Q.1 According to evolutionary psychology, what is a primary reason for human aggression?
To assert dominance and secure resources
To express artistic creativity
To learn a new skill
To avoid social interactions
Explanation - Evolutionary psychologists suggest that aggression can serve adaptive functions such as securing mates, resources, and social status.
Correct answer is: To assert dominance and secure resources
Q.2 Which concept explains helping behavior directed towards relatives in evolutionary psychology?
Reciprocal altruism
Kin selection
Social learning
Operant conditioning
Explanation - Kin selection theory posits that individuals are more likely to help relatives to increase the survival of shared genes.
Correct answer is: Kin selection
Q.3 Which of the following is an example of reciprocal altruism?
A person donating to a stranger with no expectation of return
A lion sharing food with unrelated lions, expecting future help
A child helping their sibling with homework
A person helping only close relatives
Explanation - Reciprocal altruism occurs when an organism helps another with the expectation that the favor will be returned in the future.
Correct answer is: A lion sharing food with unrelated lions, expecting future help
Q.4 Which hormone is often associated with increased aggression in humans?
Oxytocin
Testosterone
Serotonin
Dopamine
Explanation - Testosterone has been linked to aggressive behavior, especially in competitive and status-related contexts.
Correct answer is: Testosterone
Q.5 Which statement best reflects evolutionary reasoning behind altruistic behavior in humans?
Altruism decreases survival chances
Altruism may increase inclusive fitness by helping relatives
Altruism is purely cultural and unrelated to evolution
Altruism is random and has no adaptive function
Explanation - Helping relatives can increase the chance that shared genes survive, which is central to inclusive fitness theory.
Correct answer is: Altruism may increase inclusive fitness by helping relatives
Q.6 Which of the following best describes reactive aggression?
Aggression as a proactive strategy to gain resources
Impulsive aggression in response to threat or provocation
Helping others with no expectation of reward
A learned behavior from observing parents
Explanation - Reactive aggression is immediate, emotionally driven, and often occurs as a response to perceived threat or frustration.
Correct answer is: Impulsive aggression in response to threat or provocation
Q.7 What evolutionary explanation is given for male aggression in securing mates?
Males are culturally encouraged to fight
Aggression increases reproductive opportunities
Males are physically stronger
Aggression helps males build artistic skills
Explanation - From an evolutionary perspective, male aggression can enhance access to mates and increase reproductive success.
Correct answer is: Aggression increases reproductive opportunities
Q.8 Which factor is most likely to reduce altruistic behavior in humans?
High perceived cost and low benefit
Presence of kin
Long-term reciprocal relationships
Group cohesion
Explanation - Altruistic behavior is more likely when benefits outweigh costs; if costs are too high, helping is less likely.
Correct answer is: High perceived cost and low benefit
Q.9 Which psychological mechanism helps humans distinguish between kin and non-kin?
Phenotypic matching
Classical conditioning
Operant learning
Cultural norms
Explanation - Phenotypic matching allows individuals to recognize relatives based on similarities in appearance, smell, or behavior.
Correct answer is: Phenotypic matching
Q.10 Which type of aggression is planned and goal-directed rather than impulsive?
Reactive aggression
Instrumental aggression
Emotional aggression
Hostile aggression
Explanation - Instrumental aggression is premeditated and used as a means to achieve a specific goal.
Correct answer is: Instrumental aggression
Q.11 Altruistic acts that are costly to the actor but benefit non-relatives are best explained by:
Kin selection
Reciprocal altruism
Natural selection
Operant conditioning
Explanation - Reciprocal altruism explains why individuals help unrelated others if there is an expectation of future help.
Correct answer is: Reciprocal altruism
Q.12 Which evolutionary concept suggests that aggression can help protect one's territory and resources?
Inclusive fitness
Territoriality
Social facilitation
Attachment theory
Explanation - Territorial aggression helps individuals secure resources and protect offspring, increasing survival chances.
Correct answer is: Territoriality
Q.13 Which of the following is a potential evolutionary benefit of altruism within a group?
Increased individual survival
Enhanced group cohesion and survival
Reduced reproduction
Decreased social learning
Explanation - Altruism can strengthen social bonds and cooperation, improving the survival of the group and indirectly benefiting individuals.
Correct answer is: Enhanced group cohesion and survival
Q.14 According to evolutionary psychology, which scenario illustrates aggression as a mating strategy?
A male competing with other males for access to females
Helping a stranger in need
Sharing food with relatives
Avoiding confrontation
Explanation - Aggression can function to eliminate rivals and increase reproductive opportunities, which is an evolutionary mating strategy.
Correct answer is: A male competing with other males for access to females
Q.15 Which neurotransmitter is associated with reduced aggression and increased social bonding?
Serotonin
Testosterone
Adrenaline
Cortisol
Explanation - Higher serotonin levels are linked to reduced impulsive aggression and promote pro-social behaviors.
Correct answer is: Serotonin
Q.16 What does Hamilton’s rule in evolutionary psychology describe?
Helping occurs when the cost to the actor is less than the benefit to the recipient multiplied by relatedness
Aggression is always maladaptive
All behaviors are culturally determined
Reciprocal altruism is impossible
Explanation - Hamilton’s rule predicts when altruistic behavior is likely to evolve based on genetic relatedness and cost-benefit analysis.
Correct answer is: Helping occurs when the cost to the actor is less than the benefit to the recipient multiplied by relatedness
Q.17 Which type of aggression is often driven by emotions such as anger or fear?
Instrumental aggression
Reactive aggression
Indirect aggression
Strategic aggression
Explanation - Reactive aggression is impulsive and emotionally driven, often triggered by perceived threat or provocation.
Correct answer is: Reactive aggression
Q.18 Why might humans show more altruistic behavior toward children?
Children are more likely to reciprocate
To increase inclusive fitness by protecting potential future genes
Children have more social influence
Children are less likely to notice
Explanation - Protecting offspring and young kin ensures the survival of shared genetic material, which is adaptive.
Correct answer is: To increase inclusive fitness by protecting potential future genes
Q.19 Which behavior illustrates altruism without immediate benefit to the actor?
Donating anonymously to a disaster fund
Competing for a promotion
Hoarding resources
Threatening a rival
Explanation - This is an example of true altruism where the actor incurs a cost without expectation of direct benefit.
Correct answer is: Donating anonymously to a disaster fund
Q.20 Which evolutionary mechanism explains why group-living species may exhibit aggression toward outsiders?
Inclusive fitness
Parochial altruism
Reciprocal altruism
Operant conditioning
Explanation - Parochial altruism combines helping in-group members with hostility toward outsiders, enhancing group survival.
Correct answer is: Parochial altruism
Q.21 Which scenario illustrates the 'costly signaling' theory of altruism?
Someone risking resources to demonstrate generosity to others
Helping only close relatives
Avoiding confrontation
Aggression toward a rival
Explanation - Costly signaling theory suggests altruistic acts can signal desirable traits like strength, status, or cooperation to others.
Correct answer is: Someone risking resources to demonstrate generosity to others
Q.22 Which factor most strongly predicts whether humans engage in altruistic behavior toward strangers?
Potential for future reciprocity
Physical attractiveness
Number of siblings
Height
Explanation - Reciprocal altruism theory predicts that individuals help strangers if they anticipate potential future benefits.
Correct answer is: Potential for future reciprocity
Q.23 Which type of aggression involves indirect methods like gossip or social exclusion?
Instrumental aggression
Reactive aggression
Relational aggression
Hostile aggression
Explanation - Relational aggression harms others through manipulation of social relationships rather than direct physical acts.
Correct answer is: Relational aggression
Q.24 Why is aggression sometimes considered adaptive in evolutionary terms?
It reduces survival
It helps individuals secure resources, mates, and status
It is purely learned
It has no function
Explanation - Aggression can enhance survival and reproductive success, making it potentially adaptive in evolutionary terms.
Correct answer is: It helps individuals secure resources, mates, and status
Q.25 Which evolutionary theory emphasizes that helping behavior can evolve if it benefits the actor’s genetic relatives?
Reciprocal altruism
Kin selection
Social learning theory
Behaviorism
Explanation - Kin selection theory predicts that individuals are more likely to help close relatives because it promotes the survival of shared genes.
Correct answer is: Kin selection