Question 1

The authors note that children use words in ways that adults never would. Create your own example of the overregularization error and explain how it supports Chomsky's position.

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Question 2

In Chapter 1 (What Is Psychology?) the importance of critical thinking was noted. In particular, a critical thinker looks beyond the obvious and resists easy generalizations. Analyze the sex differences in courtship and mating that are common in cultures around the world and among nonhuman mammals. How would you respond to the following question: Do genes hold culture on a tight leash; a long, flexible leash; or no leash at all?
(Make sure that you avoid oversimplification in your essay!)

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Question 3

Why do behavioural geneticists seek adopted children as subjects in studies of variability?

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Question 4

Social scientists disagree on the role of evolution in accounting for the complex issue of courtship and mating. How do sociobiologists explain these issues? How do evolutionary psychologists differ in their explanations? What basic issue divides evolutionary psychologists and their critics?

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Question 5

Because of the way that humans evolved, many of our characteristics either are present at birth or develop rapidly during maturation. Some of these characteristics, such as standing on two legs, are obvious. Name and describe five of the less obvious traits that are highlighted in the textbook.

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Question 6

What evidence is there to support the statement that children who are not exposed to an adult language may invent a language of their own?

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Question 7

Our textbook describes four influences that have been associated with reduced mental abilities in children. Discuss these four risk factors. In contrast, a stimulating environment can promote mental performance. What aspects of mental enrichment made a difference to the children who participated in the longitudinal study called the Abecedarian Project?

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Question 8

What evidence is presented in the textbook that supports the concept of a language acquisition device?

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Question 9

Why do gene frequencies in a population change? Why don't they stay the same from one generation to the next? Explain how the processes of mutation, crossover, and natural selection can provide an answer to these questions.

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Question 10

Evaluate the pros and cons of genetic testing.

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Question 11

Contrast Chomsky's concepts of surface structure and deep structure.

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Question 12

Some theorists give experience a greater role in regard to language acquisition than does Chomsky. Explain their concept of neural networks and the role that they suggest parents play in fostering language development.

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Question 13

How might you determine whether flute-playing ability is a highly heritable trait? If you want to improve your flute playing and someone tells you that musical ability is heritable, should you stop practicing?

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Question 14

There is no way to estimate the heritability of a trait or behaviour directly, and so scientists must infer it. Explain, in detail, two approaches that are used.

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Question 15

Describe three stressful family circumstances that have been associated with reduced mental ability in the child.

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Question 16

According to Chomsky, children must apply rules of grammar in order to transform the surface structure of language into its deep structure. Create your own example to explain how two surface structures can have one deep structure. Then create another example to show how one surface structure can have an ambiguous meaning leading to two deep structures. (Be creative-don't use the examples from the textbook.)

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Question 17

A psychologist wants to investigate whether there are patterns in the ways that young children combine words, focusing on unique patterns that adults would never use. Use your knowledge of research methods to design a study to research this topic.

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Question 18

In Chapter 1 (What Is Psychology?) the importance of critical thinking was noted. In particular, a critical thinker knows that once a general question is raised, the next step is to define one's terms in a clear and concrete way. Chapter 2 (How Psychologists Do Research) provided even more detail in the discussion of operational definitions. How do behavioural geneticists define the meaning of heritability? What does it mean when a trait is said to be "highly heritable"?

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