PSY 217 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
1. Reification- Answer - The process of converting a description (adjective) into a
thing (noun) Ex. Addicted = Addiction
2. "Explaining by Naming"- Answer - 1. we observe that a person does very well in school, learns quickly
and scores high on tests
2. we say that person is "intelligent"
3. we say that person possesses great "intelligence"
3. pseudo-explanations (circular reasoning)- Answer - an "explanation" that seems true but isn't -
ends the search for "true" causes- circular
4. Organism-Based Explanations- Answer - take a reified construct, and place "it" inside the individual
and then use it to "Explain" behavior of that individual
5. Behavior is a function of (environment-based explanations, behavior- analytic
approach)- Answer - 1. our genetic endowment
2. our past experiences
3. the current environmental conditions
6. how does natural selection work?- Answer - 1. Variation in "traits" (phenotypes)
2. Ditterential Survival/Reproduction
3. Transmission/Retention
7. Variation- Answer - Observable physical and behavioral characteristics that result from the interaction of
genotype with the environment
( giratte has variation in neck, best one is selected)
8. Selection- Answer - Within the environment that the species lives, some variations increase the likelihood of
survival ( best trait is selected and passed down)
9. Transmission/Inheritance- Answer - Genotypes are transmitted across generations via reproduction,
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1. Reification- Answer - The process of converting a description (adjective) into a
thing (noun) Ex. Addicted = Addiction
2. "Explaining by Naming"- Answer - 1. we observe that a person does very well in school, learns quickly
and scores high on tests
2. we say that person is "intelligent"
3. we say that person possesses great "intelligence"
3. pseudo-explanations (circular reasoning)- Answer - an "explanation" that seems true but isn't -
ends the search for "true" causes- circular
4. Organism-Based Explanations- Answer - take a reified construct, and place "it" inside the individual
and then use it to "Explain" behavior of that individual
5. Behavior is a function of (environment-based explanations, behavior- analytic
approach)- Answer - 1. our genetic endowment
2. our past experiences
3. the current environmental conditions
6. how does natural selection work?- Answer - 1. Variation in "traits" (phenotypes)
2. Ditterential Survival/Reproduction
3. Transmission/Retention
7. Variation- Answer - Observable physical and behavioral characteristics that result from the interaction of
genotype with the environment
( giratte has variation in neck, best one is selected)
8. Selection- Answer - Within the environment that the species lives, some variations increase the likelihood of
survival ( best trait is selected and passed down)
9. Transmission/Inheritance- Answer - Genotypes are transmitted across generations via reproduction,
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