Question 1

Why is imprinting important for many species of animals?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is imprinting important for many species...

Question 2

Which research project would likely be of the most interest to someone who studies ethology?

Accepted Answer

Ethology is the study of animal behavior in their natural environment, and the examination of the communication system of honey bees would fall under this category. The other choices involve more specific focus on learning, cognitive abilities, and physiological responses, which would be studied in other fields such as psychology and neuroscience.

Question 3

Jenny has just given birth to a baby boy.She hopes to expose her son to as many opportunities as possible to help shape his behaviour.Which theory best reflects Jenny's belief?

Accepted Answer

Environmental determinism emphasizes the role of the environment in shaping behavior, rather than genetics or social competition. Jenny's belief that she can influence her son's behavior and expose him to various opportunities reflects this theory. A and D are incorrect because they involve genetic selection and social competition, respectively, while B is focused on survival of the fittest rather than shaping behavior.

Question 4

Which psychological perspective supports environmental determinism?

Accepted Answer

Behaviourism emphasizes the role of external factors, such as the environment, in shaping behavior. This perspective supports the idea of environmental determinism, which suggests that the environment has a significant impact on human behavior and development. Cognitive, psychoanalytic, and humanistic perspectives do not support environmental determinism to the same extent.

Question 5

A 19-year old male is describing his ideal mate for marriage.He reports various physical and character traits that are important to him.What is he likely to say is the ideal age for his mate,based on the research of Young,Critelli,and Keith (2005)?

Accepted Answer

Research by Young, Critelli, and Keith (2005) suggests that young males often prefer mates who are slightly younger than themselves, hence "almost 17 years" would be the ideal age.

Question 6

A researcher discovers that more people are willing to risk their own lives to save a close relative than a distant relative,friend,or stranger.Which statement about this scenario is true?

Accepted Answer

The scenario supports the theory of inclusive fitness, as it suggests that individuals are more likely to risk their lives to save close relatives because they share a greater proportion of their genes with them. This can increase their inclusive fitness, which is the overall reproductive success of their genes.

Question 7

Mark believes that one's destiny is set at birth according to the genes that the person inherits.Mark further believes that anything that happens to the child over time will have no effect on his or her destiny.What misuse of Darwinian theory is Mark advocating?

Accepted Answer

Mark is advocating for genetic determinism, which is the belief that one's behavior, personality, and abilities are solely determined by their genes and cannot be influenced by environmental factors or experiences. This is a misuse of Darwinian theory because it ignores the complex interplay between genes and the environment in shaping an individual's traits and characteristics.

Question 8

It is acceptable to subject people to terrible working conditions and poor pay because the fittest individuals will survive.Which term best captures this philosophy?

Accepted Answer

This philosophy is known as social Darwinism, which is the application of Darwin's "survival of the fittest" theory to human social and economic issues. It suggests that those who are the strongest and most capable will rise to the top, while the weaker and less capable will fall behind. This belief system has been used to justify practices such as exploiting the poor and vulnerable for profit.

Question 9

Stella was the first one that the duckling saw upon hatching,and as a result,the duckling follows Stella everywhere.Stella wonders not only what caused the duckling to attach to her over everything else that was in the barn at the time of the hatching,but she also wonders why ducklings have evolved the ability to learn this attachment so quickly.Which ethologist would most likely sympathize with Stella's questions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Stella was the first one that the...

Question 10

Adam is having a discussion with his aunt about applying the principles of natural selection to human social systems.Which topic are they most likely discussing?

Accepted Answer

The discussion between Adam and his aunt is most likely regarding social Darwinism, which applies the principles of natural selection to human social systems. Genetic determinism is the belief that an individual's traits are solely determined by their genetic makeup, and is not relevant to a discussion about applying natural selection to social systems. Sexual selection refers to the preference for certain traits during the selection of a mate, and is not relevant to a discussion about applying natural selection to social systems. Eugenics is the belief in improving the genetic quality of the human population through controlled breeding, and while it may be related to natural selection, it is not specific to social systems.

Question 11

Members of a species who possess the range of physical and psychological attributes best adapted to the environment are most likely to survive.Which term best captures this concept?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Members of a species who possess the...

Question 12

As discussed in the text,Young,Critelli and Keith (2005)asked male introductory psychology students about the age preference for females in a number of social scenarios.What was found to be the mean age of preference for marriage?

Accepted Answer

The answer of As discussed in the text,Young,Critelli and Keith...

Question 13

Sara believes that people who have a mental or physical disability should not be permitted to have children because only biologically superior people should reproduce.Which term is most reflective of Sara's belief?

Accepted Answer

Eugenics is the belief that people with desirable traits should reproduce more and those with undesirable traits should reproduce less or not at all in order to improve the genetic quality of the population. Sara's belief that only biologically superior people should reproduce is in line with the principles of eugenics. Genetic determinism refers to the belief that one's genetic makeup exclusively determines their traits and behavior, which is not necessarily related to Sara's belief. Social Darwinism is the belief that natural selection should be applied to human social organization and that the "fittest" should emerge on top, which is not directly related to Sara's belief. Sexual selection refers to the process by which certain traits or behaviors become more prevalent in a population due to mate choice, which is also not directly related to Sara's belief.

Question 14

Which trait would have most likely evolved through sexual selection?

Accepted Answer

A peacock's flamboyant plumage is an example of sexual selection as it is a trait that has evolved specifically to attract mates. Females of the species are attracted to males with the most elaborate and colorful plumage, which helps those males to successfully reproduce. The other traits listed are not necessarily related to sexual selection, but rather evolved for other survival-related reasons such as defense (razor sharp teeth), reaching food (long neck), and protection (turtle's shell).

Question 15

Craig witnessed a car accident.The car hit the curb and flipped over,and suddenly caught on fire.Without thought for his own safety,Craig dove toward the burning car to pull the driver out to safety.Which term best reflects Craig's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Craig's behavior is an example of altruism, which is defined as helping others at a cost or risk to oneself, without any expectation of reward or benefit. Altruism is considered a selfless behavior, as it prioritizes the well-being of others over one's own. In this scenario, Craig dove toward the burning car without thinking about his own safety, which demonstrates a clear act of altruistic behavior.

Question 16

In 1890 a textbook stated that complex mental functions have an adaptive significance for the ancestors of the organisms that are currently displaying them.Who is likely to be the author of this text?

Accepted Answer

William James was a prominent American psychologist and philosopher who wrote extensively on the evolution of mental functions, emphasizing their adaptive significance for human and animal behavior. This statement is consistent with his overall perspective, and was likely made by him. The other options also have contributed to the study of psychology, but they were not as focused on evolutionary theories as William James.

Question 17

What evolutionary prediction was tested by Young,Critelli,and Keith (2005)when they asked male students about their age preference for females within a number of social scenarios?

Accepted Answer

Young, Critelli, and Keith (2005) tested the evolutionary prediction that males would have a preference for younger females for long-term mating, but that age would not be as significant for a brief sexual encounter. They asked male students about their age preferences for a female partner in different social scenarios, and the results supported the evolutionary hypothesis that age is more important for long-term mating compared to short-term mating. Thus, option A is the correct answer.

Question 18

In the first psychology textbook that was published in 1890,what did William James argue?

Accepted Answer

William James argued that psychological traits, such as behaviors and mental processes, existed for some adaptive function. This was a key idea in the development of evolutionary psychology, which explores the ways in which our psychological traits have evolved over time to enhance our survival and reproductive success.

Question 19

Bruce believes that when one is born,the mind is like a tabula rasa.Which statement is Bruce most likely to make when his first son is born?

Accepted Answer

If Bruce believes that the mind is like a tabula rasa at birth, then he would most likely believe that his child has no predetermined traits or abilities. Therefore, he would likely say that he will teach his child everything he knows in order to shape his child's development.

B, C, and D all suggest that Bruce believes that his child has inherited certain traits or abilities from his family members, which would not align with the belief in a tabula rasa mind.

Question 20

Who started the eugenics movement and believed that genius was inherited?

Accepted Answer

Sir Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, is credited with founding the eugenics movement in the late 19th century. He believed that intelligence and other traits were largely inherited and proposed ways to improve the human gene pool through selective breeding and sterilization of those deemed unfit.

Quiz 3: A: Evolutionary Psychology