Deck 7: The Evolutionary Function of Personality

Question 1

In some investigations of personality in nonhuman animals,researchers have tried to measure personality trait levels using observer reports (made by human observers,of course).Which of the following has been observed?

A)Personality trait levels can be assessed reliably in dogs (due to their long history of domestication)but not in apes.
B)Personality trait levels can be assessed reliably in apes (due to their close evolutionary relationship to humans)but not in dogs.
C)Personality trait levels can be assessed reliably in both apes and dogs.
D)Personality trait levels cannot be assessed reliably in either apes or dogs.
E)None of the above;personality research has not yet focused on apes or dogs.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Recall the "hawk-dove game," which simulates competition between individuals.Which of the following statements can accurately describe the features of this game?
1)When there are few hawks in the population,they do better than doves,because the hawks always win in hawk-dove competition
2)When there are few doves in the population,they do better than hawks,because of the heavy costs incurred by hawks in competing with each other
3)Because hawks always defeat doves,the doves eventually go extinct
4)Doves lose to hawks individually,but a team of doves defeats a team of hawks.

A)1 and 2
B)1 and 3
C)2 and 4
D)4 only
E)none of the above

Answer 2

A

Question 3

According to the framework suggested by Ashton and Lee,which two of the six HEXACO personality factors are relevant to two aspects of reciprocal altruism?

A)Emotionality and Extraversion
B)Extraversion and Agreeableness
C)Agreeableness and Honesty-Humility
D)Openness to Experience and Honesty-Humility
E)Conscientiousness and Emotionality

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Below are several statements about comparisons between countries in the average levels of personality traits as measured by self-report.Which of these can be considered accurate?
1)There are very large differences between countries
2)The differences between countries correspond closely to national stereotypes
3)The differences might be somewhat underestimated,because people's self-reports are based on comparisons with people in their own country
4)Some differences might be due to differing tendencies to give socially desirable responses to self-report questionnaires.

A)1 and 2
B)1 and 4
C)2 and 3
D)3 and 4
E)1,2,and 4

Question 5

Which of the following conditions must be met for natural selection to operate?
1)Individuals differ in some characteristics
2)Characteristics are transmitted directly from parents to offspring
3)Some characteristics are associated with greater reproductive success
4)Individuals consciously try to maximize reproductive success.

A)All except 4
B)All except 3
C)All except 2
D)All except 1
E)All four conditions.

Question 6

Recall Nettle's (2006)interpretations of adaptive trade-offs for the Big Five personality factors.Which of the following were among the benefits that Nettle proposed to be associated with high levels of Neuroticism?
1)Attractiveness to potential mates
2)Reduced risk of schizophrenia
3)Avoidance of dangers
4)Competitive success

A)1 and 2
B)1 and 3
C)2 and 3
D)2 and 4
E)3 and 4

Question 7

Recall the study of Trinidadian guppies (a species of fish)by O'Steen et al. (2002).Which of the following accurately describes the findings of that study?

A)Timid guppies are more likely than bold guppies to survive and reproduce when food is abundant,but the opposite is true when food is scarce.
B)Timid guppies are more likely than bold guppies to survive and reproduce when there are many predators,but the opposite is true when there are few predators.
C)Under all conditions,timid guppies are more likely than bold guppies to survive and reproduce.
D)Under all conditions,timid guppies are less likely than timid guppies to survive and reproduce.
E)Under all conditions,timid guppies and bold guppies are about equally likely to survive and reproduce.

Question 8

Recall that interpretations of the adaptive trade-offs of Honesty-Humility have considered age and sex differences.Which of the following statements is accurate?

A)Only among men do older persons have higher average levels than younger persons
B)Only among women do older persons have higher average levels than younger persons
C)Older persons have higher average levels than younger persons,and this age difference is equal in size for men and for women
D)Older persons have higher average levels than younger persons,but this age difference is larger for men than for women
E)Older persons have higher average levels than younger persons,but this age difference is larger for women than for men

Question 9

Three personality factors have been interpreted in terms of individuals' levels of engagement or activity within different areas of endeavor.Which of the following sets of personality factors shows the correct association with the area of endeavor that it is proposed to represent?

A)Extraversion (social endeavor),Honesty-Humility (task-related endeavor),Openness to Experience (idea-related endeavor)
B)Agreeableness (social endeavor),Conscientiousness (task-related endeavor),Extraversion (idea-related endeavor)
C)Extraversion (social endeavor),Conscientiousness (task-related endeavor),Emotionality (idea-related endeavor)
D)Agreeableness (social endeavor),Conscientiousness (task-related endeavor),Openness to Experience (idea-related endeavor)
E)Extraversion (social endeavor),Conscientiousness (task-related endeavor),Openness to Experience (idea-related endeavor)

Question 10

Which of the following can be considered examples of trait variation being maintained by a fluctuating optimum level of a characteristic?
1)A rounder body shape is favored in cold climates,but a longer body shape is favored in hot climates
2)Rapid growth is favored if there is much vegetation,but slow growth is favored if there is little vegetation
3)A cautious style is favored if there are many predators,but a bolder style is favored if there are few predators.

A)1 only
B)1 and 2 only
C)1 and 3 only
D)2 and 3 only
E)1,2,and 3

Question 11

Which of the six HEXACO personality factors shows the largest differences between the sexes,and is thought to be relevant to kin altruistic tendencies?

A)Honesty-Humility
B)Emotionality
C)Extraversion
D)Agreeableness
E)Conscientiousness

Question 12

Which of the following can be considered examples of trait variation being maintained by frequency-dependent selection?
1)An aggressive strategy never works better than a non-aggressive strategy does,even if virtually 0% of individuals use the aggressive strategy
2)An aggressive strategy works better than a non-aggressive strategy does,but only if less than 10% of individuals use the aggressive strategy
3)An aggressive strategy works better than a non-aggressive strategy does,but only if less than 70% of individuals use the aggressive strategy.

A)1 only
B)3 only
C)1 and 2 only
D)2 and 3 only
E)1,2,and 3