PSYC 387 Final Prep Athabasca University
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Who originally said that change is the only constant? - CORRECT ANSWER - Roman philosopher
Lucretius 2,000 years ago
When was Darwins Origin of Species written? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1859
Describe Darwin's theory of natural selection. - CORRECT ANSWER - There is, he argued,
tremendous variation among the members of any given species.
Some of these variations are well suited to current conditions; others are not. Individuals with favorable
variations are more likely to survive and reproduce, so succeeding generations are more likely to show
helpful characteristics. Thus, features that contribute to survival are "selected" by the environment, a
process Darwin called natural selection.
Was Darwin aware of the genetic basis for evolution by natural selection? - CORRECT ANSWER -
no
Who was the first person to understand the role of genetics? - CORRECT ANSWER - Gregor
Mendel (father of genetics) published his work in 1866.
Although Darwin did not understand the genetic basis for evolution, he was aware that _____ (2 things) -
CORRECT ANSWER - variation within a species was common
selective breeding of farm animals with a specific variation often resulted in offspring with that
characteristic.
,What did Dawkin's pebbly beach analogy illustrate about natural selection? - CORRECT
ANSWER - pebbles arrange themselves based on the flow of water and density and size of the
rocks.
Intelligent direction isn't required. The environment "selects" desirable characteristics and spurns
undesirable ones.
What are mutations? - CORRECT ANSWER - Abrupt changes in genes.
What can cause a mutation? - CORRECT ANSWER - Can be caused by exposure to radiation and
certain chemicals and perhaps by viral infections.
In what case will mutation be passed on to the next generation? - CORRECT ANSWER - when
mutations occur in genes of reproductive cells (sperm or ova)
Can mutations occur in any cell of the body? - CORRECT ANSWER - yes
Will offspring with mutated genes necessarily display the mutation? - CORRECT ANSWER - no
Are mutations always detrimental to survival? - CORRECT ANSWER - Many of these changes are
simply of no consequence, one way or the other
Occasionally can be useful to survival. (new horn mutation useful for defense)
What is a reflex? - CORRECT ANSWER - A reflex is a relationship between a specific event and a
simple response to that event. A reflex is a relationship between certain kinds of events.
Give an example of a reflex. - CORRECT ANSWER - Food in the mouth elicits the salivary reflex,
the flow of saliva that begins the process of digestion.
,What is reflex failure? When can it occur? - CORRECT ANSWER - Reflex failure is when a reflex
fails to function properly.
This can happen as a result of:
-allergic reaction to medication
-injury or disease.
-excessive alcohol or other drugs that depress the central nervous system.
Reflexes are highly ___________ - CORRECT ANSWER - stereotypic
that is, they are remarkably consistent in form, frequency, strength, and time of appearance during
development.
What is sensitization? Give an example. - CORRECT ANSWER - Eliciting a reflex response can
increase the intensity or probability of the response to stimuli.
Hearing a loud noise that makes you jump can make you more sensitive to noises that arent as loud.
What happened when Kelly Powell and Stephen Holtzman (2001) gave rats morphine for one to four days
and then tested their reaction to the drug after a period of abstinence? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
rats showed an increased response to morphine (i.e., sensitization) for up to three months after their last
dose.
What is habituation? Give an example. - CORRECT ANSWER - Repeatedly evoking a given reflex
response will result in a reduction in the intensity or probability of the response.
Cats slowly become used to a loud noise when exposed to it multiple times.
Define a FAP. Give an example. - CORRECT ANSWER - A series of interrelated acts found in all
or nearly all members of a species.
, When confronted by a threatening dog, the house cat arches its back, hisses, growls, and flicks its tail.
These acts make the cat appear larger and more formidable than it really is and may therefore serve to put
off an attacker.
What were FAP called in the past? - CORRECT ANSWER - Instincts
What is a releaser? - CORRECT ANSWER - An event that triggers a fixed action pattern.
red is a releaser for the stickleback fish.
What did Wilson claim were humans FAP? - CORRECT ANSWER - Biophelia and aversion to
incest
Define a general behavior trait. - CORRECT ANSWER - Include activity level, aggression,
introversion, anxiety, hoarding (of food, for example), and sexual practices, among others. Some behavior
traits are strongly influenced by genes.
How do FAPs and behavior traits differ? - CORRECT ANSWER - FAP are elicited by fairly
specific events (releasers). Behavior traits occur in a wide variety of situations.
Do behavior traits have a genetic influence? - CORRECT ANSWER - yes even though they are
more variable. Dog like traits in foxes were bred through a number of generations.
Define learning. - CORRECT ANSWER - Learning is a change in behavior due to experience.
Learning is a product of natural selection.
evolved modifiability - CORRECT ANSWER - Learning does not give the species the tendency to
behave a certain way in a new situation; rather, it gives the individual the tendency to modify its behavior
to suit that situation.
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Who originally said that change is the only constant? - CORRECT ANSWER - Roman philosopher
Lucretius 2,000 years ago
When was Darwins Origin of Species written? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1859
Describe Darwin's theory of natural selection. - CORRECT ANSWER - There is, he argued,
tremendous variation among the members of any given species.
Some of these variations are well suited to current conditions; others are not. Individuals with favorable
variations are more likely to survive and reproduce, so succeeding generations are more likely to show
helpful characteristics. Thus, features that contribute to survival are "selected" by the environment, a
process Darwin called natural selection.
Was Darwin aware of the genetic basis for evolution by natural selection? - CORRECT ANSWER -
no
Who was the first person to understand the role of genetics? - CORRECT ANSWER - Gregor
Mendel (father of genetics) published his work in 1866.
Although Darwin did not understand the genetic basis for evolution, he was aware that _____ (2 things) -
CORRECT ANSWER - variation within a species was common
selective breeding of farm animals with a specific variation often resulted in offspring with that
characteristic.
,What did Dawkin's pebbly beach analogy illustrate about natural selection? - CORRECT
ANSWER - pebbles arrange themselves based on the flow of water and density and size of the
rocks.
Intelligent direction isn't required. The environment "selects" desirable characteristics and spurns
undesirable ones.
What are mutations? - CORRECT ANSWER - Abrupt changes in genes.
What can cause a mutation? - CORRECT ANSWER - Can be caused by exposure to radiation and
certain chemicals and perhaps by viral infections.
In what case will mutation be passed on to the next generation? - CORRECT ANSWER - when
mutations occur in genes of reproductive cells (sperm or ova)
Can mutations occur in any cell of the body? - CORRECT ANSWER - yes
Will offspring with mutated genes necessarily display the mutation? - CORRECT ANSWER - no
Are mutations always detrimental to survival? - CORRECT ANSWER - Many of these changes are
simply of no consequence, one way or the other
Occasionally can be useful to survival. (new horn mutation useful for defense)
What is a reflex? - CORRECT ANSWER - A reflex is a relationship between a specific event and a
simple response to that event. A reflex is a relationship between certain kinds of events.
Give an example of a reflex. - CORRECT ANSWER - Food in the mouth elicits the salivary reflex,
the flow of saliva that begins the process of digestion.
,What is reflex failure? When can it occur? - CORRECT ANSWER - Reflex failure is when a reflex
fails to function properly.
This can happen as a result of:
-allergic reaction to medication
-injury or disease.
-excessive alcohol or other drugs that depress the central nervous system.
Reflexes are highly ___________ - CORRECT ANSWER - stereotypic
that is, they are remarkably consistent in form, frequency, strength, and time of appearance during
development.
What is sensitization? Give an example. - CORRECT ANSWER - Eliciting a reflex response can
increase the intensity or probability of the response to stimuli.
Hearing a loud noise that makes you jump can make you more sensitive to noises that arent as loud.
What happened when Kelly Powell and Stephen Holtzman (2001) gave rats morphine for one to four days
and then tested their reaction to the drug after a period of abstinence? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
rats showed an increased response to morphine (i.e., sensitization) for up to three months after their last
dose.
What is habituation? Give an example. - CORRECT ANSWER - Repeatedly evoking a given reflex
response will result in a reduction in the intensity or probability of the response.
Cats slowly become used to a loud noise when exposed to it multiple times.
Define a FAP. Give an example. - CORRECT ANSWER - A series of interrelated acts found in all
or nearly all members of a species.
, When confronted by a threatening dog, the house cat arches its back, hisses, growls, and flicks its tail.
These acts make the cat appear larger and more formidable than it really is and may therefore serve to put
off an attacker.
What were FAP called in the past? - CORRECT ANSWER - Instincts
What is a releaser? - CORRECT ANSWER - An event that triggers a fixed action pattern.
red is a releaser for the stickleback fish.
What did Wilson claim were humans FAP? - CORRECT ANSWER - Biophelia and aversion to
incest
Define a general behavior trait. - CORRECT ANSWER - Include activity level, aggression,
introversion, anxiety, hoarding (of food, for example), and sexual practices, among others. Some behavior
traits are strongly influenced by genes.
How do FAPs and behavior traits differ? - CORRECT ANSWER - FAP are elicited by fairly
specific events (releasers). Behavior traits occur in a wide variety of situations.
Do behavior traits have a genetic influence? - CORRECT ANSWER - yes even though they are
more variable. Dog like traits in foxes were bred through a number of generations.
Define learning. - CORRECT ANSWER - Learning is a change in behavior due to experience.
Learning is a product of natural selection.
evolved modifiability - CORRECT ANSWER - Learning does not give the species the tendency to
behave a certain way in a new situation; rather, it gives the individual the tendency to modify its behavior
to suit that situation.
