Question 1

Despite considerable research on what determines sexual orientation, psychologists and other researchers cannot say with certainty why people become homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual.

Accepted Answer

Despite ongoing study, there is no clear consensus on the exact causes of sexual orientation.

Question 2

Identical twins studies indicate that sexual orientation is at least partly influenced by genetics.

Accepted Answer

Studies of identical twins, who share the same genetic information, have been found to have a higher likelihood of sharing the same sexual orientation compared to fraternal twins or non-twin siblings. This suggests that genetics play a role in sexual orientation, although other factors such as environment and upbringing may also contribute.

Question 3

One reason that there is variation among the estimates of the size of the gay and lesbian population is that researchers differ in how they define the terms homosexual, heterosexual, and bisexual.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Different researchers may use different criteria and definitions for sexual orientation, leading to varying estimates of the size of the gay and lesbian population. Some researchers may use self-identification, while others may measure attraction, behavior, or a combination of these factors. This can lead to different results in surveys and studies.

Question 4

Taking the evolutionary perspective, psychologist David Buss contends that women are more likely to seek a mate who has resources and will be a "good provider" because doing so increases the chances that their children will survive.

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects the evolutionary perspective that women are more likely to be attracted to men who can provide resources and support for their potential offspring, as this increases the likelihood of the survival and success of their children. David Buss is a well-known evolutionary psychologist who has studied mate selection and characteristics of attraction across cultures.

Question 5

In cross-cultural surveys, men and women in many different cultures ranked "mutual attraction and love" as the most important factor in choosing a mate.

Accepted Answer

This is a widely accepted result from cross-cultural surveys on mate preferences.

Question 6

Taking the evolutionary perspective, psychologist David Buss contends that personal preferences have little, if any, effect on mate preferences.

Accepted Answer

Psychologist David Buss actually argues the opposite - that personal preferences do have an effect on mate preferences. He suggests that evolutionary psychology can help explain why certain traits are preferred in a mate, but individuals can still have variations in their specific preferences based on their unique experiences and cultural influences.

Question 7

According to cross-cultural research conducted by evolutionary psychologist David Buss, the most important factor in choosing a mate was money and resources for men, and physical attractiveness and youth for women.

Accepted Answer

The statement is inaccurate. While it is true that David Buss conducted cross-cultural research on mating preferences, his findings revealed that women placed more emphasis on resources and men placed more emphasis on physical attractiveness. However, these were not the only factors considered by men and women in choosing a mate. Other factors such as kindness, intelligence, and personality also played a role.

Question 8

It's not always easy to categorize a person's sexual orientation because people are not always exclusively heterosexual or homosexual in their behavior.

Accepted Answer

Sexual orientation is a complex spectrum and people can have varying degrees of attraction towards different genders. Many people also identify as bisexual, pansexual or queer, which means they are attracted to people of different gender identities. Therefore, it's not always easy to categorize someone's sexual orientation as exclusively hetero or homo.

Question 9

According to evolutionary psychology, men and women differ in the qualities they look for in a mate.

Accepted Answer

According to evolutionary psychology, men and women have different mating strategies due to differences in reproductive investment and parental investment, resulting in differences in the qualities they seek in a mate. Men seek traits that indicate reproductive fitness, such as physical attractiveness and youth, while women seek traits that indicate resources and ability to provide for offspring, such as status and wealth.

Question 10

Paul would be classified as a bisexual because he is sexually attracted to both men and women.

Accepted Answer

Bisexuality is the sexual attraction towards both men and women, and Paul is described as being attracted to both, hence he is classified as a bisexual.

Question 11

In cross-cultural surveys on mate preferences, it was found that men were more likely than women to value youth and physical attractiveness in a potential mate.

Accepted Answer

This is a consistent finding across multiple cross-cultural surveys on mate preferences. While both men and women may value physical attractiveness in a mate, men tend to place a higher importance on youth and physical beauty compared to women.

Question 12

Taking the evolutionary perspective, psychologist David Buss contends that men are more likely to seek a younger mate because younger women have a greater number of childbearing years ahead of them than older women.

Accepted Answer

According to David Buss's evolutionary perspective, men are more likely to seek a younger mate because younger women have a greater number of childbearing years ahead of them than older women.

Question 13

According to David Buss, the adaptive problem for male reproductive behavior is to identify and mate with women who are fertile and likely to successfully bear children.

Accepted Answer

David Buss, a prominent evolutionary psychologist, proposed that males have an adaptive problem of identifying and mating with fertile women who are likely to successfully bear children. This is based on the principle of natural selection, where traits that increase reproductive success are more likely to be passed on to future generations.

Question 14

According to the most recent estimates, about 50 percent of women report having engaged in homosexual behavior.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. According to reliable surveys and studies, only a minority of women identify as lesbian or bisexual, and even fewer report having engaged in same-sex behavior. The exact percentage varies depending on the study and population, but it is generally much lower than 50%.

Question 15

Depending on how sexual orientation is defined, estimates of the prevalence rate of homosexuality in the general population ranges from 1 percent to 21 percent.

Accepted Answer

Depending on the definition used, estimates for the prevalence rate of homosexuality in the general population vary widely, but can range from 1% to 21%.

Question 16

In most cultures, older, successful men have the greatest access to young, attractive women.

Accepted Answer

While this is not universally true in every culture, it is a common pattern historically and in many present-day cultures. This is often due to traditional gender roles, power dynamics, and societal norms regarding beauty and desirability. However, it is important to recognize that this practice can perpetuate inequality and objectification of women.

Question 17

According to David Buss, the most important adaptive problem for female reproductive behavior is to have as many orgasms as possible during each sexual encounter.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. While female orgasms can contribute to reproduction by increasing the likelihood of sperm retention, there are many other adaptive problems that influence female reproductive behavior, such as choosing a high-quality mate and maximizing the resources available for offspring.

Question 18

According to research by evolutionary psychologist David Buss, the notion of an older, wealthy man marrying a younger, attractive woman-the so-called "trophy wife"-is nothing more than a myth perpetuated by the popular media.

Accepted Answer

According to the article and research by David Buss, the idea of trophy wives is not completely a myth, as there is evidence to support that wealthy men do tend to marry younger, attractive women, but it is not as widespread as popular media would have us believe. Therefore, the statement in the question is false.

Question 19

According to the most recent estimates, only 1 percent of men report having engaged in homosexual behavior.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. According to a well-known study by Alfred Kinsey, published in 1948, around 10% of American males surveyed reported engaging in homosexual behavior. However, more recent studies have found that the percentage varies based on various factors such as culture, age, and definition of "homosexual behavior," but generally ranges from 2-10%. The idea that only 1% of men engage in homosexual behavior is therefore outdated and inaccurate.

Question 20

Taking the evolutionary perspective, psychologist David Buss contends that men and women face different "adaptive problems" in looking for a mate.

Accepted Answer

According to David Buss's evolutionary psychology theory, men and women have faced different adaptive problems in finding mates due to their differing reproductive strategies and evolutionary pressures.

Quiz 8: Motivation and Emotion