Overview and Major Issues

Question 1

What is Biological Psychology?

Answer 1

Biopsychology is the study of physiological, evolutionary, or developmental mechanisms of experience and behavior

Question 2

Define “materialism”

Answer 2

A branch of monism; the belief that everything is material, physical (no metaphysics)

Question 3

Define “mentalism”

Answer 3

A branch of monism; the belief that nothing exists (I am dreaming everything)

Question 4

Define “dualism”

Answer 4

The belief that an incorporeal soul (or spirit) exists and also a physical body exists

Question 5

Define “reductionism”

Answer 5

Reductionism is the idea that you can explain complex phenomena by understanding more basic processes. It implies the unity of scientific fields.

Question 6

What is the mind–body or mind–brain problem?

Answer 6

What is the relationship between the mental experience and brain activity? OR
“Given a universe composed of matter and energy, why is there such a thing as
consciousness?”

Question 7

Perception occurs in the ______?

Answer 7

brain

Question 8

The monist position believes that mental activity and certain types of ______ activity are inseparable.

Answer 8

brain

Question 9

The identity position states your mind is a:

a) physical thing
b) process or an event
c) separate entity
d) neural regions

Answer 9

b) process or an event

Your mind and the electrochemical activity occurring in and between the neurons of your brain are the same thing.

Question 10

Of the three levels of Marr’s analysis, “what the system is doing and why” is the:

a) computational level
b) algorithmic level
c) implementational level

Answer 10

a) computational level

Question 11

Examining a structure or a behavior in terms of
evolutionary history is a(n):
a) Physiological explanation
b) Ontogenetic explanation
c) Evolutionary explanation
d) Functional explanation

Answer 11

c) Evolutionary explanation

Question 12

Relating behavior to the activity of the brain and other organs is a(n):

a) Physiological explanation
b) Ontogenetic explanation
c) Evolutionary explanation
d) Functional explanation

Answer 12

a) Physiological explanation

Question 13

Of the three levels of Marr’s analysis, “what is physically happening” is the:

a) computational level
b) algorithmic level
c) implementational level

Answer 13

c) implementational level

Question 14

Which of the following deals with the machinery of the body?

a) Physiological explanation
b) Ontogenetic explanation
c) Evolutionary explanation
d) Functional explanation

Answer 14

a) Physiological explanation

Question 15

Describing why a structure or behavior evolved as it did is a(n):

a) Physiological explanation
b) Ontogenetic explanation
c) Evolutionary explanation
d) Functional explanation

Answer 15

d) Functional explanation

Question 16

Of the three levels of Marr’s analysis, “how is the information represented and manipulated” is the:

a) computational level
b) algorithmic level
c) implementational level

Answer 16

b) algorithmic level

Question 17

What three Rs doe Animal Welfare Organizations ensure researchers do when proposing to test with animals?

Answer 17

Find ways to
Reduce,
Refine, and
Replace animal use

Question 18

What is the difference between minimalists and abolitionists?

Answer 18

Opposition to animal research ranges considerably in degree.
a. “Minimalists” believe some animal research is acceptable, but wish it to be
minimized and regulated.
b. “Abolitionists” believe that all animals deserve the same rights as human beings
and that the use of animal subjects is the moral equivalent to slavery and
murder

Question 19

Looking for the benefit or advantage for having certain behaviors is a(n):

a) Physiological explanation
b) Ontogenetic explanation
c) Evolutionary explanation
d) Functional explanation

Answer 19

d) Functional explanation

Question 20

Describing the development of a structure or a behavior is a(n):

a) Physiological explanation
b) Ontogenetic explanation
c) Evolutionary explanation
d) Functional explanation

Answer 20

b) Ontogenetic explanation

Question 21

Examining the continuity (unbroken course) of a behavior from past ancestors to the present is a(n):

a) Physiological explanation
b) Ontogenetic explanation
c) Evolutionary explanation
d) Functional explanation

Answer 21

c) Evolutionary explanation

Question 22

What organisations work to to ensure that animals under human care do not unnecessarily suffer and often provide oversight of and support animal use?

Answer 22

Animal Welfare Organizations: (Federal and state governments, some humane societies like RSPCA, HSUS, most reputable universities, zoos, hospitals, science organizations)

Question 23

Looking at the influence of genes, nutrition, experience, and the interaction among
these influences on behavior is a(n):
a) Physiological explanation
b) Ontogenetic explanation
c) Evolutionary explanation
d) Functional explanation

Answer 23

b) Ontogenetic explanation

Question 24

Why do biological psychologists study animal behavior?

Answer 24

1. The underlying mechanisms of behavior are similar across species (especially
   mammalian) and are often easier to study in nonhuman species.
2. We are interested in animals for their own sake.
3. What we learn about animals sheds light on human evolution.
4. Legal or ethical restrictions prevent certain kinds of research on humans.

Question 25

Which element composes approximately 65% of the human body weight?

a) Carbon
b) Hydrogen
c) Oxygen
d) Nitrogen

Answer 25

c) Oxygen

Question 26

Nitrogen makes up approximately what percentage of the human body weight?

a) 10%
b) 18%
d) 2%
e) 3%

Answer 26

e) 3%

Question 27

Carbon makes up approximately what percentage of the human body weight?

a) 10%
b) 18%
d) 2%
e) 3%

Answer 27

b) 18%