Deck 8: Evolutionary Perspectives on Personality

Question 1

Donald competes to make more money than the rest of his male friends. When he picks the most attractive woman as his spouse, this is an example of selection.

A)intersexual
B)natural
C)intrasexual
D)mate

Answer 1

intrasexual

Question 2

Sheila is going out to a baby shower with her girlfriends. Even though there will not be any men around she goes out of her way to make herself as attractive as she possibly can. This is an example of competition based on selection.

A)intersexual
B)innersexual
C)intrasexual
D)inertsexual

Answer 2

intrasexual

Question 3

Shauna knows that men appreciate a woman with very attractive legs. She works out frequently to keep her body in shape and before she goes out for the evening puts on a dress and pair of shoes that accentuate her attractive legs. Shauna is reacting to the ________ pressure exerted by men on women.

A)adaptive
B)intrasexual selection
C)intersexual selection
D)sexual

Answer 3

intersexual selection

Question 4

Biff works out for hours on end since he knows that women like muscular guys. He is reacting to the selection pressure exerted by human females on males.

A)inertsexual
B)innersexual
C)intersexual
D)intrasexual

Question 5

We are all the products of a long line of ancestors that successfully ________.

A)evolved to near perfection; were physically fit
B)left a long list of ancestors; mate guarded
C)survived to reproductive age; reproduced
D)survived to old age; were strong

Question 6

are the smallest intact unit that can be inherited by offspring.

A)Adaptations
B)Byproducts of adaptations
C)Genes
D)DNA molecules

Question 7

These are all components of differential gene reproduction EXCEPT

A)success at being chosen as a mate.
B)successful group selection.
C)successful mate competition.
D)successful survival skills.

Question 8

Traits that lead to mating benefits rather than survival benefits are probably

A)byproducts of adaptation.
B)the result of sexual selection.
C)evolutionary noise.
D)the result of survival selection.

Question 9

Survival is only important inasmuch as it is necessary for

A)senescence.
B)reproduction.
C)adaptation.
D)fitness.

Question 10

Darwin is credited as the first to

A)propose the process by which species adapt to their environments.
B)use the term "survival of the fittest."
C)notice that species were adapted to their environments.
D)notice that changes in species occur over time.

Question 11

are inherited solutions to survival and reproductive problems.

A)Adaptive problems
B)Hostile forces of nature
C)Outcomes
D)Adaptations

Question 12

According to the inclusive fitness theory, the probability that you will help people depends most on

A)whether or not they are wealthy.
B)whether or not they are physically attractive.
C)how genetically related they are to you.
D)whether or not they are potential mates.

Question 13

refers to the idea that more adaptive variants of an organism replace less adaptive variants of an organism over time.

A)Effective polygyny
B)Xenophobia
C)Functionality
D)Natural selection

Question 14

Differential gene production is defined as

A)an individual's reproductive success relative to that of other individuals of the species.
B)the total number of different genes produced by a species in the gene pool.
C)the ability of an individual to produce different genes in different environments.
D)the number of different genes an individual passes on to their offspring.

Question 15

A peacock's elaborate plumage is probably the result of selection.

A)natural
B)adaptive
C)intrasexual
D)intersexual

Question 16

Food shortages, disease, and extreme weather are all examples of

A)domain specificity.
B)byproducts of adaptation.
C)adaptations.
D)hostile forces of nature.

Question 17

Evolutionary theorists speculate that the mechanism of altruism may have developed to increase

A)altruism.
B)adaptive alliance formation.
C)inclusive fitness.
D)reproductive value.

Question 18

Darwin proposed the theory of sexual selection to account for

A)Freudian theory.
B)genetic diversity.
C)how organisms respond to the hostile forces of nature.
D)traits that seem to impede survival.

Question 19

_ occur(s)when members of one sex choose mates based on their preferences for particular characteristics in the opposite sex.

A)Reactive heritabilities
B)Intrasexual selection
C)Adaptive byproducts
D)Intersexual selection

Question 20

The process called natural selection is sometimes also called survival selection as individuals must overcome the

A)hostile forces of nature.
B)paleontological obstacles.
C)impediments to survival.
D)natural adaptations.

Question 21

Research on altruism has found that younger individuals are helped than 1- year-old relatives and older individuals are helped than 45-year-old
Relatives in everyday tasks.

A)more; more
B)less; more
C)less; less
D)more; less

Question 22

The idea of implies that we have mechanisms that are specialized in solving certain adaptive problem an individual encounters.

A)prototypicality
B)evolutionary niches
C)domain specificity
D)cognitive complexity

Question 23

Researchers using the approach observe a phenomenon and then develop a theory.

A)deductive reasoning
B)inductive reasoning
C)experimental
D)correlational

Question 24

Which of the following is probably NOT an adaptation?

A)Mate preferences.
B)Fear of snakes.
C)Variations in the shape of human ears.
D)Desire for fatty foods.

Question 25

To determine whether something is an adaptation or a byproduct requires knowledge of

A)the range of functioning for the adaptation.
B)the adaptation and a description of its nature.
C)all possible byproducts of the adaptation.
D)the reproductive success gained by the adaptation.

Question 26

Characteristics such as the shape of the human earlobe are most likely

A)auxiliary adaptations.
B)evolutionary byproducts.
C)functional adaptations.
D)random variations.

Question 27

Anything that impedes survival or reproduction is a(n)

A)evolutionary byproduct.
B)adaptive problem.
C)evolutionary block.
D)systematic variation.

Question 28

may have evolved as a mechanism that functions as a species-typical mechanism that prevents individuals from being socially excluded from a group.

A)Psychopathology
B)Altruism
C)Inclusive fitness
D)Social anxiety

Question 29

If we successfully selected our mates based on our food preferences, the mechanism of ________ would NOT be functioning.

A)cognitive complexity
B)prototypicality
C)domain specificity
D)species typicality

Question 30

The "top down" approach or theory driven method of empirical research is also called the approach.

A)analysis of variance
B)regression analysis
C)inductive reasoning
D)deductive reasoning

Question 31

Research on helping and altruism suggest that people

A)help all genetically relatives roughly the same.
B)help others by how closely they are genetically related to them.
C)always help assist genetically related relatives when asked.
D)help anyone in real need regardless of genetic relatedness.

Question 32

In life or death situations, the primary variable that predicts helping behaviour is the ________ of the person in need of assistance.

A)age
B)sex
C)environment
D)ethnicity

Question 33

Evolutionary theorists believe the need to belong is at the level of analysis.

A)sex differences uniqueness
B)individual nature
C)individual differences
D)human nature

Question 34

emerge from and interact with recurrent structures of the world in a manner that solves adaptive problems and aids in reproductive success.

A)Strategies
B)Dimorphisms
C)Byproducts
D)Adaptations

Question 35

Research showing that group cohesion increases when resources or survival depend on group membership helps support the idea

A)that humans have a need to belong.
B)that humans have evolved universal emotions.
C)of survival selection.
D)of sexual selection.

Question 36

The incidental effects produced by adaptations are called

A)random variations.
B)functional adaptations.
C)evolutionary byproducts.
D)domain-specific adaptations.

Question 37

Which of the following is an example of an adaptation that is probably NOT adaptive in today's environments?

A)Social anxiety
B)Sexual selection
C)Xenophobia
D)Sexual desire

Question 38

Harry is very loyal to his old army unit. They have reunions and regularly keep in touch with each other. Membership in Harry's army unit most likely has elicited in that group of war veterans.

A)strong memory biases
B)strong militaristic bonds
C)a strong need to belong
D)strong altruistic tendencies

Question 39

The idea that adaptations solve specific, as opposed to general, adaptive problems is known as

A)functionality.
B)numerousness.
C)domain specificity.
D)species typicality.

Question 40

The idea that adaptive problems accomplish specific adaptive goals is known as

A)attenuation.
B)specialization.
C)specificity.
D)functionality.

Question 41

Buss and his colleagues found that when men imagined that their partners were committing sexual infidelity

A)their heart rates and skin conductance levels increased.
B)they became very aggressive and physically violent.
C)they had increased activity in the parasympathetic nervous system.
D)they began plotting their revenge on their partners.

Question 42

According to evolutionary theory, which of the following is most important to a woman? That her mate is

A)sexually faithful.
B)conscientious.
C)emotionally faithful.
D)physically attractive.

Question 43

More homicides can be explained by than any of the other evolutionary phenomenon.

A)frequency-dependent selection
B)the human need to belong
C)intersexual competition
D)intrasexual competition

Question 44

The nomadic Ariaal tribespeople in Kenya are an ideal population for understanding the evolutionary role of

A)restlessness.
B)extraversion.
C)aggression.
D)boredom.

Question 45

Research suggests that in a famine situation, are most likely to receive help.

A)infants
B)elderly adults
C)adults
D)older children

Question 46

If the sex ratios between males and females are about the same and one man has several mates the other men must, by default, be without a mate. This is an example of _ polygyny.

A)strategic
B)differential
C)selective
D)effective

Question 47

Evolutionary psychologists have placed comparatively little emphasis in their research efforts upon

A)individual differences in behaviour.
B)species typical phenomenon.
C)sex differences in behaviour.
D)the human nature level of analysis.

Question 48

From an evolutionary perspective, women will most generally prefer males who

A)accrue resources and invest them in a particular woman.
B)are assertive and aggressive towards other males.
C)have large-sized sexual cells (gametes).
D)are extremely attractive, even if they are not wealthy.

Question 49

Evolutionary theory predicts sex differences in jealousy due to

A)paternal uncertainty.
B)sexual dimorphism.
C)effective polygyny.
D)intrasexual competition.

Question 50

The idea that some males will have more offspring than others is best described as

A)effective polygyny.
B)intersexual selection.
C)intrasexual selection.
D)survival selection.

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT an adaptive problem faced by women?

A)Parental uncertainty
B)Mate guarding
C)Finding a good mate
D)Securing resources

Question 52

According to the evolutionary theory, a man would be most upset by his female mate's ________.

A)sexual dimorphism
B)sexual infidelity
C)emotional infidelity
D)sexual fantasies

Question 53

George shows off his new baby to the neighbours. The baby looks more like George's mailman than George. George could be doubting his

A)child's attachment.
B)neighbour's judgment.
C)parenting skills.
D)certainty of paternity.

Question 54

Evolutionary support for the adaptive role of hyperactivity and restlessness has been found in

A)studies showing that the DRD4-7R gene mutation, which has been linked to risk-taking, is more common in migratory cultures than settled ones.
B)the recent identification of the DRD4-7R gene in over 30% of the human population.
C)research findings which suggest increased survival and life expectancy for children diagnosed with ADHD.
D)research demonstrating significant cross-cultural variation in the rate of ADHD in adolescents.

Question 55

Buss and his colleagues have found that women place more importance on earning potential in potential mates than men do

A)in the traditionally paternalistic cultures that were studied.
B)only in the individualistic western cultures that were studied.
C)in the majority of the 37 cultures that were studied.
D)in cultures where men control more resources than women.

Question 56

Research by Paul Ekman and his colleagues has demonstrated that emotional expression

A)serves no adaptive function.
B)can be identified by people in diverse cultures.
C)can be identified by people in similar cultures only.
D)differs widely across cultures.

Question 57

Attention-defecit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)may have evolved in our ancestors because

A)it allowed for greater variability in early societies.
B)it contributed to the formation of additional roles in nomad societies.
C)restlessness gave nomads a survival advantage.
D)being overactive was a sign of strength and stamina to potential mates.

Question 58

Men and women value equally in potential mates, but men place more value on _.

A)a good personality; physical attractiveness
B)physical attractiveness; a good personality
C)physical attractiveness; earning potential
D)earning potential; physical attractiveness

Question 59

Which species has the greatest degree of effective polygyny?

A)Dogs
B)Chimpanzees
C)Humans
D)Elephant seals

Question 60

Research on homicides indicates that ________ are most likely to kill _.

A)women; women
B)men; men
C)women; men
D)men; women

Question 61

Experimental research suggests that people who are solve social dilemmas more carefully than _ people.

A)non-depressed; depressed
B)depressed; non-depressed
C)non-ruminative; ruminative
D)ruminative; non-ruminative

Question 62

Women who pursue an unrestricted mating strategy prefer men than women who pursue a restricted mating strategy.

A)who have a much better set of personality traits
B)who will invest significantly more in their children
C)who will make strong commitments to their relationship
D)who are significantly more physically attractive

Question 63

Humans may have evolved , so that they may notice and remember those individual differences that are most relevant for solving social-adaptive problems.

A)difference detecting mechanisms
B)unrestricted mate competition
C)the five-factor model of personality
D)individual differences

Question 64

Psychopathy may be an effective strategy for some people in the population to be reproductively successful based on the theory.

A)mental health
B)double shot
C)individual differences
D)frequency-dependent

Question 65

According to Andrews, may have served an adaptive role in social situations.

A)social stress
B)depression
C)isolation
D)social anxiety

Question 66

The presence or absence of a father during early childhood is an example of that is associated with individual differences.

A)an environmental effect
B)sex-role effect ______
C)an adaptive self-assessment
D)a frequency-dependent strategy

Question 67

Rhonda only dates men that she finds to be extremely physically attractive. She is not as concerned about having a man who will commit to a relationship with her, or much about the man's past relationships. Rhonda is most likely pursuing a(n)strategy.
_ mating

A)unrestricted
B)shallow
C)restricted
D)independent

Question 68

The idea that a man might decide on a particular social strategy based on how he views himself is an example of

A)a frequency-dependent alternative strategy.
B)xenophobia.
C)an adaptive self-assessment.
D)an environmental effect.

Question 69

An explanation for individual differences in behaviour from an evolutionary perspective is that

A)they are the result of environmental differences that affect species-typical mechanisms.
B)individual differences are genetic errors across individuals.
C)they are random variations in species-typical psychological mechanisms.
D)they are the result of differential intersexual selection in the environment.

Question 70

The notion that depression is triggered by complex social problems related to fitness and survival describes the

A)demand withdrawal hypothesis.
B)rumination hypothesis.
C)adaptive depression hypothesis.
D)adaptive ruminative hypothesis.

Question 71

In some contexts two or more heritable variants evolve in a population. This is called

A)frequency-dependent selection.
B)double-shot hypothesis.
C)adaptive self-assessment.
D)xenophobia.

Question 72

Competition that tends to be very intense among individuals using the same strategy may lead to the development of

A)adaptive self-assessments.
B)double-shot hypotheses.
C)frequency-dependent alternative strategies.
D)variant competitive strategies.

Question 73

Something that is is a secondary consequence of a heritable trait.

A)an adaptation
B)intrasexually selected
C)intersexually selected
D)reactively heritable

Question 74

Research suggests that girls who grew up in father-absent homes

A)have more children.
B)began menstruating earlier than girls whose fathers had lived in their homes.
C)are shorter in height.
D)are less sexually promiscuous.

Question 75

The theory of frequency-dependent selection would state that as the number of women in the population who use a restricted mating strategy for attracting men increases, the

A)number of sexy sons in the population will increase.
B)average success of the restricted mating strategy will decline.
C)number of men willing to invest in their children will increase.
D)restricted mating strategy will become a human nature level characteristic.

Question 76

Neuroimaging studies have shown that depression activates the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), which increases the capacity of

A)abstract reasoning.
B)episodic memory.
C)working memory.
D)long-term memory.

Question 77

Some women prefer mates who will invest in their offspring, while other women prefer mates with good genes. This suggests

A)an environmental effect that influences personality.
B)sex differences in jealousy.
C)frequency-dependent selection strategies.
D)an adaptive self-assessment.

Question 78

According to Andrews, the best way to deal with depression is to allow an individual to

A)Catastrophize.
B)Ruminate.
C)Withdraw.
D)Take antidepressant medication.

Question 79

Which of the following is NOT a limitation of the evolutionary approach?

A)Different evolutionary explanations can be used to explain the same phenomenon.
B)Using an inductive method to generate evolutionary based-hypotheses.
C)Selective pressures today may be different than during most of human history.
D)Lack of knowledge about conditions during human evolution.

Question 80

Alma believes in long-term relationships. She will not date divorced men and does not believe in premarital sexual intercourse. She is most likely pursuing a(n)________ mating strategy.

A)unrestricted
B)indiscriminate
C)coy
D)restricted