Deck 2: Evolutionary Theory

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the process of adaptation in evolutionary theory?

A) the development of structures and problem-solving mechanisms that allow the species to survive in a specific environment
B) the ability to attract a mate of equal or superior education and social class
C) the motivation to ensure the reproductive success of those who share one's genetic ancestry
D) the willingness to share resources with those who are unable to contribute on their own

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following terms focuses on describing the unique adaptive behaviors of specific species, such as mating, caregiving, play, and strategies for obtaining resources?

A) chemistry
B) education
C) ethology
D) teratology

Answer 2

C

Question 3

According to evolutionary theory, the following mechanism accounts for species change from the beginning of life to the presen?

A) climate
B) variability
C) natural selection
D) genetics

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The reason that natural selection can contribute to species change is that species exhibit ___?

A) habits
B) variability
C) social behavior
D) courting rituals

Question 5

Natural selection operates at the genetic level as a result of varying degrees of ____________ among the specie?

A) reproductive success
B) ethology
C) maturity
D) defensive behavior

Question 6

Because of its concern with reproductive success, evolutionary theory directs our attention to the study of which of the following aspects of human behavior?

A) mating and reproductive behavior
B) parenting
C) growth and development from infancy up to reproductive age
D) all of these

Question 7

What is the basic survival function served by the attachment behavioral system?

A) mating
B) feeding efficiency
C) safety
D) emotional regulation

Question 8

Which of the following terms refers to the process through which hominids separated from homo erectus to homo sapiens?

A) extinction
B) inclusive fitness
C) reproductive success
D) speciation

Question 9

Which of the following characteristics are common to all members of the human species?

A) common body shape and specific organs
B) humans can mate and reproduce human children
C) bipedalism which leaves the hands free for tool use
D) all of these

Question 10

Dr. Fredrich Watchitall studies mating and parenting behaviors of marmosets in the natural environment that contribute to species survival . What is his likely scientific discipline?

A) psychiatry
B) ethology
C) demography
D) proctology

Question 11

Whereas ethology focuses on adaptive behavior patterns, the goal of evolutionary psychology is the study of ____________?

A) the human mind
B) the optimal environment for human productivity
C) differences between men and women
D) factors that account for successful aging

Question 12

According to evolutionary psychology, what are the likely origins of adaptive problems?

A) they help explain how modern inventions are derived from earlier tools
B) they are problems, the solution to which contributed to reproductive success
C) they are likely to have occurred repeatedly over the course of human history
D) both B and C

Question 13

Attachment patterns differ. Mallory cries a lot, is not readily soothed by her caregiver, but is clearly distressed when separated from her caregiver. Which attachment style is this?

A) secure attachment
B) anxious-avoidant attachment
C) anxious-resistant attachment
D) disorganized attachment

Question 14

What are some long-term adaptive benefits of a secure attachment?

A) enjoyment in close peer friendships during the preschool years
B) greater resilience and self-control
C) increased disclosure and responsiveness in adult love relationships
D) all of these

Question 15

What is the free-rider problem?

A) a lack of public transportation in urban areas
B) a concern about insects that attach to plants and infect large agricultural areas
C) people who share equally in the benefits of resources but do not use any effort or energy to contribute to their production
D) people who get angry when they do not get any credit for their efforts and work

Question 16

What strategies allow cooperative individuals to flourish in a group and overcome the negative impact of free-riders?

A) there must be a mental structure that allows people to recognize and categorize people as free-riders
B) when free-riders are identified, cooperators need to use strategies to punish them or create incentives to foster their cooperation
C) cooperators learn to "turn the other cheek," accept the free-riders, and share resources with them
D) both (a) and (b)

Question 17

Define natural selection and adaptation. What is the relationship between these two concepts? How do they account for the emergence of new or altered species over generations?

Question 18

Explain the concept of attachment and its connection to evolutionary theory. What aspects of the attachment process could be considered to be innate? How is attachment related to species survival?

Question 19

Evolutionary psychology focuses on a specific set of adaptive problems. Explain the idea of adaptive problems and give three examples. How does the concept of natural selection apply to the evolution of the brain and the capacity to solve adaptive problems?

Question 20

Define the free-rider problem from an evolutionary theory perspective. Explain why the free-rider problem is likely to undermine educational efforts to foster group work. Give three suggestions for ways to reduce the likelihood of encountering free riders in group assignments.