Question 1

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

A)  DZ twins may be treated more alike than identical twins. 
B)  MZ twins purposefully join different clubs and have different friends. 
C)  MZ twins may share more of their environment than DZ twins. 
D)  All of these are correct.

Question 2

For which of the following reasons might Erika and Mitzi, who are sisters born 3 years apart, have personality traits that are quite similar?

Accepted Answer

A)  They both inherited personality traits from their parents. 
B)  They shared the same living environments during childhood. 
C)  They were raised in the same way by their parents. 
D)  All of these are correct.

Question 3

Research on extraversion introversion has found

Accepted Answer

A)  consistent evidence for a genetic component to extraversion introversion. 
B)  some evidence for a genetic component to extraversion introversion but a significant amount of research that disputes this. 
C)  almost no evidence for a genetic component to extraversion introversion. 
D)  consistent evidence arguing against a genetic component to extraversion introversion.

Question 4

Behavior genetics researchers have taken their data from twin studies and used formulas to estimate that about__________ % of the stability in adult personalities can be attributed to genetics.

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  20 
C)  30 
D)  40

Question 5

Personality researchers sometimes examine the personalities of children who were adopted shortly after birth. They do this because

Accepted Answer

A)  these children were likely raised in a very supportive, nurturing environment. 
B)  genetic and environmental influences are not confounded like they are when examining children raised by their biological parents. 
C)  extensive records of the child's health and early personality indicators are available. 
D)  the researchers want to know if adoption is traumatic for the children.

Question 6

According to the "lipstick" effect, when would Syerah be more likely to wear extra makeup when trying to attract the attention of a man?

Accepted Answer

A)  During times of economic hardship. 
B)  In the middle of the month between her menstrual periods. 
C)  When she is having extra success at her job. 
D)  When her most recent relationship has just ended.

Question 7

A researcher reports that men in this country tend to marry younger women and women tend to marry older men. This finding might be used to support which theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  Eysenck's theory of personality 
B)  The five-factor model 
C)  The goodness of fit model 
D)  Evolutionary personality theory

Question 8

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)  Dizygotic twins may share an environment more alike than the environment shared by monozygotic twins. 
B)  Families who adopt children are different from those who do not adopt. 
C)  Parents may treat adopted children differently than they treat biological children. 
D)  Parents of dizygotic twins may look for and emphasize the differences between the twins more than parents of monozygotic twins.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Extraverts should isolate themselves in a quiet place if they are going to get any work done. 
B)  Introverts should move to a more stimulating environment if they are having trouble studying. 
C)  Because they are less aware of external disturbances than extraverts are, introverts should be better able to study in a room filled with potential distractions. 
D)  Introverts should study in quieter places than extraverts study.

Question 10

Researchers who examine the heritability of personality traits using the twin-study method would probably begin with the assumption that

Accepted Answer

A)  dizygotic twins share an environment that is more similar than the environment shared by monozygotic twins. 
B)  monozygotic twins share an environment that is more similar than the environment shared by dizygotic twins. 
C)  dizygotic twins share an environment that is just as similar as the environment shared by monozygotic twins. 
D)  monozygotic twins will be treated more alike than dizygotic twins.

Question 11

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

A)  neurotics. 
B)  extraverts. 
C)  introverts 
D)  of no particular personality.

Question 12

Compared to the results obtained using other research methods, the results from twin-study research

Accepted Answer

A)  probably underestimate the role of genetics in personality. 
B)  make a stronger case for the role of genetic influences on personality. 
C)  are less subject to criticisms about underlying assumptions. 
D)  often are not replicated.

Question 13

Two babies that come from different fertilized eggs may be

Accepted Answer

A)  nontwin siblings. 
B)  dizygotic twins. 
C)  unrelated. 
D)  all of these are correct.

Question 14

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

A)  interactive 
B)  nonadditive 
C)  multiple-gene 
D)  compound

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A)  brain electrical activity measures. 
B)  the twin-study method. 
C)  differences in sensitivity to stimulation. 
D)  only twins that have been reared together (in the same environment).

Question 16

Isaac is a teenager who has a very difficult relationship with his father. One day he is talking to his girlfriend, Chloie, and he says, "I swear I am never going to be anything like that man when I get older!" Chloie knows about the research in personality and heritability, and smiles as she remembers that about __________% of our adult personality is directly linked to the contribution of genetics.

Accepted Answer

A)  85 
B)  60 
C)  40 
D)  5

Question 17

The most popular method used to examine the role of genetics and the environment in personality is the factor analysis method.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Suppose you design a personality study in which you plan to use the twin-study method. You are probably conducting research to examine the

Accepted Answer

A)  influence of siblings on personality. 
B)  stability of temperament over time. 
C)  influence of genetics on personality. 
D)  effects of birth order on personality.

Question 19

According to the parental investment model, women prefer men who are

Accepted Answer

A)  of the same age as they are. 
B)  capable of achieving financial security. 
C)  physically attractive. 
D)  gentle and sensitive to their needs.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Parents of monozygotic twins treat the two twins more alike than do parents of dizygotic twins. 
B)  Dizygotic twins don't look as much like one another as do monozygotic twins. 
C)  Parents treat female pairs of twins differently than they treat male twins. 
D)  There are more dizygotic twins born each year than monozygotic twins.

Exam 10: The Biological Approach: Relevant Research