Question 1

Which component of the personality operates on the reality principle?

Accepted Answer

The ego is the component of the personality that operates on the reality principle, meaning it considers the real world and social norms when making decisions and controls the impulses of the id to meet the demands of the external world.

Question 2

According to sociobiology theory,homosexuality may be explained by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to sociobiology theory,homosexuality may be explained...

Question 3

When a group of males at a party compete to catch the attention of one particularly beautiful and intelligent female,they are displaying a behaviour called

Accepted Answer

The behavior described is an example of sexual selection, which is a process where certain traits are favored and are more likely to be passed on to the next generation via sexual reproduction. In this scenario, the males are competing for the attention of a particular female, indicating that they are trying to increase their chances of mating with her and passing on their genes to the next generation.

Question 4

Some theorists suggest we may look at a partner's physique and complexion to estimate their

Accepted Answer

Physique and complexion may provide clues about a partner's reproductive potential, such as their health and fertility, which can affect their ability to produce and raise offspring. This is because certain physical features may indicate underlying biological qualities that could enhance a person's reproductive success, such as facial symmetry, hip-to-waist ratio, and clear skin. Thus, choosing a partner based on physical attributes may increase the chances of producing healthy and genetically fit offspring, which could ultimately enhance an individual's own reproductive success.

Question 5

What do sociobiologists believe that human sexual behaviours are primarily the result of?

Accepted Answer

Sociobiologists believe that human sexual behaviors are primarily the result of evolution, specifically through natural selection and the passing down of genes that promote reproductive success. They argue that certain behaviors, such as male competition for mates and females being more selective in their choice of partners, are rooted in our evolutionary history.

Question 6

Pair-bonding and attachment increase reproductive success.Which example illustrates these mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

In choice C, both parents are emotionally involved and have a loving relationship with their child, which demonstrates pair-bonding and attachment. This type of family structure has been shown to increase reproductive success by promoting the physical and emotional health of both parents and the child. Choices A, B, and D do not fully demonstrate both pair-bonding and attachment to the same degree as choice C.

Question 7

Which of the following is a popular criticism of Sigmund Freud's work?

Accepted Answer

Many critics argue that Freud's theories of the unconscious mind and psychoanalysis cannot be scientifically tested or proven, making them unreliable as a basis for psychological treatment.

Question 8

A weakness of Freud's theory of psychosocial development was his belief that not much happened sexually during the

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that during the latency stage (ages 6-12), sexual impulses were suppressed and children focused on developing social and intellectual skills. However, research has shown that children do have sexual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors during this stage. Therefore, Freud's belief that not much happened sexually during this stage can be seen as a weakness in his theory.

Question 9

Which of the following is a sexual strategy which would be considered an effective evolutionary psychological mechanism?

Accepted Answer

This strategy of choosing sexually available females for short-term relationships, but avoiding them for long-term relationships, is known as the short-term mating strategy. This is an effective evolutionary psychological mechanism as it allows males to maximize their reproductive success by engaging in casual sex with multiple partners while still seeking a quality mate for a long-term relationship. This strategy allows males to have greater access to multiple partners without compromising their ability to seek a stable, higher-quality mate for the long-term.

Question 10

Professor Jones is studying the sexual behaviour of a heterosexual couple.She is interested in how the behaviour of this couple evolved and how it is similar to the behaviour she observed last week in the monkeys in her backyard.The concept expressed here is part of which approach?

Accepted Answer

The sociobiological approach is concerned with the evolutionary and biological factors that influence behavior, including sexual behavior. The comparison between the behavior of the couple and the behavior of monkeys suggests an interest in examining the evolutionary roots of this behavior, which aligns with the sociobiological approach. The other options (social learning, mixed species, and conflict approaches) do not specifically focus on evolutionary or biological factors as the sociobiological approach does.

Question 11

Professor Jones is studying a heterosexual couple's sexual behaviour.She is interested in how the psychological mechanisms they used in choosing each other were shaped by natural selection.What approach is she using?

Accepted Answer

Professor Jones is using an evolutionary psychology approach as she is studying how psychological mechanisms used in sexual behaviour were shaped by natural selection. Evolutionary psychology looks at behaviours and mental processes that have developed over time through the process of natural selection.

Question 12

Jane and Jeff are on a date at the zoo.During their visit to the wild cat sanctuary,they come upon a male and female lion mating.While they are giggling at the cats' public display,Jane notices that she is becoming aroused.Jeff,on the other hand,is experiencing no arousal except for some discomfort with the lion's ongoing encounter.How might some researchers interpret Jane and Jeff's responses as a demonstration of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

This interpretation is based on the theory of evolutionary psychology, which suggests that certain behaviors and responses have developed and persisted in humans over time because they were advantageous for survival and reproduction. According to this theory, women who were more responsive to a wider range of stimuli, including sexual ones, may have been more likely to mate with and have offspring from a wider range of partners, increasing their genetic diversity and overall fitness. Therefore, Jane's physiological response to the sexual scene may be seen as a demonstration of this adaptive trait. Jeff's lack of arousal is not necessarily linked to natural selection, as there may be many reasons why an individual may or may not find a given stimulus sexually arousing.

Question 13

Which theoretical formulation has been criticized for an over-emphasis on reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Sociobiology has been criticized for putting too much emphasis on reproduction as the driving force behind human behavior, often overlooking other factors such as culture and socialization.

Question 14

Let's say you are a person who is willing to have sex with anyone,anytime,anyplace.According to Freud,you have an overactive

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the id is the part of the personality that contains our primitive impulses such as sex and aggression. Freud believed that the id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of its desires without considering the reality of the situation. An overactive id would lead to impulsive, pleasure-seeking behaviors, such as being willing to have sex with anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Question 15

A psychology student studies the "wedding ring" effect,the idea that people who are already in a committed relationship seem to be more attractive to opposite-sex singles.Using the ideas in sexual strategy,why might this be so?

Accepted Answer

According to sexual strategy, men and women have evolved different strategies for finding mates. Men look for women with physical attractiveness and youth as they represent good reproductive potential, while women look for men with status and resources that would make good long-term partners and providers for their children. Being in a committed relationship suggests that the person has desirable qualities for being a good long-term partner, making them more attractive to opposite-sex singles. Therefore, option B is the best answer.

Question 16

Which of the following supports the sociobiological theory of parental investment?

Accepted Answer

According to the sociobiological theory of parental investment, fathers are more likely to invest resources in their genetic offspring than in stepchildren from past relationships. Therefore, fathers spending more money on their genetic children than on stepchildren supports this theory.

Question 17

A girl is impressed with her boyfriend's ambition.She feels he will make a good husband and father.She accepts his proposal of marriage.What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of sexual selection, where an individual is chosen as a mate based on traits that are perceived as desirable, such as ambition, which suggests the potential for providing stability and resources, qualities valued in a partner for raising offspring.

Question 18

What term did Freud use to describe the sex drive?

Accepted Answer

Freud used the term "libido" to describe the sex drive or the innate biological energy that drives human behavior. He believed that this libido was the primary source of motivation for human behavior, and he developed a theory of psychosexual development in which the libido undergoes stages of development from infancy to adulthood.

Question 19

According to Freud,identification with the same-gender parent occurs at the conclusion of the stage of psychosexual development called the

Accepted Answer

The phallic stage is the third stage of psychosexual development in Freud's theory, occurring from approximately ages 3 to 6. During this stage, children become aware of their gender and focus their sexual energy on their genitals. This stage is also marked by the Oedipus or Electra complex, where children desire their opposite-gender parent and view their same-gender parent as a rival. The resolution of this complex occurs when the child identifies with their same-gender parent, which is known as the process of identification. Therefore, option D is the best choice as it specifically mentions identification with the same-gender parent occurring in the phallic stage.

Question 20

A married man who refrains from flirting with a female in front of his wife is being guided by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The ego is responsible for balancing the desires of the id with the rules and expectations of society. In this scenario, the married man's ego is guiding him to refrain from flirting with another woman in front of his wife, as it is not socially acceptable behavior in a monogamous relationship. The id represents a person's primal instincts and desires, while the libido refers specifically to someone's sexual drive. The pleasure principle states that individuals seek immediate gratification of their needs and desires, which may or may not be applicable to this situation.

Quiz 2: Theoretical Perspectives on Sexuality