Question 1

Scientists who study the role and impact of heredity on traits in individuals are interested in a branch of evolutionary theory study known as

Accepted Answer

Behavioral genetics is the branch of evolutionary theory that studies the role and impact of heredity on traits in individuals. Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior, while nativism is a philosophical and psychological theory that certain ideas and behaviors are innate. Evolutionary prenatal programming is a theory that suggests that environmental factors during pregnancy can influence the physical and behavioral traits of an offspring.

Question 2

Alejandro and Miguel were shopping and saw a CD that they both wanted. Alejandro did not have the money to buy the CD, so he decided to steal it. Miguel decided to wait until he had saved the money as he had been punished by his mother for previously stealing a CD. Miguel is acting on his

Accepted Answer

Miguel is acting on his superego, which is the moral part of the psyche that tends to make decisions based on what is right or wrong. Miguel is aware that stealing is wrong and decides to wait until he can save the money to purchase the CD legitimately, even though he desires the CD. On the other hand, Alejandro, who steals the CD, is acting on his id, which is the instinctive and pleasure-seeking part of the psyche.

Question 3

According to newer research theories such as the predictive-response theory, to be most effective, early intervention strategies designed to prevent chronic diseases like diabetes must focus on the ____ stage of development.

Accepted Answer

prenatal

Question 4

According to Freud's model of personality, which of the following would be most consistent with the actions of the id?

Accepted Answer

The id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of its impulses and desires without regard for social norms or consequences. Stealing food when hungry is an impulsive action that satisfies the basic need for food, which is consistent with the id's operating principles.

Question 5

Based on clues and conditions in its prenatal environment, a fetus will make changes geared to ensure its survival in a similar postnatal future environment. This survival process is called

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is known as "predictive-adaptive response." This concept suggests that a fetus's prenatal environment can shape its development in ways that improve its chances of survival in a postnatal environment that is similar to the prenatal one. This response is predictive because it is based on cues from the prenatal environment, and adaptive because it helps the fetus adjust to its future environment. Natural selection and survival of the fittest are related concepts but do not specifically address the prenatal adaptations described in the question.

Question 6

One of Freud's most important theoretical contributions is the idea that human behaviour is governed by conscious and ________ processes.

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that unconscious processes, such as repressed memories and desires, have a significant impact on a person's behavior and emotions. This concept greatly influenced the field of psychology and continues to be widely discussed and debated.

Question 7

The psychosexual stages in which pleasure comes from touching the genitals are the

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's theory of psychosexual development, the phallic stage (ages 3-6) is where pleasure comes from touching the genitals. The genital stage (puberty onward) also involves sexual pleasure, but it is not specific to the genitals. The other stages mentioned (oral, anal, latency) do not involve genital pleasure.

Question 8

Ying tends to overeat, smoke, and drink quite a bit. Sigmund Freud would assert that he developed a(n) ________ and did not progress through the stage properly.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, during the oral stage of psychosexual development (ages 0-1), the primary source of pleasure is through the mouth, such as sucking and biting. If a person does not progress through this stage properly or experiences trauma during this stage, they may develop an oral fixation, which can manifest in overeating, smoking, or drinking. Therefore, Ying's behaviors suggest an oral fixation.

Question 9

According to the predictive-adaptive response theory, a fetus will adapt its ____ to accommodate an anticipated future environment based on conditions in its prenatal environment.

Accepted Answer

The predictive-adaptive response theory suggests that a fetus will adapt its physiology to accommodate an anticipated future environment based on conditions in its prenatal environment, such as the availability of nutrients or levels of stress hormones. This adaptation can have both short-term and long-term effects on the individual's health and development. Perception, gestation length, and calorie intake may play a role in fetal development, but they are not the primary factors involved in this theory.

Question 10

_________ applied to human development is the approach that emphasizes genes that aid group survival.

Accepted Answer

Sociobiology theory is the approach that emphasizes genes that aid group survival, and studies the biological basis of social behavior in humans and other animals. It suggests that social behaviors and structures have evolved over time due to natural selection, and that certain genes and behaviors may have been selected for because they promote the survival and reproduction of the group or species.

Question 11

_______ is the branch of science involved in the study of human genetic make-up, including gene location and gene functioning.

Accepted Answer

Human genomics is specifically focused on the study of the entire human genome, including the identification and mapping of all genes and their functions. Epigenetics, although related, is more concerned with changes in gene expression that occur without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms, while evolutionary biology is focused on the mechanisms and patterns of evolution across species.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT one of the noted criticisms of evolutionary theories?

Accepted Answer

This is not a commonly noted criticism of evolutionary theories. The other options are more commonly cited as critiques of evolutionary theories.

Question 13

____________ is defined as the study of genetically inherited cognitive and social characteristics produced via natural selection to promote human adaptation and survival.

Accepted Answer

The definition provided in the question corresponds to the field of evolutionary psychology, which examines how natural selection has shaped cognitive and social traits that are adaptive for survival in humans. Sociobiology also studies social behavior in animals, including humans, but it focuses on the biological basis of behavior and does not necessarily emphasize the evolutionary mechanisms involved. Evolutionary anthropology examines the biological and cultural evolution of humans and their closest relatives, but it does not necessarily focus exclusively on cognitive and social characteristics. Evolutionary prenatal programming is related to the effects of prenatal experiences on fetal development, but it is not a field that specifically studies cognitive and social traits shaped by natural selection.

Question 14

Psychoanalytic theorists explain developmental change in terms of

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic theory emphasizes that developmental change is driven by internal factors such as unconscious drives and emotions, rather than external stimuli or environmental factors.

Question 15

Evolutionary developmental psychology theorists believe that traits designed to promote survival and adaptation across the human lifespan are

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary developmental psychology theorists believe that traits designed to promote survival and adaptation across the human lifespan are age-dependent. This means that traits develop and change throughout life in response to changing environmental demands, such as the need to find a mate, raise children, navigate social relationships, and adapt to changing physical and cognitive abilities.

Question 16

Sarah boasts to her best friend that she does not have a smoking problem because she only considers herself to be a social smoker. What defence mechanism is Sarah displaying?

Accepted Answer

Sarah is displaying the defence mechanism of denial, as she is refusing to acknowledge the possibility that she has a smoking problem.

Question 17

The instinctual drive for physical pleasure present at birth and forming the motivating force behind all human behaviour is the

Accepted Answer

libido.

Question 18

According to Sigmund Freud, a ________ is characterized by behaviours that reflect unresolved problems and unmet needs.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, a fixation occurs when a person is unable to move on from a particular stage of psychosexual development due to unresolved conflicts or needs. This can result in behavioural patterns that reflect the unresolved issues, such as excessive dependence or aggression. The other options (A, C, and D) are related to other concepts in psychoanalytic theory, but are not directly tied to the idea of fixation.

Question 19

One-year-old Melanie has formed a secure attachment to her mother. Erik Erikson would claim that Melanie has mastered which of his psychosocial stages?

Accepted Answer

Erikson's first psychosocial stage is trust versus mistrust, which occurs from birth to approximately 18 months. In this stage, a child develops a sense of trust or mistrust based on the quality of their caregivers' responses to their needs. If a child develops a secure attachment to their caregiver and believes that their needs will be consistently met, they will develop a sense of trust. Therefore, if Melanie has formed a secure attachment to her mother, she has most likely developed a sense of trust and mastered this stage.

Question 20

The aspect of our personality that demands to be satisfied in pleasurable ways is the

Accepted Answer

The id, according to Freud's theory of personality, is the component of personality that is entirely unconscious and represents our most basic and primitive drives, such as our desire for pleasure, satisfaction, and immediate gratification.

Quiz 2: Theories of Development