Comparative Psychology Quiz

Description: Comparative Psychology Quiz
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: comparative psychology animal behavior evolution
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Which of the following is NOT a method used in comparative psychology?

  1. Observational studies

  2. Experimental studies

  3. Comparative anatomy

  4. Comparative genomics


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Comparative genomics is a field of study that compares the genomes of different species. It is not a method used in comparative psychology, which is the study of the behavior of different species.

Which of the following is an example of a homologous behavior?

  1. Building nests

  2. Singing songs

  3. Using tools

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Homologous behaviors are behaviors that are similar in different species because they are inherited from a common ancestor. Building nests, singing songs, and using tools are all examples of homologous behaviors.

Which of the following is an example of an analogous behavior?

  1. Building nests

  2. Singing songs

  3. Using tools

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Analogous behaviors are behaviors that are similar in different species but are not inherited from a common ancestor. Using tools is an example of an analogous behavior because it is a behavior that has evolved independently in different species.

Which of the following is NOT a type of learning?

  1. Classical conditioning

  2. Operant conditioning

  3. Associative learning

  4. Habituation


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Associative learning is not a type of learning. It is a general term that refers to the process of learning associations between stimuli and responses.

Which of the following is an example of classical conditioning?

  1. A dog salivating when it hears a bell

  2. A rat pressing a lever to get food

  3. A bird singing a song to attract a mate

  4. A spider building a web


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus. In the example given, the dog learns to associate the sound of a bell (the neutral stimulus) with the presentation of food (the meaningful stimulus). This causes the dog to salivate in response to the sound of the bell.

Which of the following is an example of operant conditioning?

  1. A dog salivating when it hears a bell

  2. A rat pressing a lever to get food

  3. A bird singing a song to attract a mate

  4. A spider building a web


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which an organism learns to associate a behavior with a consequence. In the example given, the rat learns to associate the behavior of pressing a lever (the operant response) with the consequence of getting food (the reinforcer). This causes the rat to increase the frequency of pressing the lever.

Which of the following is an example of habituation?

  1. A dog salivating when it hears a bell

  2. A rat pressing a lever to get food

  3. A bird singing a song to attract a mate

  4. A spider building a web


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Habituation is a type of learning in which an organism learns to ignore a stimulus that is no longer relevant. In the example given, the spider learns to ignore the presence of a web (the stimulus) because it is no longer a threat to the spider.

Which of the following is an example of a fixed action pattern?

  1. A dog chasing a ball

  2. A bird building a nest

  3. A fish swimming

  4. A spider spinning a web


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Fixed action patterns are stereotyped behaviors that are triggered by a specific stimulus. In the example given, the spider spins a web in response to the stimulus of a potential prey item.

Which of the following is an example of a social behavior?

  1. A dog chasing a ball

  2. A bird building a nest

  3. A fish swimming

  4. A group of monkeys grooming each other


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Social behaviors are behaviors that involve interaction between two or more individuals. In the example given, the monkeys are grooming each other, which is a social behavior.

Which of the following is an example of a cognitive behavior?

  1. A dog chasing a ball

  2. A bird building a nest

  3. A fish swimming

  4. A chimpanzee using a tool to crack a nut


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cognitive behaviors are behaviors that involve mental processes such as problem-solving, decision-making, and memory. In the example given, the chimpanzee is using a tool to crack a nut, which is a cognitive behavior.

Which of the following is an example of a cultural behavior?

  1. A dog chasing a ball

  2. A bird building a nest

  3. A fish swimming

  4. A group of chimpanzees using a specific tool to crack nuts


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cultural behaviors are behaviors that are learned from other members of a species and are passed down from generation to generation. In the example given, the chimpanzees are using a specific tool to crack nuts, which is a cultural behavior.

Which of the following is an example of a species-specific behavior?

  1. A dog chasing a ball

  2. A bird building a nest

  3. A fish swimming

  4. A chimpanzee using a tool to crack a nut


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Species-specific behaviors are behaviors that are unique to a particular species. In the example given, the bird is building a nest, which is a species-specific behavior.

Which of the following is an example of a general behavior?

  1. A dog chasing a ball

  2. A bird building a nest

  3. A fish swimming

  4. A chimpanzee using a tool to crack a nut


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

General behaviors are behaviors that are common to many different species. In the example given, the fish is swimming, which is a general behavior.

Which of the following is an example of a proximate explanation?

  1. A bird building a nest because it is trying to protect its young

  2. A bird building a nest because it is following its instincts

  3. A bird building a nest because it has learned from other birds how to build a nest

  4. A bird building a nest because it is trying to attract a mate


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Proximate explanations are explanations that focus on the immediate causes of behavior. In the example given, the bird is building a nest because it is trying to protect its young, which is a proximate explanation.

Which of the following is an example of an ultimate explanation?

  1. A bird building a nest because it is trying to protect its young

  2. A bird building a nest because it is following its instincts

  3. A bird building a nest because it has learned from other birds how to build a nest

  4. A bird building a nest because it is trying to attract a mate


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Ultimate explanations are explanations that focus on the evolutionary origins of behavior. In the example given, the bird is building a nest because it is following its instincts, which is an ultimate explanation.

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