Social Dominance and Hierarchies Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is one reason people may falsify their military credentials?

To join the military

To enhance their status and reputation (correct)

To perform better in combat

To receive financial benefits

Within how much time did a dominance hierarchy emerge in 50% of groups studied?

5 minutes

30 seconds

1 minute (correct)

10 minutes

Why might men have evolved a stronger motivation for status striving compared to women?

Due to greater societal expectations

To form larger social groups

To improve reproductive success (correct)

To reduce competition from women

What is one correlate of dominance mentioned in the chapter?

Aggressiveness Signup and view all the answers

How do crickets demonstrate their understanding of social hierarchies?

By recalling their past fight successes and failures Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005?

To penalize false claims of military medals Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when individuals assess their future status in a group?

They can judge after only observing others Signup and view all the answers

What social phenomenon do status and dominance hierarchies help to explain?

Social recognition and respect Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of submission in a competitive encounter?

The loser can avoid injury and walk away alive. Signup and view all the answers

How do dominance hierarchies generally function?

Higher-ranked individuals consistently gain access to more resources. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'transitive' mean in the context of dominance hierarchies?

If A is dominant over B and B over C, then A is dominant over C. Signup and view all the answers

What is a function of assessment abilities in the context of competition?

To accurately gauge the potential outcome of a confrontation. Signup and view all the answers

What behavior do animals exhibit as part of bluffing during confrontations?

They may display exaggerated signs of strength to deter opponents. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential outcome for someone who submits too early in a competitive situation?

They could lose access to valuable resources. Signup and view all the answers

In crayfish, what happens after a dominance hierarchy is established?

The loser typically avoids additional contact with the dominant individual. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic behavior of crayfish during territorial disputes?

Sizing up rivals and then engaging in physical combat. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to crickets after they lose a fight according to the experiments by Richard Alexander?

They are more likely to avoid confrontation in the future. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'dominance hierarchy' refer to in the context of animal behavior?

A ranking system based on individual fighting ability. Signup and view all the answers

How does the pecking order benefit dominant hens over time?

They can avoid continuous fighting for dominance. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested about the function of dominance hierarchies in a group?

They arise as an emergent property from the interactions of individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What risk do losers face in confrontational situations according to the content?

They risk injury and possibly death. Signup and view all the answers

What can be concluded about the costs of fighting for winners?

Winners face risks of injury and resource allocation. Signup and view all the answers

How does the term 'relinquishing' relate to fighting strategies in the content?

It's a strategic withdrawal to avoid costs of fighting. Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior is NOT associated with the emergence of dominance hierarchies?

Constant rivalry without any clear outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

How does serotonin affect neurons in dominant and subordinate crayfish?

In dominant crayfish, serotonin enhances neuron firing, while in subordinates it inhibits it. Signup and view all the answers

What behavior is commonly seen in dominant male chimpanzees to assert their status?

They try to appear larger and heavier to others. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when two subordinate crayfish are placed in the same territory?

One will likely become dominant over the other. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary indicator of dominance among chimpanzees?

The frequency of submissive greetings they receive. Signup and view all the answers

What behavior do subordinate male chimps exhibit when greeting a dominant male?

They display submissive physical gestures and bring objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is the likely outcome for a dominant crayfish when paired with another dominant crayfish?

One will be forced into a subordinate status. Signup and view all the answers

How does the changing status of subordinate crayfish challenge the notion of permanent social hierarchy?

They can shift to dominant status when circumstances are favorable. Signup and view all the answers

What does the behavior of dominant crayfish indicate about their response to losing a battle?

They show reluctance to accept their new subordinate position. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Dominance hierarchies emerge from individual interactions
Examples of dominance hierarchies exist in various non-human animal species; one example is the "pecking order" in hens.
Males may have evolved a stronger motivation for status striving than females
Five correlates of dominance include status, prestige, esteem, honor, and respect/rank
Submissive strategies have evolved in humans
False claims of military valor are sometimes made to enhance status and reputation
Status and dominance hierarchies form quickly, often within minutes in a group of strangers.

The Emergence of Dominance Hierarchies

Crickets remember their past interactions and adjust their behavior in future fights based on previous successes and failures
Richard Alexander conducted experiments involving a dominant cricket model to observe cricket behavior patterns.
Similar dominance hierarchies exist in other animal species, including hens (pecking order)
Individuals benefit from dominance hierarchies by avoiding costly conflicts and gaining access to valuable resources
Dominance hierarchies arise from the interactions among individuals, not from a single individual's inherent nature
In animals, the loser risks injury and death in a fight, so submission is a better strategy
Mechanisms for assessing one's chances in a conflict would be advantageous to avoid unnecessary fighting
Dominance hierarchies are transitive (if A is dominant over B, and B is dominant over C, then A is dominant over C).

Dominance and Status in Non-Human Animals

Crayfish determine dominance through aggressive interactions and subsequent sizing up
Winning crayfish attain dominance and higher access to resources like mating opportunities
One crayfish's dominance status can shift based on interactions with others
Dominant chimpanzees display various behaviors to establish and maintain dominance status. This includes postures and displays
Submissive greetings are a key aspect in chimpanzee dominance hierarchies
Dominance is linked to reproductive success; dominant males gain more sexual access to females.
Specific mechanisms relating to dominance, such as serotonin's effects on neurons in crayfish, are identified.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the concepts of social dominance and hierarchies, exploring their emergence in both human and non-human species. This quiz covers various examples, behavioral patterns, and the psychological motivations behind status striving and dominance interactions.