Question 1

A recently developed approach hypothesizing that the unit of evolution is the individual gene rather than the individual organism or the group is called

Accepted Answer

The approach that hypothesizes the unit of evolution is the individual gene is known as sociobiology. This approach studies the evolutionary basis of social behavior in animals, including humans, and hypothesizes that genes play a key role in shaping behavior. Social Darwinism is a now-discredited theory that applied Darwinian evolution to society and politics. Evolutionary psychology and behavior genetics are related fields but do not specifically focus on the unit of evolution.

Question 2

Match the definition with the term.
-uniformitarianism

Accepted Answer

Uniformitarianism hypothesizes that the geological features of the earth have resulted from gradual processes over immense periods of time.

Question 3

Match the definition with the term.
-complementarity of the sexes

Accepted Answer

Complementarity of the sexes refers to the idea that men and women have evolved different but compatible psychological characteristics, which is best matched with option B. Option A refers to natural selection, and option C refers to the male-focused hypothesis.

Question 4

Support for social Darwinism in the United States subsided after the

Accepted Answer

The economic collapse of the late 1920s and the subsequent Great Depression led to a shift in attitudes towards social Darwinism. The idea that only the strongest should survive and prosper was challenged by the widespread suffering and poverty caused by the economic crisis. As a result, support for social Darwinism declined significantly in the United States.

Question 5

Match the book with its author.
-George J.Romanes

Accepted Answer

George J. Romanes is known for his work in the field of animal psychology and comparative psychology, and "Animal Intelligence" is one of his notable contributions to the field.

Question 6

Match the definition with the term.
-argument from design

Accepted Answer

Argument from design is the idea that living organisms are so well-designed and perfectly adapted that they must have been created by an intelligent designer.

Answer: A
 Natural selection is the gradual selection and evolution of characteristics that are specifically favorable for reproductive success.

Answer: C
 Survival of the fittest is the idea that the best-adapted organisms for a particular environment will survive and pass on their traits to the next generation.

Question 7

Match the book with its author.
-Charles Lyell

Accepted Answer

Charles Lyell is best known for his work "The Principles of Geology," which was influential in the development of geology as a science and had a significant impact on Charles Darwin's thinking about natural selection.

Question 8

Match the definition with the term.
-catastrophism

Accepted Answer

Catastrophism hypothesizes that geological features of the earth have resulted from a few sudden and massive disasters.

Answer: D 
 Heliocentrism hypothesizes that the geological features of the earth have resulted from gradual processes over immense periods of time.

Answer: A 
 Monogenesis hypothesizes the common ancestry and relatedness of all human groups.

Answer: B 
 Polygenesis hypothesizes that different human ethnic groups constitute distinct species.

Question 9

Match the definition with the term.
-sexual selection

Accepted Answer

Sexual selection refers to the gradual selection and evolution of characteristics that specifically favor reproductive success.

Question 10

Match the idea with the individual who promoted it.
-Alfred Russel Wallace

Accepted Answer

Alfred Russel Wallace promoted the idea of evolution by natural selection alongside Charles Darwin.

Answer: A
 This idea was not particularly promoted by any individual in particular, but some scientists and philosophers, including Darwin, have expressed evolutionary theory poetically.

Answer: C
 The idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics was primarily promoted by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, not Alfred Russel Wallace.

Question 11

Match the definition with the term.
-polygenesis

Accepted Answer

Polygenesis is the hypothesis that different human ethnic groups have originated from different sources or species, contrasting with the idea of a common ancestry for all humans.

Question 12

Match the definition with the term.
-sexual selection

Accepted Answer

Sexual selection is the process by which certain traits or behaviors make an individual more attractive to potential mates, leading to greater reproductive success.

Answer: B 
 This definition describes the concept of creationism, which posits that living things were created fully formed by a divine being rather than evolving through natural selection.

Answer: C 
 This definition describes natural selection, which is the process by which organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on their advantageous traits to their offspring.

Question 13

Match the definition with the term.
-monogenesis

Accepted Answer

Monogenesis is the hypothesis that all human groups share a common ancestry, implying that all humans are related regardless of their ethnic or geographical differences.

Question 14

A recently developed subdiscipline that analyzes psychological functions in terms of independently evolved "modules" and their possible adaptive value in the distant evolutionary past is called

Accepted Answer

The recently developed subdiscipline that analyzes psychological functions in terms of independently evolved "modules" and their possible adaptive value in the distant evolutionary past is called evolutionary psychology. Option B (comparative psychology) studies animal behavior and compares it across different species, while option C (sociobiology) studies the evolutionary basis of social behavior in animals and humans. Option D (archeological psychology) studies the psychological characteristics of past cultures and societies.

Question 15

Match the book with its author.
-Charles Darwin

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin is best known for his work on the theory of evolution, but he also wrote extensively about his travels and observations. "Journal of Researches into the Geology and Natural History of the Various Countries Visited during the Voyages of the H.M.S. Beagle, under the Command of Captain FitzRoy, R.N., from 1832 to 1836" is one of his notable works, documenting his findings and thoughts during the voyage that played a crucial role in developing his evolutionary theories.

Question 16

Match the idea with the individual who promoted it.
-Erasmus Darwin

Accepted Answer

Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin, was known for expressing ideas of evolution and transformation of species through poetry, well before Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

Question 17

The study of the similarities and differences in the psychological functions of various animals,in order to better understanding human functioning,is known as

Accepted Answer

Comparative psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes of animals in order to better understand human psychology. It examines similarities and differences in the cognitive abilities, learning mechanisms, and social behavior of different species. Sociobiology is more focused on the biological basis of social behavior in animals, while social Darwinism is a discredited theory that applied the concept of natural selection to explain social and political hierarchies. Evolutionary psychology is a subfield of psychology that applies evolutionary principles to explain human behavior and cognition, but it is not specific to comparisons with other animal species.

Question 18

Match the definition with the term.
-variation hypothesis

Accepted Answer

The variation hypothesis is the idea that men have been more modified by evolution than women, resulting in greater variability in traits observed among men compared to women.

Answer: A
 The gradual selection and evolution of characteristics that are specifically favorable for reproductive success is known as sexual selection.

Answer: B
 The idea that men and women have evolved different, but compatible, psychological characteristics is known as the social role hypothesis.

Question 19

Herbert Spencer is known for being all of the following EXCEPT as a promotor of

Accepted Answer

Herbert Spencer is best known for his contributions to social Darwinism and for coining the phrase "survival of the fittest." While he was influenced by evolutionary ideas, he did not promote sociobiology, a field that emerged much later and combines sociology with biology to explain social behavior.

Question 20

Match the definition with the term.
-natural selection

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is defined as the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully than other organisms. This leads to the transmission of advantageous traits to future generations.

Quiz 7: The Evolving Mind: Darwin and His Psychological Legacy

A recently developed approach hypothesizing that the unit of evolution is the individual gene rather than the individual organism or the group is called

Match the definition with the term. -uniformitarianism

Match the definition with the term. -complementarity of the sexes

Support for social Darwinism in the United States subsided after the

Match the book with its author. -George J.Romanes

Match the definition with the term. -argument from design

Match the book with its author. -Charles Lyell

Match the definition with the term. -catastrophism

Match the definition with the term. -sexual selection

Match the idea with the individual who promoted it. -Alfred Russel Wallace

Match the definition with the term. -polygenesis

Match the definition with the term. -sexual selection

Match the definition with the term. -monogenesis

A recently developed subdiscipline that analyzes psychological functions in terms of independently evolved "modules" and their possible adaptive value in the distant evolutionary past is called

Match the book with its author. -Charles Darwin

Match the idea with the individual who promoted it. -Erasmus Darwin

The study of the similarities and differences in the psychological functions of various animals,in order to better understanding human functioning,is known as

Match the definition with the term. -variation hypothesis

Herbert Spencer is known for being all of the following EXCEPT as a promotor of

Match the definition with the term. -natural selection