Question 1

Which of the following best describes the relationship between genes and traits?

Accepted Answer

A)  Physical traits are usually determined by a single gene pair, whereas psychological traits are usually determined by multiple genes. 
B)  Psychological traits are usually determined by a single gene pair, whereas physical traits are usually determined by multiple genes. 
C)  Both physical and psychological traits are usually determined by multiple genes. 
D)  Both physical and psychological traits are usually determined by a single gene. 
A)  Physical traits are usually determined by a single gene pair, whereas psychological traits are usually determined by multiple genes. 
B)  Psychological traits are usually determined by a single gene pair, whereas physical traits are usually determined by multiple genes. 
C)  Both physical and psychological traits are usually determined by multiple genes. 
D)  Both physical and psychological traits are usually determined by a single gene. C

Question 2

Describe three stressful family circumstances that, according to your textbook, have been associated with reduced mental ability in children.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following key points.
-Having a father who does not live with the family predicts reduced intellectual competence.
-Another factor is having a mother with a history of mental illness.
-Another factor is having parents with limited work skills.
-Having a history of stressful events, such as domestic violence, early in life is also predictive of reduced intelligence.
Essay Questions

Question 3

The principle of natural selection was first formulated in general terms by the British naturalist:

Accepted Answer

A)  Francis Crick. 
B)  Gregor Mendel. 
C)  James Watson. 
D)  Charles Darwin. 
A)  Francis Crick. 
B)  Gregor Mendel. 
C)  James Watson. 
D)  Charles Darwin. D

Question 4

Which among the following arguments do the critics of sociobiology highlight?

Accepted Answer

A)  Human male patterns of sexual preferences and behaviors are also observed in the males of many other species. 
B)  In some species, males are monogamous and, in other species, females are promiscuous. 
C)  In surveys of humans, females rank qualities like kindness and intelligence as more important in the selection of a mate than males do. 
D)  In the majority of world cultures, males are more likely to be promiscuous and undiscriminating in selection of a sexual partner compared to females. 
A)  Human male patterns of sexual preferences and behaviors are also observed in the males of many other species. 
B)  In some species, males are monogamous and, in other species, females are promiscuous. 
C)  In surveys of humans, females rank qualities like kindness and intelligence as more important in the selection of a mate than males do. 
D)  In the majority of world cultures, males are more likely to be promiscuous and undiscriminating in selection of a sexual partner compared to females.

Question 5

In reality, the behavior of humans often fails to conform to evolutionary images of sexually promiscuous males.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

An example of a characteristic that is either present at birth in all humans, or develops rapidly during maturation, would be:

Accepted Answer

A)  strong eyesight. 
B)  a fear of new things. 
C)  an understanding of numbers. 
D)  leadership qualities. 
A)  strong eyesight. 
B)  a fear of new things. 
C)  an understanding of numbers. 
D)  leadership qualities.

Question 7

Sociobiologists agree that females compete with other females for access to young, fertile males.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

When children move from severely disadvantaged neighborhoods to better areas, their verbal IQs improve dramatically.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The distribution of the IQ scores for the general population generally approximates an S-shaped curve.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

According to your textbook, which of the following is an innate human characteristic?

Accepted Answer

A)  an impulse to lie and cheat 
B)  an impulse to play 
C)  a preference for consistency 
D)  management skills 
A)  an impulse to lie and cheat 
B)  an impulse to play 
C)  a preference for consistency 
D)  management skills

Question 11

What is the human genome? What is the current estimate of the number of genes in the human genome?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will include the following

Question 12

If a human trait exists, then it must have been adaptive to human survival at some point.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

According to the critics of evolutionary psychology, people's responses to interviews can be a poor guide to their actual choices and actions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Monozygotic twins develop when a fertilized egg divides into two parts that develop into separate embryos.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A nativist would claim that the chief determining factor of behavior and other psychological traits is:

Accepted Answer

A)  operant conditioning. 
B)  classical conditioning. 
C)  the parent-child relationship. 
D)  heredity. 
A)  operant conditioning. 
B)  classical conditioning. 
C)  the parent-child relationship. 
D)  heredity.

Question 16

According to your textbook, which of the following environmental factors is associated with reduced intelligence?

Accepted Answer

A)  bilingual education 
B)  attending preschool 
C)  consumption of artificial sweetener 
D)  stressful family circumstances 
A)  bilingual education 
B)  attending preschool 
C)  consumption of artificial sweetener 
D)  stressful family circumstances

Question 17

Exposure to lead is an environmental factor that hinders intelligence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

A major problem with genetic explanations of racial differences in IQ is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  although intelligence differs between groups, it does not differ within groups. 
B)  heritability estimates used in supporting genetic explanations of group differences are based mainly on white samples. 
C)  the studies typically use black and white children from highly similar socioeconomic groups. 
D)  the explanations are based on linkage studies. 
A)  although intelligence differs between groups, it does not differ within groups. 
B)  heritability estimates used in supporting genetic explanations of group differences are based mainly on white samples. 
C)  the studies typically use black and white children from highly similar socioeconomic groups. 
D)  the explanations are based on linkage studies.

Question 19

Which of the following statements support the critics of evolutionary psychologists?

Accepted Answer

A)  In most species of birds, fish, and mammals, males are sexually ardent and often have many female partners. 
B)  Very few females have sex when they are ovulating or pregnant. 
C)  Males in many species stick around and feed infants. 
D)  Sexual attitudes vary very little between cultures. 
A)  In most species of birds, fish, and mammals, males are sexually ardent and often have many female partners. 
B)  Very few females have sex when they are ovulating or pregnant. 
C)  Males in many species stick around and feed infants. 
D)  Sexual attitudes vary very little between cultures.

Question 20

The contribution of genes to human intelligence becomes relatively larger as children age into adulthood.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following best describes the relationship between genes and traits?

Describe three stressful family circumstances that, according to your textbook, have been associated with reduced mental ability in children.

The principle of natural selection was first formulated in general terms by the British naturalist:

Which among the following arguments do the critics of sociobiology highlight?

In reality, the behavior of humans often fails to conform to evolutionary images of sexually promiscuous males.

An example of a characteristic that is either present at birth in all humans, or develops rapidly during maturation, would be:

Sociobiologists agree that females compete with other females for access to young, fertile males.

When children move from severely disadvantaged neighborhoods to better areas, their verbal IQs improve dramatically.

The distribution of the IQ scores for the general population generally approximates an S-shaped curve.

According to your textbook, which of the following is an innate human characteristic?

What is the human genome? What is the current estimate of the number of genes in the human genome?

If a human trait exists, then it must have been adaptive to human survival at some point.

According to the critics of evolutionary psychology, people's responses to interviews can be a poor guide to their actual choices and actions.

Monozygotic twins develop when a fertilized egg divides into two parts that develop into separate embryos.

A nativist would claim that the chief determining factor of behavior and other psychological traits is:

According to your textbook, which of the following environmental factors is associated with reduced intelligence?

Exposure to lead is an environmental factor that hinders intelligence.

A major problem with genetic explanations of racial differences in IQ is that:

Which of the following statements support the critics of evolutionary psychologists?

The contribution of genes to human intelligence becomes relatively larger as children age into adulthood.

What Is Psychology

How Psychologists Do Research

The Brain and Nervous System

Body Rhythms and Mental States

Sensation and Perception

Learning and Conditioning

Behavior in Social and Cultural Context

Thinking and Intelligence

Memory

Emotion, Stress, and Health

Motivation

Development Over the Life Span

Theories of Personality

Psychological Disorders

Approaches to Treatment and Therapy

Filters

Exam 3: Genes, Evolution, and Environment

Which of the following best describes the relationship between genes and traits?

Describe three stressful family circumstances that, according to your textbook, have been associated with reduced mental ability in children.

The principle of natural selection was first formulated in general terms by the British naturalist:

Which among the following arguments do the critics of sociobiology highlight?

In reality, the behavior of humans often fails to conform to evolutionary images of sexually promiscuous males.

An example of a characteristic that is either present at birth in all humans, or develops rapidly during maturation, would be:

Sociobiologists agree that females compete with other females for access to young, fertile males.

When children move from severely disadvantaged neighborhoods to better areas, their verbal IQs improve dramatically.

The distribution of the IQ scores for the general population generally approximates an S-shaped curve.

According to your textbook, which of the following is an innate human characteristic?

What is the human genome? What is the current estimate of the number of genes in the human genome?

If a human trait exists, then it must have been adaptive to human survival at some point.

According to the critics of evolutionary psychology, people's responses to interviews can be a poor guide to their actual choices and actions.

Monozygotic twins develop when a fertilized egg divides into two parts that develop into separate embryos.

A nativist would claim that the chief determining factor of behavior and other psychological traits is:

According to your textbook, which of the following environmental factors is associated with reduced intelligence?

Exposure to lead is an environmental factor that hinders intelligence.

A major problem with genetic explanations of racial differences in IQ is that:

Which of the following statements support the critics of evolutionary psychologists?

The contribution of genes to human intelligence becomes relatively larger as children age into adulthood.

What Is Psychology

How Psychologists Do Research

The Brain and Nervous System

Body Rhythms and Mental States

Sensation and Perception

Learning and Conditioning

Behavior in Social and Cultural Context

Thinking and Intelligence

Memory

Emotion, Stress, and Health

Motivation

Development Over the Life Span

Theories of Personality

Psychological Disorders

Approaches to Treatment and Therapy

Filters