Textbook Chapter 3

Question 1

Define Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 1

A field of psychology emphasizing evolutionary mechanisms that may help explain human commonalities in cognition, development, emotion, social practices, and other areas of behaviour.

Question 2

Define Behavioural Genetics

Answer 2

An interdisciplinary field of study concerned with the genetic bases of individual differences in behaviour and personality.

Question 3

Explain Intersexual Selection

Answer 3

A member of one sex chooses a mate from the other sex on the basis of certain characteristics. For males, usually attractiveness and youth. For females, height/muscles, resources man has.

Question 4

Explain Intrasexual Selection

Answer 4

Members of the same sex complete for a partner of the other sex. Males may compete by becoming more muscular or wealthy, females may use make up or hair dye.

Question 5

Define Mental Modules

Answer 5

A collection of specialized and independent sections of the brain, developed to handle specific survival problems, such as the need to locate food or find a mate.

Question 6

What is Instinct Theory?

Answer 6

An once-popular notion in psychology that virtually every human activity and capacity is innate.

Question 7

What are Innate Human Characteristics?

Answer 7

1. Infant Reflexes
2. An interest in novelty
3. A desire to explore and manipulate objects
4. An impulse to play and fool around
5. Basic cognitive skills

Question 8

What is meant by the innate “Infant Reflexes”?

Answer 8

Babies are born with a number of reflexes - simple, automatic responses to specific stimuli like sucking on something put to their lips (nursing).

Question 9

What is meant by the innate “interest in novelty”?

Answer 9

Human babies reveal a surprising interest in looking at and listening to unfamiliar things.

Question 10

What is meant by the innate “desire to explore and manipulate objects”?

Answer 10

Taking things apart and scrutinizing things for the sheer pleasure of it.

Question 11

What is meant by the innate “impulse to play and fool around”?

Answer 11

Play and exploration may be biologically adaptive because they help members of a species find food and other necessities of life, and learn to cope with their environments.

Question 12

What is meant by innate “basic cognitive skills”?

Answer 12

Many evolutionary psychologists believe that people are born with abilities that make it vey easy to learn to interpret the expressions and gestures of others, identify faces, and figure out what others are feeling/thinking. Distinguish objects. Recognize numbers.

Question 13

What is Sociobiology?

Answer 13

An interdisciplinary field that emphasizes evolutionary explanations of social behaviour in animals, including human beings.

Question 14

Define Social Darwinism.

Answer 14

The notion that the wealthy and successful are more reproductively fit than other people.

Question 15

Three important facts about Heritability:

Answer 15

1. An estimate of heritability applies only to a particular group living in a particular environment
2. Heritability estimates do not apply to individuals, only to variations within a group
3. Even highly heritable traits can be modified by the environment

Question 16

How to Compute Heritability.

Answer 16

There is no way to estimate the heritability of a trait or behaviour directly so scientists must infer by studying people whose degree of genetic similarity is known. The best approach is to study adopted children since they are exposed to different environments. If identical twins are more alike than fraternal twins, then the increased similarity must be due to genetic influences.

Question 17

Define Intelligence Quotient

Answer 17

A measure of intelligence originally computed by dividing a person’s mental age by his or her chronological age and multiplying it by 100; it is now derived from norms provided for standardized intelligence tests.

Question 18

How are scores for IQ set up?

Answer 18

On a bell curve with the average score arbitrarily set at 100, with two thirds of all people between 85 and 115.

Question 19

What do critics of IQ testing say?

Answer 19

1. That intelligence comes in many varieties than can be captured by a single score.
2. IQ tests are culturally biased, favouring the white middle class.
   3.

Question 20

What is the heritability score for intelligence (in reference to IQ)?

Answer 20

For children - 0.40 or 0.50; half of the variance in IQ scores is explainable by genetic differences.
For adults - 0.60 to 0.80; the genetic contribution is larger and the environmental impact is smaller.

Question 21

What is Fluid Intelligence?

Answer 21

A person’s problem solving ability; your ability to encounter a new situation and adapt to that situation. Very heritable.

Question 22

What influences are associated with reduced mental ability?

Answer 22

1. Poor prenatal care
2. Malnutrition
3. Exposure to toxins
4. Stressful family circumstances

Question 23

What is Epigenetics?

Answer 23

The study of changes in gene expression due to mechanisms other that structural changes in DNA. (Environment)

Question 24

What are pros and cons of genetic testing?

Answer 24

1. Genes are not destiny (most traits are influenced by genes, environment, and other biochemical events)
2. Knowing about a genetic disposition can create a premature diagnosis or a self-fulfilling prophecy
3. Genes do not absolve you of responsibility
4. Knowing your genetic risk does not necessarily tell you what to do about it
5. Genetic testing can be liberating or stigmatizing