PSY 235 Exam 1 UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
what causes the replication crisis? - experiments contain small/unrepresentative samples
- lack of replication
- researchers go on "expedition", tailoring research questions over and over
What is an example of a researcher going on an pill significantly reduces headaches as a claim when the researcher hand
expedition? picked samples to get the desired result
tabula rasa blank slate
which is better, tabula rasa or EP? EP
Evolution change in gene frequencies over time
Darwin's contribution to evolution change by natural selection; believed species could change due to
materialistic benefit
natural selection overreproduction within a species, variation within a species, fitter individuals
reproduce more
recurrent pressures (evolution) some environmental challenges are faced across generations; these lead to
who we are today
what is the function of the brain? control organ; regulates the body and generates behavior
why does the brain function the way it does? for the sake of getting you to do some things and avoid other things
what is the nature of the brain? computational; designed by natural selection, tailored by genes
what determines what behavior we generate? evolution overtime in response to recurrent pressures: brains that make a
person behave in beneficial ways can be selected for natural selection
The brain as a computer takes input -> executes program -> generates output (behavior)
what is input to the brain? internal and external information
what programs are executed in the brain? decision-making programs based on input
example: how do people make decisions on whether to the brain has "decision making modules" that govern decisions about fighting
escalate conflict or not? - based on INPUT
- my physical size vs. theirs
- presence of my people vs. theirs
- importance/value of outcome (reputaion/resources) ARE ALL CONSIDERED
example cont. If escalation is chosen, what happens? activation of sympathetic nervous system, aggressive vocalizations (to
intimidate), expand body (to make self look larger)
, example cont. If escalation is NOT chosen, what activation of parasympathetic nervous system, make yourself smaller/quieter
happens?
Does evolution select for perfection? No. Evolution selects for good enough
Why do humans still make mistakes if we have Because natural selection doesn't choose based on perfection, just on being
undergone natural selection? good enough
What input can cause irrational decision making? A high value of reputation
Emotions brain's way of making you behave (one piece of output your brain has made)
ex: why do we experience disgust? it's your brains way of getting you away from a situation because it registers it
as dangerous
William James' take on EP humans have more rather than less instincts than other animals, leading to more
flexible intelligence
What is instinct blindness us not questioning our natural states and reactions
Standard Social Psychology Model (SSPM) the contents of the mind are primarily free social constructs and the social
sciences are autonomous and disconected from evolutionary and
psychological foundations
is the SSPM effective? No; evolutionary psychology is the better alternative
Evolutionary psychology alternative to SSPM the mind reliably develops a standard collection of reasoning and regulatory
circuits
What are brain circuits function (EP) - organize how we interpret experiences
- inject recurrent concepts and motivations into mental life
- provide universal frames of meaning that allow us to understand the actions
and intentions of others
5 principles EPs use to understand design of human 1: brain is a physical system that functions as a computer; circuits designed to
mind generate behavior appropriate to env. circumstances
2: Neural circuits designed by nat. selection to solve problems our ancestors
faced during our species evolutionary history
3: Conscious experience can be misleading; most problems experienced as
easy to solve are difficult to solve, requiring complex neural circuitry
4: Different neural circuits are specialized for solving different adaptive
problems
5: Our modern skulls house a stone aged mind
Darwin's theory goal To explain phenotypic designs
Adaptationist approach search for adaptive designs
heritability coefficient source of variances in a population
domain specific (examples) specific reactions, reproductive, categorical problem solving
Answers
what causes the replication crisis? - experiments contain small/unrepresentative samples
- lack of replication
- researchers go on "expedition", tailoring research questions over and over
What is an example of a researcher going on an pill significantly reduces headaches as a claim when the researcher hand
expedition? picked samples to get the desired result
tabula rasa blank slate
which is better, tabula rasa or EP? EP
Evolution change in gene frequencies over time
Darwin's contribution to evolution change by natural selection; believed species could change due to
materialistic benefit
natural selection overreproduction within a species, variation within a species, fitter individuals
reproduce more
recurrent pressures (evolution) some environmental challenges are faced across generations; these lead to
who we are today
what is the function of the brain? control organ; regulates the body and generates behavior
why does the brain function the way it does? for the sake of getting you to do some things and avoid other things
what is the nature of the brain? computational; designed by natural selection, tailored by genes
what determines what behavior we generate? evolution overtime in response to recurrent pressures: brains that make a
person behave in beneficial ways can be selected for natural selection
The brain as a computer takes input -> executes program -> generates output (behavior)
what is input to the brain? internal and external information
what programs are executed in the brain? decision-making programs based on input
example: how do people make decisions on whether to the brain has "decision making modules" that govern decisions about fighting
escalate conflict or not? - based on INPUT
- my physical size vs. theirs
- presence of my people vs. theirs
- importance/value of outcome (reputaion/resources) ARE ALL CONSIDERED
example cont. If escalation is chosen, what happens? activation of sympathetic nervous system, aggressive vocalizations (to
intimidate), expand body (to make self look larger)
, example cont. If escalation is NOT chosen, what activation of parasympathetic nervous system, make yourself smaller/quieter
happens?
Does evolution select for perfection? No. Evolution selects for good enough
Why do humans still make mistakes if we have Because natural selection doesn't choose based on perfection, just on being
undergone natural selection? good enough
What input can cause irrational decision making? A high value of reputation
Emotions brain's way of making you behave (one piece of output your brain has made)
ex: why do we experience disgust? it's your brains way of getting you away from a situation because it registers it
as dangerous
William James' take on EP humans have more rather than less instincts than other animals, leading to more
flexible intelligence
What is instinct blindness us not questioning our natural states and reactions
Standard Social Psychology Model (SSPM) the contents of the mind are primarily free social constructs and the social
sciences are autonomous and disconected from evolutionary and
psychological foundations
is the SSPM effective? No; evolutionary psychology is the better alternative
Evolutionary psychology alternative to SSPM the mind reliably develops a standard collection of reasoning and regulatory
circuits
What are brain circuits function (EP) - organize how we interpret experiences
- inject recurrent concepts and motivations into mental life
- provide universal frames of meaning that allow us to understand the actions
and intentions of others
5 principles EPs use to understand design of human 1: brain is a physical system that functions as a computer; circuits designed to
mind generate behavior appropriate to env. circumstances
2: Neural circuits designed by nat. selection to solve problems our ancestors
faced during our species evolutionary history
3: Conscious experience can be misleading; most problems experienced as
easy to solve are difficult to solve, requiring complex neural circuitry
4: Different neural circuits are specialized for solving different adaptive
problems
5: Our modern skulls house a stone aged mind
Darwin's theory goal To explain phenotypic designs
Adaptationist approach search for adaptive designs
heritability coefficient source of variances in a population
domain specific (examples) specific reactions, reproductive, categorical problem solving
