Questions and Answers
What does the term 'psyche' refer to?
A broad term for mind, including emotions, desires, perceptions, and all psychological processes.
What do nature explanations focus on?
What is the main focus of cultural explanations?
Nature and culture do not influence each other.
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What does 'natural selection' refer to?
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Which of the following is a criterion of natural selection?
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Natural selection consists of two criteria: __________ and reproduction.
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What has biologists shifted their emphasis from in natural selection?
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
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Study Notes
Nature, Nurture, and Social Behavior
- Psyche refers to the mind, encompassing emotions, desires, perceptions, and psychological processes.
- Understanding human behavior involves exploring the influences of both nature and culture.
Nature vs Culture
- Nature explanations suggest individuals are born with predetermined traits shaped by genetics, hormones, and brain structure.
- Culture explanations emphasize learning from parents, societal influences, and personal experiences.
- Nature and culture interact, influencing human capabilities such as language and understanding of mental states.
Definitions
- Nature: The physical world, including intrinsic laws and processes, existing independently of human influence.
- Innate: Traits or tendencies individuals are born with, as opposed to learned behaviors.
Human Behavior and Natural Sciences
- Neuroscientists explore underlying brain activities (chemical reactions and electrical activity) to explain behavior.
- Behavior geneticists focus on inherited tendencies influencing emotions and actions.
Theory of Evolution
- Proposed by Charles Darwin, emphasizing change within living organisms over time.
- Variation occurs through random genetic mixing from parental genes, leading to unique combinations in offspring.
- Natural Selection is the mechanism by which advantageous traits persist across generations.
Natural Selection
- Defined as the process where species members that effectively survive and reproduce pass their genes to subsequent generations.
- Survival and reproduction are critical criteria for natural selection.
- Traits enhancing survival or reproductive success are more likely to be inherited; less advantageous traits tend to fade.
Survival and Reproduction
- Survival involves living long enough to reproduce; the environmental context affects survival rates.
- Over time, emphasis in biology has shifted from survival to reproductive success as the fundamental aspect of natural selection.
- Reproductive success involves producing a sufficient number of offspring that continue the lineage.
Evolution Processes
- Biological evolution relies on random genetic changes and environmental interactions that shape trait prevalence within populations.
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Description
Explore the interplay between nature and culture in shaping human behavior in this quiz on Psychology Chapter 2. Delve into the factors influencing emotions, desires, and perceptions that define the psyche. Understand how these elements contribute to social behavior and personality.
