Social Development and Social Behaviour Flashcards
What is the primary objective of childhood according to Evolutionary Psychology?
A) To maximize fitness
B) To reach sexual maturity
C) To practice being an adult
D) All of the above
D
What does the principle of allocation in Life History Theory refer to?
A) The distribution of resources between somatic and reproductive efforts
B) The choice between quantity and quality of offspring
C) The development of attachment styles
D) The influence of peer groups on behavior
The principle of allocation in Life History Theory refers to the distribution of resources between somatic and reproductive efforts1. This means that at any point in time, an organism needs to choose how much of its time and resources it spends on each effort to maximize its fitness
Which of the following is NOT a factor in determining optimal parental investment?
A) Quantity vs. Quality of offspring
B) Current vs. future reproductive fitness
C) The cost of rearing children
D) The child’s attachment style
The correct answer is D) The child’s attachment style.
The factors that typically determine optimal parental investment in evolutionary psychology include:
A) Quantity vs. Quality of offspring: This involves balancing how many offspring to have versus how much effort to invest in each individual child.
B) Current vs. future reproductive fitness: This refers to how current investments in offspring might impact both the parent’s present and future reproductive success.
C) The cost of rearing children: This relates to the resources (time, energy, etc.) a parent must invest to ensure a child’s survival and eventual reproductive success.
The child’s attachment style, while important in psychological development, is not directly considered a factor in the evolutionary calculus for optimal parental investment.
What is the critical period for developing secure attachments in children?
A) 0.5 - 3 years
B) 1 - 5 years
C) 2 - 6 years
D) 3 - 7 years
A) 0.5- 3 years
Why might insecure attachment styles be considered optimal in certain environments?
A) They increase the likelihood of forming relationships
B) They are maladaptive and should be avoided
C) They are optimal given a risky parental environment
D) They are selected for in low-risk environments
C) They are optimal given a risky parental environment.
In certain environments, particularly those where the caregiving situation is unstable or unpredictable (e.g., if a parent is inconsistent or absent), insecure attachment styles may be adaptive. For example, an anxious attachment style could lead a child to become hypervigilant and more attuned to signs of danger or neglect, which could be beneficial in a less stable environment. Similarly, avoidant attachment might develop in response to parents who are distant or rejecting, helping the child cope by becoming more independent and self-reliant.
In more predictable, supportive environments, secure attachment is typically more adaptive. So, the development of insecure attachment styles can be seen as a response to environmental factors rather than a maladaptive trait.
According to Group Socialisation Theory, why are peers considered better role models than parents?
A) Peers innovate and increase variation
B) Parents are always available in the EEA
C) Parents have competing interests
D) Both A and C
D) Both A and C.
According to Group Socialization Theory, peers are considered better role models than parents for two main reasons:
A) Peers innovate and increase variation: Peers are more likely to introduce new ideas, behaviors, and social norms that are different from those modeled by parents. This can encourage children to adopt a wider range of behaviors and adapt to different social contexts.
C) Parents have competing interests: Parents may have a vested interest in shaping their child’s behavior to align with their own values, which may not always align with the child’s social environment. For example, parents might want their children to fit into the family or cultural norms, while peers might offer more diverse and flexible role models that help children navigate a variety of social situations.
What are the three classes of morals according to the presentation?
A) Autonomy, Community, Divinity
B) Fairness, Hierarchy, Purity
C) Right, Wrong, Neutral
D) Rational, Emotive, Behavioral
A
What is the significance of Theory of Mind (ToM) in moral development?
A) It helps children develop a sense of morality
B) It is unrelated to moral development
C) It only affects adults
D) It is a genetic trait
A) It helps children develop a sense of morality.
Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the ability to understand that others have their own thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perspectives, which may be different from one’s own. This ability is crucial in moral development because it allows children to understand how their actions affect others, recognize when someone might be hurt or upset, and develop empathy. As children’s ToM develops, they can better understand moral concepts like fairness, justice, and empathy, which are key components of moral reasoning and behavior.
In short, ToM is foundational in helping children navigate moral situations by considering the perspectives and emotions of others.
What does Hamilton’s rule (C < rb) explain in the context of kin altruism?
A) The cost to the actor is less than the benefit to the recipient
B) The cost to the recipient is less than the benefit to the actor
C) The cost to the actor is equal to the benefit to the recipient
D) The cost to the recipient is equal to the benefit to the actor
A
What is the primary difference between direct and indirect fitness in inclusive fitness theory?
A) Direct fitness involves genes passed on by own offspring, indirect fitness involves genes passed on via aid to other kin
B) Direct fitness involves aid to other kin, indirect fitness involves genes passed on by own offspring
C) Direct fitness is unrelated to inclusive fitness, indirect fitness is the only factor
D) There is no difference between direct and indirect fitness
A) Direct fitness involves genes passed on by own offspring, indirect fitness involves genes passed on via aid to other kin.
In inclusive fitness theory, direct fitness refers to the reproductive success of an individual, measured by the number of offspring they produce and raise successfully. Indirect fitness, on the other hand, refers to the reproductive success of relatives (kin), particularly when an individual helps relatives survive or reproduce, thereby passing on shared genetic material. The theory suggests that individuals may increase their inclusive fitness by helping close relatives (kin) because they share a portion of their genes.
This combination of direct and indirect fitness explains how behaviors like altruism can evolve, even if the individual does not directly benefit.
What is the evolutionary explanation for the existence of family according to the presentation?
A) Economic and historical reasons
B) Disposition to mate and favor kin
C) Enhancing inclusive fitness
D) Both B and C
D) Both B and C.
The evolutionary explanation for the existence of family, according to theories like kin selection and inclusive fitness, is that families are important for B) Disposition to mate and favor kin and C) Enhancing inclusive fitness.
From an evolutionary perspective, family structures help ensure the survival and propagation of shared genes. Individuals are more likely to invest time, resources, and care in their close relatives (kin) because they share genetic material, thus enhancing the chances of passing on those genes through their relatives’ reproductive success. This kin favoritism and the natural inclination to form family units are seen as strategies that maximize inclusive fitness.
Why might family conflict be common despite the evolutionary benefits of family?
A) Natural selection operates differently on the two generations involved
B) Parents and children have identical interests
C) Sibling rivalry is non-existent
D) Family conflict is a modern phenomenon
A) Natural selection operates differently on the two generations involved.
Family conflict can arise because parents and children, while related, have different evolutionary interests. Parents are invested in maximizing their overall reproductive success, which may involve investing in all of their offspring equally or spreading their resources across multiple children. However, children are primarily concerned with maximizing their own reproductive success, which can lead them to seek more resources or attention than parents are willing to give. This difference in interests is a key factor in why family conflict, such as parent-child conflict, can be common despite the evolutionary benefits of family.
In addition, siblings may compete for resources and parental investment, which can also lead to rivalry and conflict within families.
What is the primary reason for conflict at puberty between mothers and daughters?
A) Lack of resources
B) Cost-benefit asymmetry between mother and daughter
C) Both are at reproductive age
D) All of the above
D
What is reciprocal altruism and why is it rare outside the human species?
A) Altruism based on reciprocity, rare due to lack of long lifespans in other species
B) Altruism based on kin selection, rare due to lack of social structures in other species
C) Altruism based on genetic selfishness, rare due to lack of cognitive abilities in other species
D) Altruism based on mutual benefit, rare due to lack of cooperation in other species
Reciprocal altruism refers to altruism based on reciprocity, where individuals help others with the expectation that the favor will be returned in the future1. This type of altruism is rare outside the human species because it relies on three principles: the cost of the altruistic act must be less than the benefit to the recipient, the capacity to recognize the recipient, and a lifespan long enough to allow for reciprocity1.
So, the correct answer is A) Altruism based on reciprocity, rare due to lack of long lifespans in other species.
What is the significance of the prisoner’s dilemma in understanding human behavior?
A) It illustrates the conflict between cooperation and defection
B) It shows that defection is always the best strategy
C) It is unrelated to social behavior
D) It only applies to non-human animals
A) It illustrates the conflict between cooperation and defection
