A frequent criticism of evolutionary psychology is that
its theories and assumptions are not falsifiable
. One theory, for example, asserts that human social behavior is guided by specific evolved predispositions that were selected because they enhanced reproductive success during human evolutionary history.
What are some of the key criticisms of evolutionary psychology?
Criticisms include 1)
disputes about the testability of evolutionary hypotheses
, 2) alternatives to some of the cognitive assumptions (such as massive modularity) frequently employed in evolutionary psychology, 3) claimed vagueness stemming from evolutionary assumptions (e.g. uncertainty about the environment of …
What are three main criticisms of evolutionary psychology explanations?
critics argue that evolutionary psychologists (1) start with an effect and work backward to an explanation (2) do not recognize social and cultural influences, and
(3) absolve people from taking responsibility for their sexual behavior
.
What does evolutionary psychology underestimate?
This finding suggests that personality traits are more strongly influenced by. genes than by the home environment. Critics of evolutionary psychology are most likely to suggest that it underestimates
the
.
impact of cultural expectations on human sexual behavior
.
Which of the following is a criticism of evolutionary psychology quizlet?
TestNew stuff! Which of the following is a criticism of evolutionary psychology?
It ignores non-genetic factors in determining human behavior.
Which of the following is a criticism of the evolutionary theory of aging?
Which of the following is a criticism of the evolutionary theory of aging?
It cannot account for cultural issues.
The theory of social evolution is also
criticized for its bias toward Western social development
. The concept of social progress assumes a dichotomy of traditional and modern societies with the conclusion that modern societies are more developed than traditional ones. … The theory’s built-in bias makes it unacceptable.
What are the common limitations of evolutionary explanations of behavior?
Problems with Evolutionary Explanations
Humans behave in complex and variable ways
, and factors such as culture strongly influence this behavior. Furthermore, it is difficult to tie variation in behavior to variation in reproductive success.
Which of the following is a criticism of structuralism?
The main critique of structuralism was its
focus on introspection as the method by which to gain an understanding of conscious experience
. Critics argue that self-analysis was not feasible, since introspective students cannot appreciate the processes or mechanisms of their own mental processes.
psychologists are attempting to predict the behavior of highly sophisticated organisms and complex situations. What is a limitation of applying evolutionary theory to social psychology?
there are debates about whether or not it is actually testable in the experimental method
.
How accurate is evolutionary psychology?
As many observers have pointed out, evolutionary psychology is
largely based on assumptions rather than evidence
, and as such it is debatable whether it should be referred to as a ‘science’ (since its hypotheses are generally unfalsifiable).
What is a limitation that affects the generalizability of research results?
What is the limitation that affects the generalizability of research results?
Small sample size
. Dr. Matter is interested in knowing more about brain injury to the occipital vortex, and he studies patients individually in order to gain in-depth knowledge about their behaviors.
What is one of the major criticisms of the biochemical theory of psychopathology?
The biochemistry hypothesis
does not account for individual differences
because the research does not explain why one individual develops OCD and another develops a different mental disorder, because low serotonin levels are also found in other mental disorders.
Which of the following is a feminist criticism of the science of psychology?
Which of the following is a feminist criticism of the science of psychology?
Male bias exists in science
. Male psychologists assume that their results do not apply to women. Male psychologists do not pay enough attention to relationships.
Which of the following is not a weakness of the biological model of abnormal behavior quizlet?
Technology provides new triggers for abnormal behaviors. Some mental health professionals are concerned about the increased availability of mental health information online.
What is the argument presented by the evolutionary theory of aging?
The classic evolutionary theory of aging explains
why mortality rises with age
: as individuals grow older, less lifetime fertility remains, so continued survival contributes less to reproductive fitness. … It also explains the evolution of lower fertility, longer life, and increased investments in offspring.
What is an example of evolutionary psychology?
Examples include
language acquisition modules
, incest avoidance mechanisms, cheater detection mechanisms, intelligence and sex-specific mating preferences, foraging mechanisms, alliance-tracking mechanisms, agent detection mechanisms, and so on.
Social change is often found to have negative impacts on traditional community organization. In particular, communities experiencing rapid social change often demonstrate
heightened perceptions of crime problems
and social disorder.
What is evolutionary psychology AP Psych?
evolutionary psychology.
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind
, using principles of natural selection. natural selection. the principle that among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.
Social barriers:
lack of community support, social norms and group conformity
. Cultural barriers: tradition, culture, customs, religion. Economic barriers: lack of property rights, corruption, fiscal infrastructure. Political barriers: ideology, values.
Four common causes, as recognized by social scientists, are
technology, social institutions, population, and the environment
. All four of these areas can impact when and how society changes. And they are all interrelated: a change in one area can lead to changes throughout.
What is the primary criticism of introspection group of answer choices?
Criticisms of Introspection
Even the most highly trained observers were not consistent in their responses
.
Introspection is limited in its use
; complex subjects such as learning, personality, mental disorders, and development are difficult or even impossible to study with this technique.
What are dreams perceptions thoughts and memories?
Mental Processes
(cognitive processes) are mental processes that are not directly observable. They include dreams, perceptions, thoughts, memories, etc.
Which of the following is a reason that Gestalt psychology did not become?
Which of the following is one of the reasons that Gestalt psychology did not become more popular in the United States?
The theories were not based on measurable data
. The rise of behaviorism overshadowed Gestalt psychology.
What is one of the major criticisms of the humanistic approach to personality?
One major criticism of humanistic psychology is that
its concepts are too vague
. Critics argue that subjective ideas such as authentic and real experiences are difficult to objectify; an experience that is real for one individual may not be real for another person.
What is a criticism of the biological behaviorist and psychoanalytic approach to personality?
Critics of the psychoanalytic approach, especially Freud’s theories,
argue that the approach is difficult to test, overemphasizes biology and unconscious forces, has inadequate empirical support, is sexist, and lacks cross-cultural support
. … What are the major criticisms of humanistic theories of personality?
What affects generalizability?
Because sound generalizability requires data on large populations, quantitative research — experimental for instance — provides the best foundation for producing broad generalizability. The
larger the sample population
, the more one can generalize the results.
What is Reliability psychology?
The term reliability in psychological research refers
to the consistency of a research study or measuring test
. For example, if a person weighs themselves during the course of a day they would expect to see a similar reading. … If findings from research are replicated consistently they are reliable.
Which of the following is least considered a potential problem associated with relying on college students as participants in psychological research?
Which of the following is not a potential problem associated with relying on college students as participants in psychological research?
They have higher attrition rates than other populations
.
What are the weaknesses of the biological approach?
The weakness of this approach is that
it often fails to account for other influences on behavior
. Things such as emotions, social pressures, environmental factors, childhood experiences, and cultural variables can also play a role in the formation of psychological problems.
What are limitations to generalizability?
If the results of a study are broadly applicable to many different types of people or situations
, the study is said to have good generalizability. If the results can only be applied to a very narrow population or in a very specific situation, the results have poor generalizability.
What is Abraham Maslow best known for quizlet?
Maslow was an American psychologist who was best known for
creating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization.
