Question 1

The fields of sociobiology and evolutionary psychology are example of which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

Sociobiology and evolutionary psychology both focus on how biological factors influence human behavior, emotions, and mental processes, which aligns with the biological perspective in psychology. This perspective examines the physiological bases of behavior in humans and animals.

Question 2

The Canadian sociobiologists Daly and Wilson noted that females make a greater investment in the reproductive process. Which of the following statements does NOT support their statement?

Accepted Answer

The statement about women contributing a greater proportion of financial earnings to meeting family expenses does not directly relate to the biological or physical investment in the reproductive process, which is what Daly and Wilson's observation is about. Their observation is focused on the biological and health-related aspects of reproduction, not the financial contributions to family expenses.

Question 3

The study of how behavioural tendencies are influenced by genetic factors is known as the field of

Accepted Answer

Behaviour genetics is the field that studies how genetic factors influence behavioural tendencies, focusing on the interplay between genetics and environment in shaping behaviour.

Question 4

Some individuals believe that complex social behaviours can be influenced by evolution. They also believe that natural selection favours behaviours that increase the chances that certain genes will be passed on to the next generation. These individuals are associated with

Accepted Answer

Sociobiology is the field that studies how evolutionary processes, including natural selection, influence social behaviors in animals and humans, suggesting that complex social behaviors can be influenced by genetics to enhance survival and reproductive success.

Question 5

The following is an important technical advancement in the study of the relationship between the brain and behaviour

Accepted Answer

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a significant advancement as it allows researchers to measure and map brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow, providing insights into the relationship between brain function and behavior.

Question 6

Sometimes parents will sacrifice their own lives in order to ensure the survival of their children. An individual who associates with the sociobiological view would argue that these instances

Accepted Answer

This behavior is explained by the sociobiological view as prioritizing genetic survival over individual survival, suggesting that parents are biologically driven to ensure the continuation of their genes through their offspring.

Question 7

What criticism has been made AGAINST the sociobiological theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

The primary criticism against the sociobiological theory of evolution is that it overemphasizes innate biological factors, such as genetic predispositions and evolutionary pressures, while underestimating the influence of cultural, social, and environmental factors on human behavior and social structures. Critics argue that this perspective neglects the complexity of human learning, culture, and socialization processes.

Question 8

Early studies on brain mechanisms in learning in biological psychology were conducted by Franz and Lashley. When studying animals, Franz and Lashley detected a ________________ correlation between loss of cortex and loss of function.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Early studies on brain mechanisms in learning...

Question 9

Which of the following is most consistent with evolutionary psychology?

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychology posits that an organism's biological makeup influences its behavioral capabilities, which in turn affect its survival and reproductive success. This perspective emphasizes the role of inherited traits and behaviors that have been shaped by natural selection.

Question 10

British empiricism could be considered as an example of

Accepted Answer

British empiricism, emphasizing the role of experience and sensory perception in the formation of ideas, aligns more closely with monism, particularly materialistic monism, which posits that only physical matter exists and our thoughts and consciousness arise from this material reality.

Question 11

Behaviour geneticists use which of the following methods to address the role of genetic factors in behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Selective animal breeding is a method used by behavior geneticists to study the genetic basis of behavior. By selectively breeding animals for specific traits, researchers can observe how these traits are passed on and how they influence behavior, providing insights into the genetic factors involved.

Question 12

When Franz and Lashley removed most of a rat's cortex they found that

Accepted Answer

Franz and Lashley's experiments demonstrated that rats could still function and perform tasks even after significant portions of their cortex were removed, suggesting that the brain has a degree of plasticity and redundancy.

Question 13

The method of introspection was developed by which school of thought?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism, associated with Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener, emphasized the use of introspection to investigate the structure of the conscious mind.

Question 14

Evolutionary theory assumes that individuals who receive a competitive advantage from inherited traits will be more likely to survive, reproduce, and thus pass on these adaptive traits to future generations. This process is known as

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with traits that confer a competitive advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce, thereby passing these advantageous traits to their offspring.

Question 15

The scientific study of the influence of genetic factors on behavioural tendencies is called

Accepted Answer

Behaviour genetics is the field of study that examines the role of genetic factors in shaping behaviour, including how genes influence individual differences in behaviour and personality.

Question 16

When Gary lost his job, he became depressed and started binge-eating. Gary started to seek help from a therapist. To his surprise, the therapist was not at all interested in Gary's relationship with his mother, his family history, or anything about Gary's past. Instead, Dr. Lee focuses on what Gary is currently thinking and how he interprets those thoughts. Dr. Lee conducts therapy from what type of perspective?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Lee's focus on Gary's current thoughts and interpretations aligns with the cognitive perspective, which emphasizes the role of mental processes in understanding behavior.

Question 17

Early researchers in psychology who believed that the mind could be studied by breaking it down into its basic components as a chemist might break down a complex chemical compound followed which school of thought?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism is the correct answer because it is the school of thought in psychology that aimed to understand the structure of the mind by breaking it down into its smallest components, much like a chemist breaks down compounds. This approach was pioneered by Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener.

Question 18

A psychologist who assumes that humans process information, plan and solve problems in a way that is similar to computers would most likely associate with which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective in psychology focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world. It emphasizes mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, similar to how computers process information.

Question 19

Behaviour geneticists use which of the following research methods to investigate the role of genetic factors in behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Twin studies are a primary method used by behavior geneticists to explore the influence of genetic factors on behavior, by comparing the similarities between monozygotic (identical) twins and dizygotic (fraternal) twins.

Question 20

Structuralism, functionalism, and Gestalt psychology were all schools of thought that played important roles in the origin of which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism, functionalism, and Gestalt psychology all focused on understanding the mind and mental processes, which are central concerns of the cognitive perspective in psychology. Structuralism aimed to identify the basic elements of consciousness, functionalism emphasized the purpose of consciousness and behavior, and Gestalt psychology focused on how people perceive and experience the world, all of which contribute to cognitive theories about how we process information.

Quiz 1: Psychology: the Science of Behaviour