Exam 2 Flashcards
What is evolutionary psychology?
The study of evolution of cognition and behavior using principles based on natural selection.
What are the criticisms of evolutionary psychology?
- It is mostly theory.
- Can only explain what has already happened with plausible explanations.
- It is not inherently falsifiable.
What is natural selection?
The evolutionary process by which heritable traits that best enable organisms to survive and reproduce.
What is gender?
Characteristics, whether biological or socially influenced, that we associate with males, females, or others.
What is sex?
Biological categories of male or female.
What are gender roles?
Sets of behavioral expectations for men and women.
What is culture?
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
What are social norms?
Standards for accepted and expected behavior.
______ think about and initiate sex more often.
Men
__________ are more inspired by emotional passion.
Women
___ seek out quantity in mating, whereas _________ seek out quality.
Men; women
What are the Big Five Social Beliefs?
Cynicism, social complexity, reward for application, spirituality, fate control.
What is conformity?
A change in behavior or belief as the result of real or imagined group pressure.
What are the three varieties of conformity?
Acceptance, compliance, and obedience.
What is acceptance conformity?
Both acting and believing in accord with social pressure.
Ex: exercising because you believe it is healthy, whether or not you’ve done the research.
What is compliance conformity?
Publicly acting in accord with a request while privately disagreeing.
Ex: saying you like your friend’s spouse even though you don’t.
What is obedience conformity?
Acting in high accord with a direct order or command.
Ex: dress code
What is mass hysteria?
Suggestibility to problems that spreads throughout a large group of people.
What are factors that breed obedience?
- Victim’s emotional distance.
- Closeness/credibility of the authority.
- Institutional authority.
- Liberating effects of group influence.