Genes, Culture, and Gender

Question 1

The evolutionary process by
which heritable traits that best
enable organisms to survive and
reproduce in particular
environments are passed to
ensuing generations.

Answer 1

natural selection

Question 2

The study of the evolution of
cognition and behavior using
principles of natural selection.

Answer 2

evolutionary psychology

Question 3

The enduring behaviors, ideas,
attitudes, and traditions shared
by a large group of people and
transmitted from one generation
to the next.

Answer 3

culture

Question 4

A field of research exploring the
expression of genes across
different environments.

Answer 4

epigenetics

Question 5

Standards for accepted and
expected behavior. Norms
prescribe “proper” behavior. (In
a different sense of the word,
norms also describe what most
others do—what is normal.)

Answer 5

norms

Question 6

The buffer zone we like to
maintain around our bodies. Its
size depends on our familiarity
with whomever is near us.

Answer 6

personal space

Question 7

In psychology, the characteristics,
whether biological or socially
influenced, by which people
define male and female.

Answer 7

gender

Question 8

The vicarious experience of
another’s feelings; putting
oneself in another’s shoes.

Answer 8

empathy

Question 9

Physical or verbal behavior
intended to hurt someone. In
laboratory experiments, this
might mean delivering electric
shocks or saying something
likely to hurt another’s feelings.

Answer 9

aggression

Question 10

From andro (man) 1 gyn
(woman)—thus mixing both
masculine and feminine
characteristics.

Answer 10

androgynous

Question 11

A set of behavior expectations
(norms) for males and females.

Answer 11

gender role

Question 12

A relationship in which the
effect of one factor (such as
biology) depends on another
factor (such as environment).

Answer 12

interaction