Question 1

Define evolution and explain how genetic variation and natural selection produce adaptation.

Accepted Answer

Evolution is the process by which species change over time, often resulting in the development of new species. This change occurs through the accumulation of genetic variations within a population, which can be caused by mutations, genetic recombination, and gene flow.

Genetic variation is the diversity of alleles (different forms of a gene) within a population. This variation is essential for evolution because it provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon. Natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population based on their impact on an organism's survival and reproductive success.

When individuals with certain genetic variations have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing, those variations become more prevalent in the population over time. This is because they are passed on to the next generation, leading to an increase in the frequency of the advantageous traits. This process of natural selection leads to the adaptation of a population to its environment, as individuals with traits that are better suited to their surroundings are more likely to survive and pass on their genes.

In summary, genetic variation provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon, and natural selection leads to the adaptation of populations to their environments. This process of adaptation is a key mechanism in the evolution of species.

Question 2

One of the most common causes of homicide in humans is sexual jealousy. According to an evolutionary perspective, this example best supports which of the following functions of aggression?

Accepted Answer

A) Competition for resources 
B) Establishment of dominance hierarchies 
C) Protection of future offspring 
D) Protection of social position 
A) Competition for resources 
B) Establishment of dominance hierarchies 
C) Protection of future offspring 
D) Protection of social position A

Question 3

Let's say you are studying twins and observe that a particular characteristic does not occur very often in both sets of monozygotic twins. We would say that this characteristic has

Accepted Answer

A) high reaction range 
B) high concordance 
C) low heritability 
D) low concordance 
E) low selection pressure 
A) high reaction range 
B) high concordance 
C) low heritability 
D) low concordance 
E) low selection pressure D

Question 4

Genetic variation enables natural selection to work because

Accepted Answer

A) individuals who have a variation that enables them to adapt to the environment are more likely to survive 
B) individuals who have a neutral variation are more likely to survive 
C) individuals who inherit a dominant trait are more likely to survive 
D) individuals who are not able to adapt to their environment are more likely to pass on some form of genetic variation to their offspring 
A) individuals who have a variation that enables them to adapt to the environment are more likely to survive 
B) individuals who have a neutral variation are more likely to survive 
C) individuals who inherit a dominant trait are more likely to survive 
D) individuals who are not able to adapt to their environment are more likely to pass on some form of genetic variation to their offspring

Question 5

In the Marmoset, the females are considerably more aggressive and larger than the males. You would predict that the preferred mating system for the Marmoset is

Accepted Answer

A) polygynandry 
B) polyandry 
C) polygyny 
D) monogamy 
E) serial polyandry 
A) polygynandry 
B) polyandry 
C) polygyny 
D) monogamy 
E) serial polyandry

Question 6

How are twin studies used to estimate the relative contribution of genetics and environment to intelligence and personality traits? What have these studies told us about intelligence and personality?

Accepted Answer

Twin studies are used to estimate the re

Question 7

The Nazis' attempts to wipe out the Jewish people were rooted in the idea that Jews are somehow less fit human beings and that destroying them would remove them from the gene pool. The idea in question is called

Accepted Answer

A) eugenics. 
B) genetic determinism. 
C) survival of the fittest. 
D) strategic pluralism. 
E) fascism. 
A) eugenics. 
B) genetic determinism. 
C) survival of the fittest. 
D) strategic pluralism. 
E) fascism.

Question 8

Twin studies have consistently revealed that the factor that accounts for the least amount of variation in personality trait attributes is

Accepted Answer

A) genetics 
B) family environment 
C) school experiences 
D) social interactions 
A) genetics 
B) family environment 
C) school experiences 
D) social interactions

Question 9

An adoption study examined the heritability of criminal behaviour in boys adopted at a young age. The level of boys' criminality was greatest when _______.

Accepted Answer

A) both biological and adoptive fathers had criminal records 
B) neither biological nor adoptive fathers had criminal records 
C) only biological fathers had criminal records 
D) only adoptive fathers had criminal records 
A) both biological and adoptive fathers had criminal records 
B) neither biological nor adoptive fathers had criminal records 
C) only biological fathers had criminal records 
D) only adoptive fathers had criminal records

Question 10

Aspects of social behaviour, such as, aggression, kin protection, altruism, and sex roles may be influenced by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) Adaptive mechanisms 
B) Behaviourally based mechanisms 
C) Biologically based mechanisms 
D) Mutations 
A) Adaptive mechanisms 
B) Behaviourally based mechanisms 
C) Biologically based mechanisms 
D) Mutations

Question 11

Altruism, in evolutionary terms, refers to situations in which one individual helps another _______.

Accepted Answer

A) and in so doing also gains some advantage 
B) but receives no advantage 
C) and incurs costs 
D) and expects nothing in return 
A) and in so doing also gains some advantage 
B) but receives no advantage 
C) and incurs costs 
D) and expects nothing in return

Question 12

Imagine that a researcher estimates the heritability coefficient for a particular trait is extremely low (i.e. close to, if not actually, zero). Given this, all other things being equal, what would you expect the concordance rate to be like for that trait measured among pairs of twins raised in different environments?

Accepted Answer

A) high 
B) low 
C) impossible to predict based on the available information 
D) high, though only for identical twins 
E) low, though only for identical twins 
A) high 
B) low 
C) impossible to predict based on the available information 
D) high, though only for identical twins 
E) low, though only for identical twins

Question 13

Lydia's father has straight hair and her mother has curly hair. Lydia has a gene that dictates her own hair texture from her mother and an alternative form of the same gene from her father. Each of the pair of genes is called an

Accepted Answer

A) anomaly. 
B) altar. 
C) allele. 
D) aenotype. 
E) archetype. 
A) anomaly. 
B) altar. 
C) allele. 
D) aenotype. 
E) archetype.

Question 14

How are male and female mate preferences similar? How are they different?

Accepted Answer

Male and female mate preferences are sim

Question 15

According to researchers, what influence does genetics play in the development of political attitudes, such interest in politics or political orientation (e.g., Liberal vs. Conservative)?

Accepted Answer

A) Interest in politics and political orientation is influenced by both family environment as well as genetics. 
B) Unlike the study of intelligence and personality, genetics plays very little role in the development of political attitudes. 
C) Genetics plays a significant role in political interest whereas family environment influences political orientation. 
D) Both interest in politics and political orientation are influence by genetics whereas family environment does not always play a role. 
A) Interest in politics and political orientation is influenced by both family environment as well as genetics. 
B) Unlike the study of intelligence and personality, genetics plays very little role in the development of political attitudes. 
C) Genetics plays a significant role in political interest whereas family environment influences political orientation. 
D) Both interest in politics and political orientation are influence by genetics whereas family environment does not always play a role.

Question 16

A member of the new administration argues that we should just accept the fact that some people are genetically better than others and treat them accordingly. This politician is guilty of

Accepted Answer

A) empiricism 
B) genetic determinism 
C) social Darwinism 
D) behavioural thinking 
E) adaptation errors 
A) empiricism 
B) genetic determinism 
C) social Darwinism 
D) behavioural thinking 
E) adaptation errors

Question 17

Scientists have used recombinant DNA procedures to produce ________________ to use for therapeutic purposes.

Accepted Answer

A) new viruses 
B) amino acids 
C) genetic engineering 
D) human growth hormone 
A) new viruses 
B) amino acids 
C) genetic engineering 
D) human growth hormone

Question 18

If you discovered that the heritability coefficient for height was 0.90, this would mean

Accepted Answer

A) that everyone in the group was tall 
B) that the observed variation was due mostly to genes 
C) that the observed variation was due mostly to the environment 
D) there was little variability in the group under observation 
E) genes were completely responsible for the expression of height 
A) that everyone in the group was tall 
B) that the observed variation was due mostly to genes 
C) that the observed variation was due mostly to the environment 
D) there was little variability in the group under observation 
E) genes were completely responsible for the expression of height

Question 19

Although approximately _______________ births produce monozygotic twins, approximately ______________ births produce dizygotic twins.

Accepted Answer

A) 1 in 150; 1 in 250 
B) 1 in 100; 1 in 200 
C) 1 in 50; 1 in 80 
D) 1 in 250; 1 in 125 
A) 1 in 150; 1 in 250 
B) 1 in 100; 1 in 200 
C) 1 in 50; 1 in 80 
D) 1 in 250; 1 in 125

Question 20

As presented in the textbook, in one of the most influential papers on modern evolutionary theory, Robert Trivers (1972) used sex differences in parental investment to explain different mating systems. Trivers argued that polygyny should be the most common mating arrangement if

Accepted Answer

A) female parental investment is high 
B) male parental investment is low 
C) female parental investment is low 
D) both male and female parental investment is high 
E) female parental investment is high and male parental investment is low 
A) female parental investment is high 
B) male parental investment is low 
C) female parental investment is low 
D) both male and female parental investment is high 
E) female parental investment is high and male parental investment is low

Define evolution and explain how genetic variation and natural selection produce adaptation.

One of the most common causes of homicide in humans is sexual jealousy. According to an evolutionary perspective, this example best supports which of the following functions of aggression?

Let's say you are studying twins and observe that a particular characteristic does not occur very often in both sets of monozygotic twins. We would say that this characteristic has

Genetic variation enables natural selection to work because

In the Marmoset, the females are considerably more aggressive and larger than the males. You would predict that the preferred mating system for the Marmoset is

How are twin studies used to estimate the relative contribution of genetics and environment to intelligence and personality traits? What have these studies told us about intelligence and personality?

The Nazis' attempts to wipe out the Jewish people were rooted in the idea that Jews are somehow less fit human beings and that destroying them would remove them from the gene pool. The idea in question is called

Twin studies have consistently revealed that the factor that accounts for the least amount of variation in personality trait attributes is

An adoption study examined the heritability of criminal behaviour in boys adopted at a young age. The level of boys' criminality was greatest when _______.

Aspects of social behaviour, such as, aggression, kin protection, altruism, and sex roles may be influenced by which of the following?

Altruism, in evolutionary terms, refers to situations in which one individual helps another _______.

Lydia's father has straight hair and her mother has curly hair. Lydia has a gene that dictates her own hair texture from her mother and an alternative form of the same gene from her father. Each of the pair of genes is called an

How are male and female mate preferences similar? How are they different?

According to researchers, what influence does genetics play in the development of political attitudes, such interest in politics or political orientation (e.g., Liberal vs. Conservative)?

A member of the new administration argues that we should just accept the fact that some people are genetically better than others and treat them accordingly. This politician is guilty of

Scientists have used recombinant DNA procedures to produce ________________ to use for therapeutic purposes.

If you discovered that the heritability coefficient for height was 0.90, this would mean

Although approximately _ births produce monozygotic twins, approximately births produce dizygotic twins.

As presented in the textbook, in one of the most influential papers on modern evolutionary theory, Robert Trivers (1972) used sex differences in parental investment to explain different mating systems. Trivers argued that polygyny should be the most common mating arrangement if

Psychology: the Science of Behaviour

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Exam 4: Genes, Evolution, and Behaviour

Define evolution and explain how genetic variation and natural selection produce adaptation.

One of the most common causes of homicide in humans is sexual jealousy. According to an evolutionary perspective, this example best supports which of the following functions of aggression?

Let's say you are studying twins and observe that a particular characteristic does not occur very often in both sets of monozygotic twins. We would say that this characteristic has

Genetic variation enables natural selection to work because

In the Marmoset, the females are considerably more aggressive and larger than the males. You would predict that the preferred mating system for the Marmoset is

How are twin studies used to estimate the relative contribution of genetics and environment to intelligence and personality traits? What have these studies told us about intelligence and personality?

The Nazis' attempts to wipe out the Jewish people were rooted in the idea that Jews are somehow less fit human beings and that destroying them would remove them from the gene pool. The idea in question is called

Twin studies have consistently revealed that the factor that accounts for the least amount of variation in personality trait attributes is

An adoption study examined the heritability of criminal behaviour in boys adopted at a young age. The level of boys' criminality was greatest when _______.

Aspects of social behaviour, such as, aggression, kin protection, altruism, and sex roles may be influenced by which of the following?

Altruism, in evolutionary terms, refers to situations in which one individual helps another _______.

Lydia's father has straight hair and her mother has curly hair. Lydia has a gene that dictates her own hair texture from her mother and an alternative form of the same gene from her father. Each of the pair of genes is called an

How are male and female mate preferences similar? How are they different?

According to researchers, what influence does genetics play in the development of political attitudes, such interest in politics or political orientation (e.g., Liberal vs. Conservative)?

A member of the new administration argues that we should just accept the fact that some people are genetically better than others and treat them accordingly. This politician is guilty of

Scientists have used recombinant DNA procedures to produce ________________ to use for therapeutic purposes.

If you discovered that the heritability coefficient for height was 0.90, this would mean

Although approximately _______________ births produce monozygotic twins, approximately ______________ births produce dizygotic twins.

As presented in the textbook, in one of the most influential papers on modern evolutionary theory, Robert Trivers (1972) used sex differences in parental investment to explain different mating systems. Trivers argued that polygyny should be the most common mating arrangement if

Psychology: the Science of Behaviour

Studying Behaviour Scientifically

Biological Foundations of Behaviour

Sensation and Perception

States of Consciousness

Learning and Adaptation: the Role of Experience

Memory

Language and Thinking

Intelligence

Motivation and Emotion

Development Over the Lifespan

Behaviour in a Social Context

Personality

Stress, Coping, and Health

Psychological Disorders

Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Filters

Although approximately _ births produce monozygotic twins, approximately births produce dizygotic twins.