Example Questions for Social Neuroscience Quiz #2

Topics covered:

Evolution

Left Brain / Right Brain

Non-human primate social behavior

Emotion

The quiz will have 4 short answer questions, 1 from each of the above topics. You will be required to answer all 4.

Note: These are examples of the type of question that might appear, along with what would be considered a good answer. These specific questions will not actually be on the quiz.

1. How does cultural evolution differ from genetic evolution? How are they the same?

Answer:

Genetic evolution is change in genes over millions of years, eventually resulting in different species. Cultural evolution is a change in behavior due to learning, and can take place within a single generation. They are similar in that in both, something that is useful for survival is more likely to be passed on to future generations.

2. Describe each of the following mating systems: monogamous, polygynous, promiscuous. How do they tend to differ in terms of the amount of sexual dimorphism (difference in the size of male and female) that exists?

Answer:

Monogamous is 1 male and 1 female. Polygynous is 1 male and more than 1 female. Promiscuous is many males and many females. You tend to see the greatest difference in the size of males and females in a polygynous system, followed by promiscuous, followed by monogamous.

3. Describe Schacter’s theory of the interaction between emotion and cognition.

Answer:

Schacter says that the emotion we feel is due to an interaction between our physiological response to a stimulus, and our cognitive interpretation of the situation. The same physiological response (e.g. a pounding heart) could be experienced as happiness or as fear or as anger, depending on how the person interprets the situation they’re in.