1, indicating genetic contribution strength.

Flashcard 54: What is an evocative gene-environment correlation?

Answer: Genes evoke responses from the environment that enhance genetic tendencies. Individual traits elicit specific responses from others.

Flashcard 55: Which psychological disorder has a well-documented genetic component?

Answer: Schizophrenia. Shows strong genetic component with environmental triggers.

Flashcard 56: Identify a key environmental factor that affects cognitive development.

Answer: Nutrition. Essential for proper brain development and intellectual growth.

Flashcard 57: What is the definition of a phenotype?

Answer: Phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism. It's the visible expression of genetic and environmental factors.

Flashcard 58: Which term describes the effect of environment on gene expression?

Answer: Epigenetics. Studies how environment can turn genes on or off.

Flashcard 59: What is the definition of 'heritability coefficient'?

Answer: A statistic representing the proportion of phenotypic variance due to genetics. Ranges from 0 to 1, indicating genetic contribution strength.

Flashcard 60: What is the definition of a gene-environment interaction?

Answer: It is when genetic predisposition modifies response to environmental factors. Different genotypes respond differently to the same environment.

Flashcard 61: What is the definition of a genetic predisposition?

Answer: An increased likelihood of developing a particular trait based on genetics. Genes increase probability but don't guarantee trait expression.

Flashcard 62: What is an example of a non-shared environmental influence?

Answer: Different peer groups. Unique experiences that make siblings different from each other.

Flashcard 63: Which concept describes how identical genes can lead to different outcomes?

Answer: Phenotypic plasticity. The ability of genotype to produce different phenotypes.

Flashcard 64: What is the definition of heritability?

Answer: Heritability is the proportion of variation among individuals attributable to genes. It quantifies genetic vs. environmental contributions to trait differences.

Flashcard 65: Identify a method to measure the impact of environment on intelligence.

Answer: Environmental enrichment studies. Studies how improved environments affect cognitive performance.

Flashcard 66: Identify a psychological trait with significant genetic influence.

Answer: Personality. Shows strong genetic influence with moderate heritability.

Flashcard 67: What is the definition of 'nature' in the nature vs. nurture debate?

Answer: 'Nature' refers to genetic or hereditary factors influencing behavior. The biological contribution to individual differences.

Flashcard 68: Which term refers to the unique experiences affecting development?

Answer: Non-shared environment. Individual-specific factors that create sibling differences.

Flashcard 69: What is the definition of 'epigenetic modification'?

Answer: Chemical changes to DNA that affect gene expression without altering the sequence. These changes can be inherited across generations.

Flashcard 70: What does the term 'plasticity' refer to in a genetic context?

Answer: The capacity for genes to be influenced by the environment. Genes can be responsive to environmental inputs.

Flashcard 71: What is the definition of 'epigenetic modification'?

Answer: Chemical changes to DNA that affect gene expression without altering the sequence. These changes can be inherited across generations.

Flashcard 72: Which concept describes how identical genes can lead to different outcomes?

Answer: Phenotypic plasticity. The ability of genotype to produce different phenotypes.

Flashcard 73: What is the definition of 'nature' in the nature vs. nurture debate?

Answer: 'Nature' refers to genetic or hereditary factors influencing behavior. The biological contribution to individual differences.

Flashcard 74: Which factor can modify the expression of genetic traits?

Answer: Environmental conditions. Environment can activate or suppress genetic predispositions.

Flashcard 75: Which term refers to the unique experiences affecting development?

Answer: Non-shared environment. Individual-specific factors that create sibling differences.

Flashcard 76: What is the term for environmental influences that are consistent for siblings?

Answer: Shared environment. Common family experiences that affect all children similarly.