PSYC 290N TEST QUESTIONS ACTUAL
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 DOCS 100%
WORKING SOLUTION GRADED A+
⩥ Heritability (definition). Answer: How much variation in a trait across
a population is due to genetic differences.
⩥ Heritability formula. Answer: h = 2 × (rMZ - rDZ)
⩥ Interpreting heritability (.40 example). Answer: .40 means 40% of
trait variation is due to genetic variation.
⩥ Twin study design. Answer: Compares identical vs. fraternal twins to
estimate genetic influence.
⩥ Twin study limitation. Answer: May violate equal environments
assumption; identical twins treated more similarly.
⩥ Adoption study design. Answer: Compares adopted children to
biological and adoptive parents.
⩥ Adoption study limitation. Answer: Selective placement —
families/children not randomly assigned.
,⩥ Shared environment. Answer: Experiences siblings have in common
(parents, home).
⩥ Nonshared environment. Answer: Unique experiences not shared with
siblings (peers, neighborhood).
⩥ Gene-environment interaction. Answer: Genes affect responses to
environments, and environments affect gene expression.
⩥ Evocative interaction. Answer: Genetic traits elicit certain reactions
from others.
⩥ Active interaction. Answer: People choose environments that match
their genetics.
⩥ Reactive interaction. Answer: Others respond differently to someone
based on their genetic tendencies.
⩥ Equal environments assumption. Answer: Identical and fraternal twins
are assumed to have equally similar environments.
⩥ Epigenetics. Answer: Environmental factors affect gene expression
without changing DNA.
, ⩥ Environment of evolutionary adaptiveness (EEA). Answer: Ancestral
environment that shaped human traits.
⩥ Criticisms of evolutionary theory. Answer: Hard to test; can justify
harmful behavior; seen as sexist; ignores culture.
⩥ Men's evolutionary mate preferences. Answer: Youth, fertility cues.
⩥ Women's evolutionary mate preferences. Answer: Resources, stability.
⩥ Alternative explanation for mate preferences. Answer: Cultural norms
influence attractiveness.
⩥ Sex differences in casual sex. Answer: Women risk
pregnancy/investment; men can increase reproduction through multiple
partners.
⩥ Frequency-dependent selection. Answer: A trait is adaptive only at
certain population frequencies.
⩥ Balancing selection. Answer: Adaptive traits may have costs that
maintain variation.
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 DOCS 100%
WORKING SOLUTION GRADED A+
⩥ Heritability (definition). Answer: How much variation in a trait across
a population is due to genetic differences.
⩥ Heritability formula. Answer: h = 2 × (rMZ - rDZ)
⩥ Interpreting heritability (.40 example). Answer: .40 means 40% of
trait variation is due to genetic variation.
⩥ Twin study design. Answer: Compares identical vs. fraternal twins to
estimate genetic influence.
⩥ Twin study limitation. Answer: May violate equal environments
assumption; identical twins treated more similarly.
⩥ Adoption study design. Answer: Compares adopted children to
biological and adoptive parents.
⩥ Adoption study limitation. Answer: Selective placement —
families/children not randomly assigned.
,⩥ Shared environment. Answer: Experiences siblings have in common
(parents, home).
⩥ Nonshared environment. Answer: Unique experiences not shared with
siblings (peers, neighborhood).
⩥ Gene-environment interaction. Answer: Genes affect responses to
environments, and environments affect gene expression.
⩥ Evocative interaction. Answer: Genetic traits elicit certain reactions
from others.
⩥ Active interaction. Answer: People choose environments that match
their genetics.
⩥ Reactive interaction. Answer: Others respond differently to someone
based on their genetic tendencies.
⩥ Equal environments assumption. Answer: Identical and fraternal twins
are assumed to have equally similar environments.
⩥ Epigenetics. Answer: Environmental factors affect gene expression
without changing DNA.
, ⩥ Environment of evolutionary adaptiveness (EEA). Answer: Ancestral
environment that shaped human traits.
⩥ Criticisms of evolutionary theory. Answer: Hard to test; can justify
harmful behavior; seen as sexist; ignores culture.
⩥ Men's evolutionary mate preferences. Answer: Youth, fertility cues.
⩥ Women's evolutionary mate preferences. Answer: Resources, stability.
⩥ Alternative explanation for mate preferences. Answer: Cultural norms
influence attractiveness.
⩥ Sex differences in casual sex. Answer: Women risk
pregnancy/investment; men can increase reproduction through multiple
partners.
⩥ Frequency-dependent selection. Answer: A trait is adaptive only at
certain population frequencies.
⩥ Balancing selection. Answer: Adaptive traits may have costs that
maintain variation.
