PSY 217 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Reified Constructs/Reification - Answer -The process of taking an adjective and
converting it into a noun
Why are reified constructs an issue? - Answer -We start treating these as "things" that
individuals "possess"
We use this "thing" we have created to explain the very behavior that gave rise to our
creation in the first place
Reified constructs examples - Answer -Addiction, confidence, depression
Explaining by Naming - Answer -Falsely assuming that because you have provided a
name for some event or behavior, you have also adequately explained the event.
Example of explaining by naming - Answer -We say a person is intelligent. We say they
possess great intelligence. We say they show intelligent behavior because they possess
great intelligence.
circular reasoning - Answer -A fallacy in which the argument repeats the claim as a way
to provide evidence.
Pseudo-explanation - Answer -a circular statement that explains an event simply by
renaming it
Circular reasoning is also called - Answer -tautological reasoning
Our behavior is a function of 3 types of "causes" - Answer -Our genetic endowment,
past experiences, current environmental conditions
Mutations - Answer -Most are not helpful to survival
Reflex - Answer -Relationship between a specific event and a simple response to the
event
A reflex is NOT a particular kind of what? - Answer -behavior
Sensitization - Answer -When eliciting a reflex response can increase the intensity or
probability of the response to the stimuli
habituation - Answer -repeatedly evoking a reflect response will result in a reduction in
the intensity/probability of the response
, Aplysia (Marine Snail) - Answer -pushed along research about sensitization and
habituation
Modal action patterns - Answer -a series of interrelated acts found in all or nearly all
members of a species
Modal action patterns resemble reflexes how? - Answer -Strong genetic basis, little
variability
Modal action patterns differ from reflexes how? - Answer -involve the entire organism
rather than a few muscles or glands, more complex, long series of reflex-like acts, more
variable
Modal action patterns are also called - Answer -species-specific behavior/species-
typical behavior. used to be called instincts
general behavior traits - Answer -activity level, aggression, introversion, anxiety,
hoarding, sexual practices etc.
modal action patterns are elicited by fairly specific kinds of environmental events called
- Answer -releasers
Adversaries - Answer -those things an individual strives to escape or avoid; commonly
described as painful or unpleasant
genetic makeup at birth - Answer -genotype
natural selection - Answer -variation in traits (phenotypes)
differential survival/reproduction
transmission/retention
To measure learning, we must measure changes in - Answer -behavior
Common way of measuring learning - Answer -reduction in errors
topography of behavior - Answer -the physical form or shape of a behavior
We can also measure learning by noting changes in what? - Answer -the intensity of a
behavior
A change in the ______ with which a behavior is performed is another measure of
learning - Answer -speed
change in latency - Answer -the time that passes before a behavior occurs
Reified Constructs/Reification - Answer -The process of taking an adjective and
converting it into a noun
Why are reified constructs an issue? - Answer -We start treating these as "things" that
individuals "possess"
We use this "thing" we have created to explain the very behavior that gave rise to our
creation in the first place
Reified constructs examples - Answer -Addiction, confidence, depression
Explaining by Naming - Answer -Falsely assuming that because you have provided a
name for some event or behavior, you have also adequately explained the event.
Example of explaining by naming - Answer -We say a person is intelligent. We say they
possess great intelligence. We say they show intelligent behavior because they possess
great intelligence.
circular reasoning - Answer -A fallacy in which the argument repeats the claim as a way
to provide evidence.
Pseudo-explanation - Answer -a circular statement that explains an event simply by
renaming it
Circular reasoning is also called - Answer -tautological reasoning
Our behavior is a function of 3 types of "causes" - Answer -Our genetic endowment,
past experiences, current environmental conditions
Mutations - Answer -Most are not helpful to survival
Reflex - Answer -Relationship between a specific event and a simple response to the
event
A reflex is NOT a particular kind of what? - Answer -behavior
Sensitization - Answer -When eliciting a reflex response can increase the intensity or
probability of the response to the stimuli
habituation - Answer -repeatedly evoking a reflect response will result in a reduction in
the intensity/probability of the response
, Aplysia (Marine Snail) - Answer -pushed along research about sensitization and
habituation
Modal action patterns - Answer -a series of interrelated acts found in all or nearly all
members of a species
Modal action patterns resemble reflexes how? - Answer -Strong genetic basis, little
variability
Modal action patterns differ from reflexes how? - Answer -involve the entire organism
rather than a few muscles or glands, more complex, long series of reflex-like acts, more
variable
Modal action patterns are also called - Answer -species-specific behavior/species-
typical behavior. used to be called instincts
general behavior traits - Answer -activity level, aggression, introversion, anxiety,
hoarding, sexual practices etc.
modal action patterns are elicited by fairly specific kinds of environmental events called
- Answer -releasers
Adversaries - Answer -those things an individual strives to escape or avoid; commonly
described as painful or unpleasant
genetic makeup at birth - Answer -genotype
natural selection - Answer -variation in traits (phenotypes)
differential survival/reproduction
transmission/retention
To measure learning, we must measure changes in - Answer -behavior
Common way of measuring learning - Answer -reduction in errors
topography of behavior - Answer -the physical form or shape of a behavior
We can also measure learning by noting changes in what? - Answer -the intensity of a
behavior
A change in the ______ with which a behavior is performed is another measure of
learning - Answer -speed
change in latency - Answer -the time that passes before a behavior occurs
