Biosocial Theory Complete Test Bank Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Biosocial Theory

KEY TERMS

adaptation proximate, ultimate and distal causes

fitness natural selection

TRUE-FALSE QUESTIONS

1. Biosocial theory is similar to other theories such as evolutionary psychology, ethology, sociobiology, and psychobiology.

2. Charles Darwin was perhaps the first to move the discussion of selection from biological predetermination to possible influences of the environment.

3. According to Troost and Filsinger (1993), the existence of families across time has helped individual family members adapt and survive.

4. A niche is something that fulfills a function and is based on a set of stable activities or patterns of behavior.

5. Adaptation is the ability to change or increase the level of fitness in order to improve the chances of survival with greater numbers of offspring.

6. Individuals are predisposed to some medical conditions or diseases, which in turn affects how they interact with family members.

7. This theory believes that the family has not played a role in human evolution.

8. Not everyone who ascribes to this theory believes in the addition of the proximate causes.

9. Biosocial theory believes that biology drives human behavior.

10. Biosocial theory focuses solely on the similarities between humans and other animals.

11. Human behavior today is based on the genetic and social adaptation of individuals and families since time began.

12. Ultimate causes are the day-to-day interactions that take place during regular family life.

13. Two individuals with the same genetic composition, living in entirely different

environments, will exhibit most of the same behaviors according to biosocial theory.

14. More advanced research techniques have allowed us to distinguish between the social and

the biological influences on individuals.

15. Biosocial theory has helped us understand that genetics plays a larger role in socialization

than does the environment.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. W. D. Hamilton believed in the concept of ______, which means not only that the individual changes and adapts over time in order to survive, but also that fitness includes those individuals who surround or are related to the individual.

a. evolution

b. inclusive fitness

c. selection

d. adaption

2. ______ ideas are used as a basis of understanding modern behavior concerning biosocial theory.

a. W. D. Hamilton’s

b. Edward Osborne Wilson’s

c. Hans J. Eysenck’s

d. Charles Darwin’s

3. All of the following are criticisms of biosocial theory except:

a. It is difficult to disentangle nature versus nurture in research designs.

b. It does not explain everything.

c. There is a tendency to confuse genetic predisposition with a value judgment.

d. Biosocial theory is old and outdated.

4. The idea that individuals change and adapt over time in order to survive, and that the individual is supported in that process by those who surround or are related to the individual, is also known as what?

a. natural selection

b. inclusive selection

c. inclusive fitness

d. familial fitness

5. The book Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin suggested which of the following ideas?

a. Genetics is more important than the environment

b. Natural selection happens from one generation to the next

c. The environment in which we live does not truly change over time

d. Nature selects those individuals who are best adapted to the environment to survive

6. When developing a research study, which of the following factors is most important to assess?

a. social

b. biological

c. biosocial

d. all factors should be assessed

7. A niche can be filled by which of the following?

a. an individual

b. a unit

c. a system

d. all of the above

e. only a and c

8. Which of the following terms has to do with the relationship between genetic predispositions and social interactions?

a. Proximate

b. Distal

c. Ultimate

d. Genotype

9. According to Biosocial Theory, which of the following is focused on the interaction between the past and the present?

a. ultimate causation

b. proximate causation

c. distal causation

d. none of these

10. Who was the first person to move the discussion of selection from biological predetermination to possible influences of the environment?

1. W.D. Hamilton
2. Edward Osborne Wilson
3. Hans Eysenck
4. Charles Darwin

11. Who wrote the book Sociobiology which stated that evolution was evident in people across time and that genes influence individual behaviors that have evolved in order to ensure survive?

1. W.D. Hamilton
2. Edward Osborne Wilson
3. Hans Eysenck
4. Charles Darwin

12. Which of the following statements is FALSE according to biosocial theory?

a. The process of evolution can be traced over one or two generations

b. Survival of the individual is dependent upon survival of the family

c. The evolutionary origins of humans has been impacted by families

d. Families have influenced the evolution of humans

13. The genetic structure we are born with is called what?

a. phenotype

b. genotype

c. genochrome

d. phenochrome

1. Which of these is based on what has happened in the past?
2. Ultimate causes
3. Distal causes
4. Proximate causes
5. Inclusive causes
6. Which of the following people has done research on the role of biosocial factors in personality development?
7. W.D. Hamilton
8. Edward Osborne Wilson
9. Hans Eysenck
10. Charles Darwin
11. Biosocial theory has been used a lot in which areas of research?
12. Role of testosterone
13. Antisocial behavior
14. Personality development
15. All of the above
16. Only b and c
17. According to biosocial theory, which of the following components is most important?
    1. The biological
    2. The social
    3. The interaction of biological and social
    4. All of these are important
18. The term that best describes why people choose to be parents is what?
    1. Inclusive fitness
    2. Reciprocal altruism
    3. Ultimate causes
    4. Evolution
19. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to this theory?
    1. We can trace our current features to their historical roots for at least a glimpse into why those biological features were adaptive at one point in time.
    2. Our phenotype does not vary from one environment to the next.
    3. One can trace the evolution of people but not of families
    4. Individuals can survive on their own without interactions with others
20. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to biosocial theory?
    1. Genetics determine how we will behave
    2. Genetics influence how we will behave
    3. It is easy to distinguish between genetics and the environment
    4. The health of one family member does not affect the well-being of other family members

MATCHING QUESTIONS

1. The ability to change or increase the level of a. fitness

fitness in order to improve the chances of

survival with greater numbers of offspring. b. biosocial

. The relationship between the biological and c. adaptation

the social.

d. proximate causes

3. The day-to-day interactions that take place

during regular family life. e. survival of the fittest

. The ability to fit within the environment. f. reciprocal altruism

5. Individuals work together to better meet

the needs of each person.

SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION/ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. What is the basic premise of The Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin? How is this notion reflected in biosocial theory today?
2. According to biosocial theory, biology does not guarantee a certain behavior. What are some examples of this?
3. Take a few minutes to write down ways you are like one of your parents or a sibling. Now go through the list and write ways each of these could be genetic, and ways each could be socially constructed. How can the interaction between genetics and the family environment be responsible for these similarities? Now relate all of this back to the basic assumptions of the theory.
4. Watch the beginning of the movie He Said, She Said. To save time, you can either fast forward through the scene with the male lead character in the office talking to his boss, or start watching the movie when the two main characters are sitting at office desks next to each other. Watch until they pick up the newspaper to see whose article was chosen. How does this video clip relate to the basic assumptions of the theory?

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES OR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Nature or Nurture? (See Handout 10.1 and 10.2)

Twins (See Handout 10.3)

Exploring Family Theories

Appendix 10

Biosocial Theory

Handout 10.1

Nature or Nurture?

PURPOSE

Biosocial theory takes into account the interaction between genetic predispositions and social interactions. It seeks to unite the age old question of “nature or nurture?”. While it is beneficial to consider both influences on human behavior, it would be incomplete to look at one facet without considering the other. The aim of this worksheet is to make this point about the interrelatedness of biology and social interactions. Further, talking through the different factors that typify human behavior will help students to identify how each of these two factors is influential on human behavior.

GOALS

Upon completion of this exercise:

1. Students will understand the interrelatedness of biology and social interactions on human behavior.

OBJECTIVES

1. Students will provide explanations for the occurrence of various human tendencies.
2. Students will use critical thinking skills to examine the relationship between genetic predispositions and social interactions.

MATERIALS

Either make copies of the handout provided or prepare the information in a power point presentation

PREPARATION

1. Read Chapter 10, Biosocial Theory, in Smith & Hamon.

2. Be prepared to discuss the relationship between biology and environment.

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS

Read the sentences provided on the handout and determine if something is more likely true because of biology or because of social interaction.

Handout 10.2

Nature or Nurture?

INSTRUCTIONS

For each of the following sentences, indicate whether the statement is a result of nature or nurture. Justify your answer.

1. Men tend to be providers.

2. Women tend to be nurturers.

3. Adolescence is a prime time for increased delinquency.

4. Women have higher rates of heart disease.

5. Men, on average, die sooner than women.

6. People tend to seek acceptance and avoid rejection.

7. People find chaos and confusion unsettling. People desire order.

8. Individuals want to know how other people and things in the world compare to themselves, to

understand their place in the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. On what basis did you decide to attribute something to nature or nurture?

2. Was it difficult to provide just one attribute as to why something occurs? Why or why not?

1. How does biosocial theory help explain the interrelatedness of the environment and biology?

Handout 10.3

Twins

PURPOSE

Students will watch a video presentation on Twins and then discuss how it relates to the central tenants of the theory. It will also provide a context for a conversation around the roles of genetics and environment.

GOALS

Upon completion of this exercise:

1. Students will explore the role of genetics and environment in individual development.

OBJECTIVES

1. Students will reflect on a video presentation concerning twins.

2. Student will apply content from the chapter to the video.

MATERIALS

While there are many videos available for purchase and online, a great five minute video from Our America with Lisa Ling can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd5Y3-F79LY. Be able to show this video during class.

PREPARATION

1. Read Chapter 10, Biuosocial Theory, in Smith & Hamon.

2. Be prepared to show a video clip about twins raised separately and then reunited as adults.

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS

1. As you watch this video think about the basic assumptions covered in your chapter.
2. Go through each basic assumption and see if there were any examples from the video that fit the assumption.
3. Discuss the relationship between the video clip and biosocial theory.
4. Did anything surprise you about what the twins either did or did not have in common?