Polymorphism in psychology and behavioral science is the presence within a population of differences which pertain to a psychological characteristic, behavior, or even a biological component. More specifically, it is used in the context of genetic psychology where associated with behavioral and personality differences, as well as the tendency to suffer with specific mental disorders, is a gene polymorphism, especially a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP). One of the best-studied polymorphisms is the 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism which influences the capacity to regulate emotions and the tendency to become depressed when under stress. Polymorphisms do not directly dictate behavior as it is the case with most psychological phenomena, and are not a substitute for the gene-environment interaction model. Outside of genetics, polymorphism can also mean diversity in behavior within groups constituting a behavioral grand strategy. Such differences serve as a reminder of the complexity with which psychological phenomena function. Individual differences are crucial when it comes to research, diagnosis, and treatment.
Categories