Chapter 9: Genetics and Evolution: The Inheritance of Personality

Question 1

What is the eugenic controversy?

Answer 1

It is the idea where humanity could be improved through selective breeding

Question 2

Genes affect behavior…
a. directly, by being able to control certain behaviors
b. because genes and behavior have a one-to-one correspondence
c. by influencing the propensities or tendencies toward certain behaviors
d. much more than does the environment

Answer 2

c. by influencing the propensities or tendencies toward certain behaviors

Question 3

According to evolutionary personality psychology…
a. one way to explain personality and behavior is to look at how behaviors might have been adaptive for our ancestors
b. personality is entirely determined by genetics
c. everyone should have the same personality, and those who differ are maladaptive
d. evolutionary theory can only be used to explain a few human behaviors

Answer 3

a. one way to explain personality and behavior is to look at how behaviors might have been adaptive for our ancestors

Question 4

One criticism of evolutionary personality theory is that it…
a. attempts to explain only a narrow range of behavioral patterns
b. is too easy to find evidence against the theory
c. places too much emphasis on how social structure influences behavior
d. does not explain how people living now decide to behave

Answer 4

d. does not explain how people living now decide to behave