PSYC20008 Evolutionary Social Psychology Quiz

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What can be inferred about the nature of questions posed by a metaphysician compared to the common man?

The common man has a more philosophical approach to everyday life.

The common man often questions the same concepts in depth.

Metaphysicians ask unique questions that require deeper reflection. (correct)

The metaphysician's questions are often trivial.

Which of the following best describes evolved psychological adaptations?

Mechanisms formed by natural selection over extended periods. (correct)

Psychological traits that change rapidly with societal norms.

Emotional responses that are unique to individuals without evolutionary influence.

Environmental factors solely responsible for behavioral traits.

How does heredity relate to evolutionary psychology according to the content?

All psychological traits are inherited without exception.

Heredity does not play a significant role in psychological adaptations.

Environmental input can influence the expression of hereditary traits. (correct)

Heredity is strictly about genetics with no role of environment.

What distinction does the content make between heritability and behavioral genetics?

Heritability is the genetic basis for behavior variance, while behavioral genetics studies those variations. Signup and view all the answers

Which emotion is specifically mentioned as an evolved psychological adaptation?

Disgust Signup and view all the answers

What perspective did psychologists begin to take seriously in the 1970-80s regarding human behaviour?

Human behaviour comprises evolved adaptations Signup and view all the answers

What is referred to as evolutionary social psychology?

The application of evolutionary theory to social psychological topics Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a common explanation for human behaviour in the 20th century?

Evolutionary theory Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'domain-specific mechanisms' refer to in evolutionary psychology?

Adaptations shaped by natural selection to solve specific problems Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the problems associated with sociality as noted in the context of evolutionary psychology?

Exploitation and threat to safety Signup and view all the answers

How might the mind function according to some assumptions in evolutionary psychology?

As a collection of functionally specialised mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a concern regarding the implications of evolutionary psychology?

It suggests no human behaviours can be controlled Signup and view all the answers

What evolutionary question is raised regarding 'pregnancy sickness'?

Why does pregnancy sickness exist from an evolutionary standpoint? Signup and view all the answers

What can result from species being maladapted to rapidly changing environments?

Extinction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits is considered a psychological adaptation from ancestral environments?

Fears of snakes and spiders Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason why humans may have a preference for sweet, salty, and fatty foods?

They provide quick energy and were adaptive in the past Signup and view all the answers

According to the evolutionary perspective, what does natural selection prioritize?

Reproductive success Signup and view all the answers

What happens to our perceptions and judgments due to evolutionary adaptations?

They can be incomplete and often inaccurate Signup and view all the answers

How does the human mind approach reality from an evolutionary standpoint?

By optimizing for fitness rather than accuracy Signup and view all the answers

When making quick judgments based on incomplete information, what common scenario may arise?

Misidentification of threats, such as confusing a snake with a branch Signup and view all the answers

Which statement summarizes the implications of evolutionary reasoning on social perception?

It shapes how we perceive others based on adaptive behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of proximate explanations in the context of pregnancy sickness?

Mechanisms that lead to heightened sensitivity Signup and view all the answers

What possible function of pregnancy sickness was proposed by Profet?

To protect the embryo from toxins Signup and view all the answers

During which stage of pregnancy is sickness strongest according to the content?

The early part of pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of pregnancy sickness is highlighted by ultimate explanations?

Evolutionary origins and survival advantage Signup and view all the answers

Which types of foods do pregnant individuals with sickness tend to avoid?

Foods high in toxins or pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon does heightened sensitivity to odours during pregnancy primarily serve?

To prevent damage to embryos Signup and view all the answers

Which response exemplifies a common misconception regarding psychological responses?

Signup and view all the answers

What is a false positive in the context of the immune system?

Incorrectly identifying a harmless substance as a pathogen Signup and view all the answers

Why are false negatives considered more costly than false positives?

They can result in exposure to harmful diseases Signup and view all the answers

What does error management theory (EMT) suggest about perceptual and cognitive systems?

They are biased toward minimizing the more costly type of error Signup and view all the answers

In the context of disease inference, what would a true negative represent?

Correctly not responding to a non-threatening cue Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes how natural selection has shaped the immune response?

It has favored systems that minimize false negatives, even if it increases false positives Signup and view all the answers

What might be interpreted as a psychological allergy in modern contexts?

Responding to a harmless feature as if it were a disease cue Signup and view all the answers

How might ambiguous information influence the evolution of cognitive systems?

It results in frequent errors due to perception biases Signup and view all the answers

What is an implication of the high total positive (TP) rate in immune responses?

It could be associated with many false positives Signup and view all the answers

What does a false positive represent in the context of sexual interest inference?

Inferring attraction and making an unwanted advance Signup and view all the answers

In the context of error management theory, what is considered more costly, a false negative or a false positive?

False negative is more costly Signup and view all the answers

When interpreting social categories, which error leads to assuming harmless groups are dangerous?

False positive Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a false negative when reacting to venomous animals?

Failing to react when danger is present Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'true negative' signify in decision-making scenarios?

Not reacting to a harmless stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is the main bias regarding reacting to animals like snakes and spiders?

Bias toward overreacting to non-dangerous animals Signup and view all the answers

In inferring agency, what does a false positive indicate?

Inferring agency when none exists Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic defines true positives in the context of perceiving sexual interest?

Correctly identifying mutual attraction Signup and view all the answers

What common characteristic of foods do those experiencing pregnancy sickness tend to avoid?

Foods that contain high levels of toxins and pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What does the ultimate explanation of pregnancy sickness suggest?

It serves to protect the embryo from harmful substances. Signup and view all the answers

During which stage of pregnancy is sickness considered to be the strongest?

The early stage of pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

According to Profet's argument, how does pregnancy sickness influence miscarriage rates?

It helps to reduce the likelihood of higher toxin intake. Signup and view all the answers

What question does William James suggest is often not considered when making food choices?

The utility or functional aspect of the food being consumed. Signup and view all the answers

How does heightened sensitivity to certain odors during pregnancy serve an evolutionary purpose?

It reduces the intake of potential toxins harmful to the embryo. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of pregnancy sickness highlights the importance of considering evolutionary origins in explanations?

It links the sick response with improved chances of offspring survival. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Information

Course name: PSYC20008 Individual and Social Cognition
Lecturer: Justin Park
Lecture 1: Evolutionary Social Psychology
Weekly lecture time: Mondays 11:00-13:00
Office hours: Mondays 14:00-15:00 (in person 3D18 and on Zoom)
Essential and recommended readings associated with each lecture
Access details on Blackboard
Questions can be posted on Blackboard Forum

Evolutionary Social Psychology
Perception of Kin
Perception of Other People
Stereotyping and Being Stereotyped

Overview of Topics

How humans perceive, make sense of, and respond to other people
Basic perceptual, cognitive, and emotional processes involved
Understanding humans as social animals
Considering human traits and behaviour through evolution

Darwin's Theory of Evolution

Explains the emergence of new traits and species
Organisms vary in traits (anatomy, physiology)
Variation is inherited via genes
Traits conducive to survival and reproduction become more prevalent over generations

Evolution of Adaptive Traits

Natural selection produces traits promoting survival and reproduction (adaptations)
Adaptations include physical and behavioral characteristics
Biological characteristics appear "designed" (e.g., animal behavior)
Also includes learning and environmental effects influencing evolutionary outcomes

Behavioural Adaptations

Fixed action patterns—behavioral sequences (e.g., egg retrieval)

Behavioural Adaptations in Humans

Are there behavioral adaptations in humans?
What is the nature of the psychological processes underlying these adaptations?

Challenges to Evolutionary Psychology

Common 20th-century explanations for human behavior focused on learning, culture, and rationality
These explanations are valid, but they have gaps when considering animal behaviors
Where do the capacities for learning, culture, and rationality originate?

Evolutionary Psychology

In the 1970s and 80s, psychologists started considering human behaviors as evolved adaptations
Applied to social psychology, it's called evolutionary social psychology.
Example applications include attachment, mindreading, mate preferences, and group relations

Humans evolved in the context of group living
Sociality brought benefits and problems. (exploitation, threat to safety, disease transmission)
Specific psychological adaptations maximize benefits and minimize costs

Implications of Evolutionary Psychology

The "mind" is a collection of functionally specialized mechanisms (domain-specific)
Mechanisms shaped through natural selection to address recurrent problems.
Mechanisms take inputs (e.g., perception of danger), produce appropriate outputs (e.g., fear response)
For example, perception of egg-like objects may trigger protective behavior; predator perception leads to escape.

Debates and Controversies Surrounding Evolutionary Psychology

Can mental capacities be understood as evolved adaptations?
What is the role of the environment in shaping adaptations?
Does this approach imply we have no control over behavior?

Proximate and Ultimate Explanations

Proximate explanations focus on mechanisms (e.g., hormones and environmental signals)
Ultimate explanations focus on function and evolutionary origins
Example: pregnancy sickness—both physiological and environmental factors (proximate) and protective function for the embryo (ultimate)

People feel disgust towards things like feces, rotting meat, and open wounds,
These are likely evolved to identify potentially harmful substances/events.

Important Mid-Level Theories

Kin selection: altruistic behavior towards close relatives
Reciprocal altruism: altruism among non-relatives based on reciprocity and punishment of cheaters
Parental investment: choosy mate selection driven by investment in reproduction
Inbreeding avoidance: minimizing costs of inbreeding by avoiding it

Maladaptive Outcomes

While adaptations were beneficial in past environments, they might not be in present ones.
Ancestral fears (fear toward snakes, spiders), desire toward sweet, salty, fatty foods.
Still drawing lines between ingroups and outgroups

Error Management Theory

Inferences based on ambiguous information are prone to systematic errors.
If one error type is more costly than the other, natural selection favors biases toward the less costly error type.

Examples of Error Management Theory

Reacting fearfully to venomous animals, assuming people with a birthmark are diseased, and believing that one is more talented than one truly is.

Functional Biases

The biases in perception and cognition are not necessarily harmful but evolved for their benefits
These biases help individuals survive, reproduce, and thrive in their respective environments.

Additional Content

Course materials likely contain further details on specific topics, dates, examples, and related research.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your understanding of Evolutionary Social Psychology concepts, including kin perception, stereotyping, and the evolutionary basis of social cognition. This quiz will cover key topics discussed in Lecture 1 of the PSYC20008 course, helping you to solidify your grasp of how humans perceive and respond to others in a social context.