Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 2: Problem 8

Race is a biological concept rather than a psychological one. True or false?

Short Answer

Expert verified
False. Despite the fact that traditional definitions of race are often based on physical features, this does not denote distinctive biological differences. Hence, race is more of a social construct rather than a biological concept, giving it a psychological foundation.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the concept of race

The concept of race is traditionally related to shared physical characteristics such as skin color, hair texture, and eye shape. But is this enough to classify people into definite races on a biological level?
02

Evaluating the biological perspective

From a purely biological perspective, race is not a definitive factor. Despite the observed physical differences, the human race shares about 99.9% of DNA, and all humans have the same set of genes. Moreover, the genetic diversity within a single so-called 'race' often outweighs the collective genetic differences between the various 'races'.
03

Evaluating the psychological perspective

From a psychological perspective, race is seen more as a social construct than a fixed biological trait. This is because race is something created by humans to categorize and sort individuals based on physical characteristics, often influenced by cultural and societal norms and prejudices. Therefore, it has a more psychological foundation than a biological one.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Jeanne's therapist asks her to recount a violent dream she recently experienced in order to gain insight into the unconscious forces affecting her behavior. Jeanne's therapist is working from a ___________ perspective.

In the nature-nurture issue, nature refers to heredity, and nurture refers to the ________.

'My therapist is wonderful! He always points out my positive traits. He dwells on my uniqueness and strength as an individual. I feel much more confident about myselfas if I'm really growing and reaching my potential." The therapist being described most likely follows a ____________ perspective.

"It is behavior that can be observed that should be studied, not the suspected inner workings of the mind." This statement was most likely made by someone with which perspective? a. Cognitive perspective b. Neuroscience perspective c. Humanistic perspective d. Behavioral perspective

Wundt described psychology as the study of conscious experience, a perspective he called _________.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Psychology Textbooks

Issues and Debates in Psychology

Read Explanation

Individual Differences Psychology

Read Explanation

Cognition

Read Explanation

Approaches in Psychology

Read Explanation

Forensic Psychology

Read Explanation

Developmental Psychology

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free