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Questions and Answers
The tendency to think about behavior in terms of ______ is illustrated by two kinds of questions commonly asked about behavior.
The tendency to think about behavior in terms of ______ is illustrated by two kinds of questions commonly asked about behavior.
dichotomies
The two common questions asked about behavior are: Is it physiological, or is it ______?
The two common questions asked about behavior are: Is it physiological, or is it ______?
psychological
The idea that human processes fall into one of two categories, physiological or psychological, rose to prominence following the ______ Ages.
The idea that human processes fall into one of two categories, physiological or psychological, rose to prominence following the ______ Ages.
Dark
Renaissance scholars started to study things directly by ______ them.
Renaissance scholars started to study things directly by ______ them.
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René Descartes advocated a philosophy that divided the universe into physical matter and the human ______.
René Descartes advocated a philosophy that divided the universe into physical matter and the human ______.
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According to Descartes, the physical matter behaves according to the laws of ______.
According to Descartes, the physical matter behaves according to the laws of ______.
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The human mind, according to Cartesian Dualism, lacks physical substance and controls human ______.
The human mind, according to Cartesian Dualism, lacks physical substance and controls human ______.
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Cartesian Dualism was sanctioned by the Roman ______, leading to the wider acceptance of the idea that the brain and the mind are separate entities.
Cartesian Dualism was sanctioned by the Roman ______, leading to the wider acceptance of the idea that the brain and the mind are separate entities.
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Darwin's Theory of Evolution was published in 1859 in the book titled ______.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution was published in 1859 in the book titled ______.
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Some nonhuman species, particularly ______ species, possess abilities thought to be purely human.
Some nonhuman species, particularly ______ species, possess abilities thought to be purely human.
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Factors such as fetal environment, nutrition, and ______ can influence behavioral development.
Factors such as fetal environment, nutrition, and ______ can influence behavioral development.
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Darwin suggested that species undergo ______ change from preexisting species.
Darwin suggested that species undergo ______ change from preexisting species.
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Darwin documented the evolution of fossil records through increasingly recent geological ______.
Darwin documented the evolution of fossil records through increasingly recent geological ______.
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The debate between inherited traits and learned behaviors is commonly referred to as the ______ issue.
The debate between inherited traits and learned behaviors is commonly referred to as the ______ issue.
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Structural similarities among living species, such as the human hand and the bird's ______, suggest common ancestry.
Structural similarities among living species, such as the human hand and the bird's ______, suggest common ancestry.
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Programs of ______ breeding have caused major changes in domestic plants and animals.
Programs of ______ breeding have caused major changes in domestic plants and animals.
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John B. Watson, the father of behaviorism, was committed to the ______ side of the nature-nurture issue.
John B. Watson, the father of behaviorism, was committed to the ______ side of the nature-nurture issue.
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European ethology, which studied instinctive behaviors, emphasized the role of ______ in behavioral development.
European ethology, which studied instinctive behaviors, emphasized the role of ______ in behavioral development.
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G.G. Gallup's research shows that even nonhumans can display considerable psychological ______.
G.G. Gallup's research shows that even nonhumans can display considerable psychological ______.
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The study of animal behavior in the wild is referred to as ______.
The study of animal behavior in the wild is referred to as ______.
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Two lines of evidence challenge the assumption that human psychological functioning is complex enough to be separate from the ______ brain.
Two lines of evidence challenge the assumption that human psychological functioning is complex enough to be separate from the ______ brain.
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In Oliver Sacks's account of 'the man who fell out of bed,' the patient suffered from ______, which affects awareness of body parts.
In Oliver Sacks's account of 'the man who fell out of bed,' the patient suffered from ______, which affects awareness of body parts.
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Asomatognosia typically involves the left side of the body and often results from damage to the right ______ lobe.
Asomatognosia typically involves the left side of the body and often results from damage to the right ______ lobe.
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Some nonhuman primates possess abilities that were once thought to be purely ______.
Some nonhuman primates possess abilities that were once thought to be purely ______.
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Primates of the tribe that includes humans are the ______.
Primates of the tribe that includes humans are the ______.
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Homo is thought to be composed of at least eight species with 7 now ______.
Homo is thought to be composed of at least eight species with 7 now ______.
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The first Homo species are thought to have evolved from one species of ______ about 2 to 2.8 million years ago.
The first Homo species are thought to have evolved from one species of ______ about 2 to 2.8 million years ago.
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The pattern of mate bonding that is most prevalent in mammals is ______.
The pattern of mate bonding that is most prevalent in mammals is ______.
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In some species, males and females form enduring mating ______ with particular partners.
In some species, males and females form enduring mating ______ with particular partners.
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Polyandry is a mating arrangement in which one female forms mating bonds with more than one ______.
Polyandry is a mating arrangement in which one female forms mating bonds with more than one ______.
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Early Homo species existed outside of Africa for about ______ million years.
Early Homo species existed outside of Africa for about ______ million years.
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Modern humans began to migrate out of Africa about ______ years ago.
Modern humans began to migrate out of Africa about ______ years ago.
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Polyandry occurs only in species where male contributions to reproduction are greater than those of the ______.
Polyandry occurs only in species where male contributions to reproduction are greater than those of the ______.
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Monogamy is a mate-bonding pattern involving one male and one ______.
Monogamy is a mate-bonding pattern involving one male and one ______.
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Approximately ______% of mammalian species are primarily monogamous.
Approximately ______% of mammalian species are primarily monogamous.
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Darwin did not understand how anatomical and behavioral characteristics are passed from parent to ______.
Darwin did not understand how anatomical and behavioral characteristics are passed from parent to ______.
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Gregor Mendel is known for his studies on inheritance in ______.
Gregor Mendel is known for his studies on inheritance in ______.
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Dichotomous traits in pea plants occur in one form or the other, never in ______.
Dichotomous traits in pea plants occur in one form or the other, never in ______.
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The dominant trait appeared in all of the first-generation ______.
The dominant trait appeared in all of the first-generation ______.
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The recessive trait appeared in about one-quarter of the ______-generation offspring.
The recessive trait appeared in about one-quarter of the ______-generation offspring.
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Study Notes
Biology of Behavior
- Dichotomous thinking simplifies behavior analysis into two categories: physiological vs. psychological, and inherited vs. learned.
- Historical context rooted in 17th-century tensions between science and the Roman Church shaped the idea of separating physiological processes from psychological ones.
- René Descartes proposed Cartesian Dualism, asserting that the physical universe (including the human body) is distinct from the non-physical mind, a viewpoint supported by the Church.
- While modern understanding recognizes the physiological basis for behavior, many still hold onto the dualistic belief in a separate non-physical mind.
Inherited or Learned? Nature vs. Nurture
- The nature-nurture debate considers whether behavior is primarily influenced by genetics (nature) or environment and learning (nurture).
- Early American psychologists, notably John B. Watson, favored nurture, while European ethologists emphasized innate instinctive behaviors, suggesting a strong role for nature.
- Ethologists viewed instinctive behaviors as inherited and not learned, contrasting with the learning-focused perspective in North America.
- Behavioral development is influenced by factors beyond genetics and learning, including fetal environment, nutrition, and sensory stimulation, indicating a complex interplay between nature and nurture.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution
- Darwin's "On the Origin of Species," published in 1859, laid the foundation for modern biology by providing evidence for evolution through natural selection.
- Evidence supporting evolutionary theory includes changes in fossil records across geological layers and structural similarities among species, suggesting common ancestry.
- Selective breeding of domestic plants and animals demonstrates significant changes that can occur over time.
Emergence of Humankind
- Humans belong to the hominini tribe, which includes six genera: Australopithecus, Paranthropus, Sahelanthropus, Orrorin, Pan, and Homo.
- The first Homo species evolved from Australopithecus approximately 2 to 2.8 million years ago.
- Fossils reveal a variety of hominins, such as a complete 3-year-old Australopithecus fossil in Ethiopia, indicating diverse evolutionary pathways.
- Homo sapiens began migrating out of Africa around 130,000 years ago, succeeding earlier Homo species.
Study of Mate Bonding
- Mating behaviors vary widely among vertebrates; many engage in promiscuity, whereas some form enduring relationships.
- Polygyny is the most common mating arrangement among mammals, where one male mates with multiple females.
- Polyandry, where one female mates with multiple males, is rare in mammals due to differing reproductive contributions.
- Approximately 9% of mammals display monogamy, believed to arise when cooperative parenting increases offspring survival.
Evolutionary Psychology and Mate Selection
- Current theories of mate bonding predict that men often prioritize youth and attractiveness, while women value power and earning capacity in potential mates, aligning with evolutionary fitness indicators.
Mendelian Genetics
- Darwin lacked understanding of inheritance mechanisms; solutions were found in Gregor Mendel's research on pea plants.
- Mendel's experiments were designed around dichotomous traits (traits existing in two forms) and true-breeding lines (organisms that produce offspring with consistent traits).
- He defined dominant and recessive traits; dominant traits appeared in all first-generation offspring, while recessive traits appeared in roughly one-quarter of the second generation, forming the basis of Mendelian genetics.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the biology of behavior, including evolution, genetics, and psychological factors. This quiz explores the complexities of behavioral dichotomies and their implications in understanding human behavior.
