Question 1

What were the results of Greene et al.'s (2001) fMRI study on the Trolley and Footbridge Dilemmas?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Trolley Dilemma was associated with greater activity in regions linked to emotional processing and theory-of-mind.
B)   There were similar levels of activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex in both dilemmas.
C)   There were similar levels of activity in the amygdala in both dilemmas.
D)   The Footbridge Dilemma was associated with greater activity in regions linked to emotional processing and theory-of-mind. D

Question 2

Which statement is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Testosterone levels rise after winning and fall after losing if you win/lose but not if someone else that you support (e.g. a Soccer team)  wins/loses.
B)   Testosterone levels fall after winning and rise after losing both if you win/lose and if someone else that you support (e.g. a Soccer team)  wins/loses.
C)   Testosterone levels fall after winning and rise after losing if you win/lose but not if someone else that you support (e.g. a Soccer team)  wins/loses.
D)   Testosterone levels rise after winning and fall after losing both if you win/lose and if someone else that you support (e.g. a Soccer team)  wins/loses. D

Question 3

The Footbridge Dilemma is an example of what kind of scenario?

Accepted Answer

A)   A personal scenario
B)   An impersonal scenario
C)   An antisocial scenario
D)   A neutral scenario A

Question 4

According to the theory of Moll and colleagues (e.g. Moll et al. 2005), what are moral emotions?

Accepted Answer

A)   An integration of emotional processing with certain kinds of cognitive appraisal
B)   A conflict between emotional processing and certain kinds of cognitive appraisal
C)   A type of emotional processing in which cognitive appraisal plays no role
D)   A type of cognitive appraisal in which emotional processing plays no role

Question 5

According to Siegel et al. (1999) which region, when stimulated in cats, shows a defensive rage reaction?

Accepted Answer

A)   Insula
B)   Periaqueductal gray
C)   Ventral striatum
D)   Ventral tegmental area

Question 6

What was one of the key observations in Lorenz's (1966) study of animal aggression?

Accepted Answer

A)   Aggressive acts rarely result in actual physical harm.
B)   Aggressive acts reflect a 'culture of honor'.
C)   There is a distinction between reactive and instrumental aggression.
D)   Aggression is not adaptive from an evolutionary perspective.

Question 7

The fMRI study of Finger et al. (2006) compared moral and conventional transgression with neutral scenarios in the (implied) presence/absence of onlookers. What results did they find in the lateral prefrontal cortex?

Accepted Answer

A)   For both types of transgression, it was only activated in the presence of onlookers.
B)   It was activated for conventional transgressions in both conditions but for moral transgressions only in the presence of onlookers.
C)   It was activated for moral transgressions in both conditions but for conventional transgressions only in the presence of onlookers.
D)   It was activated for both types of transgressions irrespective of whether onlookers were present.

Question 8

Nisbett & Cohen (1996) have studied the 'culture of honor'. What is meant by this term?

Accepted Answer

A)   The sanctioning of violence to obtain a desired outcome
B)   The sanctioning of violence against an out-group
C)   The sanctioning of violence in the law
D)   The sanctioning of violence to 'correct' a perceived wrongdoing

Question 9

The low activity (L) variant of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene is linked to:

Accepted Answer

A)   More grey matter in the amygdala
B)   Less sensitivity to maltreatment in childhood
C)   More aggressive traits
D)   Increased ability to remove neurotransmitters

Question 10

Social norms are typically divided into two types. What are they?

Accepted Answer

A)   Individual and collective norms
B)   Moral and conventional norms
C)   Psychological and physical norms
D)   Reward-based and punishment-based norms

Question 11

Which of the following statements regarding psychopaths is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   They show a normal fear-conditioned response to aversive stimuli but less activity in the amygdala during such conditioning.
B)   They show a reduced fear-conditioned response to aversive stimuli but normal activity in the amygdala during such conditioning.
C)   They show an enhanced fear-conditioned response to aversive stimuli but normal activity in the amygdala during such conditioning.
D)   They show a reduced fear-conditioned response to aversive stimuli and less activity in the amygdala during such conditioning.

Question 12

Who has argued that moral judgments are based on emotion with cognitive reasoning providing only a post hoc justification?

Accepted Answer

A)   Bandura
B)   Moll
C)   Haidt
D)   Kohlberg

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Participants given an injection of testosterone (relative to placebo)  show a decrease in heart rate when shown angry faces but not happy faces.
B)   Participants given an injection of testosterone (relative to placebo)  show an increase in heart rate to both angry and happy faces but not neutral ones.
C)   Participants given an injection of testosterone (relative to placebo)  show an increase in heart rate when shown angry faces but not happy faces.
D)   Participants given an injection of testosterone (relative to placebo)  show a decrease in heart rate to both angry and happy faces but not neutral ones.

Question 14

Who has proposed a neuroscientific approach for understanding the notion of responsibility?

Accepted Answer

A)   Damasio et al. (1990) 
B)   Suhler & Churchland (2009) 
C)   DeWall et al. (2007) 
D)   Decety et al. (2009)

Question 15

According to the studies of van Honk et al. (2001) and Putnam et al. (2004) who is more/less likely to pay attention to angry faces?

Accepted Answer

A)   Those with high-trait angriness pay less attention to angry faces; those with social anxiety pay more attention to them.
B)   Those with high-trait angriness pay more attention to angry faces; those with high extraversion pay less attention to them.
C)   Those with high-trait angriness pay less attention to angry faces; those with high extraversion pay more attention to them.
D)   Those with high-trait angriness pay more attention to angry faces; those with social anxiety pay less attention to them.

Question 16

The Westermarck effect offers a biological explanation for what?

Accepted Answer

A)   Instrumental aggression
B)   Psychopathy
C)   The incest taboo
D)   Reactive aggression

Question 17

From the studies of Koenigs et al. (2007) and Ciaramelli et al. (2007) what can be concluded about the moral reasoning of patients with brain damage to the orbito-frontal/ventro-medial PFC?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are unable to make normal moral judgments in either personal or impersonal scenarios.
B)   Their moral judgments appear to rely more on emotional 'gut instincts'.
C)   Their problems with moral judgments appear to stem from a problem with theory-of-mind.
D)   Their moral judgment appears to be more utilitarian in nature.

Question 18

What was the name of the famous case who reported personality change following lesions to the frontal lobes?

Accepted Answer

A)   HM
B)   Phineas Gage
C)   Dr. P
D)   Arthur Brown

Question 19

What is the most common decision on the Trolley Dilemma?

Accepted Answer

A)   Do nothing
B)   Kill five, save one
C)   Kill one, save five
D)   Call for help

Question 20

According to the research of Blair (1995, 1996) which of the following statements about autism spectrum disorder and psychopathy are true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Neither group understands the moral/conventional distinction.
B)   People with psychopathy understand the moral/conventional distinction whereas people with autism do not.
C)   People with autism understand the moral/conventional distinction whereas psychopaths do not.
D)   Both groups understand the moral/conventional distinction.

Exam 10: Morality and Anti-Social Behaviour