Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 1: Problem 2

Match each definition with one or more of the following ideas from evolutionary theory: adaptations, natural selection, survival of the fittest. a. Changes that endow physical characteristics, skills, and abilities can increase an organism's chances of survival and of reproduction. b. Individuals better adapted to their environment will leave more offspring. c. Organisms' adaptive changes are passed along, and changes that hinder both survival and reproduction are not.

Short Answer

Expert verified
a: adaptations, b: natural selection and survival of the fittest, c: natural selection and adaptations.

Step by step solution

01

- Analyzing Definition 'a'

The definition describes changes that improve physical characteristics, skills, and abilities, which are all aspects of adaptations in evolutionary theory. Therefore, 'a' matches with adaptations.
02

- Analyzing Definition 'b'

The phrase 'Individuals better adapted to their environment will leave more offspring' describes the process of natural selection, where those who are more fit for their environment reproduce more successfully. Hence, 'b' corresponds to natural selection and survival of the fittest.
03

- Analyzing Definition 'c'

The statement explains that adaptive changes are passed on and detrimental changes are not, aligning with both natural selection and adaptations. Thus, 'c' matches with natural selection and adaptations.

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!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Adaptations
Adaptations are alterations in physical characteristics, behaviors, and skills that improve an organism's chances of survival and reproduction. Imagine a bird that develops a longer beak. This longer beak might allow it to reach food that other birds can't access. Over time, these advantageous features become more common in the population because the birds with longer beaks are more likely to survive and have offspring. This process is crucial because it helps species thrive in their specific environments.
Examples of adaptations:
  • Camouflage in animals to evade predators
  • Development of resistances to toxins
  • Behavioral changes like migration patterns
Natural Selection
Natural selection is the process where organisms better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more effectively than those less adapted. This leads to the gradual evolution of species as advantageous traits become more common. Charles Darwin famously noted this process when studying finches on the Galápagos Islands. He observed that finches with beaks better suited for their food sources were more likely to survive and propagate.
Key points about natural selection:
  • It acts on existing variations within a species.
  • Environmental pressures determine which traits are advantageous.
  • Over many generations, beneficial traits accumulate.
Survival of the Fittest
Survival of the fittest is often used interchangeably with natural selection, but it specifically refers to the idea that the 'fittest' individuals—those best adapted to their environment—are the ones most likely to survive and reproduce. The 'fit' here doesn't necessarily mean the strongest physically, but rather best suited to the current environment. For instance, in a cold climate, animals with thicker fur would be considered more 'fit' than those with thin fur.
Examples underscoring survival of the fittest:
  • Predators with better hunting skills catching more prey.
  • Plants in arid environments developing thick, water-storing leaves.
  • Fish with better swimming abilities escaping from predators.

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

Imagine you have decided to seek mental health counseling. You mention this to a few of your friends. Each friend shares an opinion with you. Based on your understanding of psychological science, which friend offers the strongest advice? a. "I wouldn't bother if I were you. All therapy is a bunch of psychobabble." b. "I know a therapist who uses this really cool method that can fix any problem. Seriously, she knows the secret!" c. "That's great! Psychologists do research to figure out which interventions are most helpful for people with different concerns." d. "Well, I guess if you like relaxing on couches and talking, you might get a lot out of therapy."

Titles of recent research articles appear below. Indicate which of the four levels of analysis-cultural, social, individual, or biological-each article likely addresses. a. Pals, problems, and personality: The moderating role of personality in the longitudinal association between adolescents' and best friends' delinquency (Yu, Branje, Keijsers, Koot, \& Meeus, 2013) b. The role of dynamic microglial alterations in stress-induced depression and suppressed neurogenesis (Kreisel et al., 2013) c. Culture, gender, and school leadership: School leaders' selfperceptions in China (Law, 2013) d. Anchoring bullying and victimization in children within a fivefactor model- based person-centred framework (De Bolle \& Tackett, 2013)

Match each description with one of the following theoretical ideas: dualism, introspection, localization, stream of consciousness. a. a systematic examination of subjective mental experience that requires people to inspect and report on the contents of their thoughts b. the notion that the mind and the body are separate and distinct c. some psychological processes are located in specific parts of the brain d. a continuous series of ever-changing thoughts

Several schools of thought in psychology are listed below. Match each of the following psychologists with the school he is most identified with: William James, Wolfgang Köhler, Kurt Lewin, George Miller, Ulrich Neisser, B. F.Skinner, Edward Titchener, John B. Watson, Max Wertheimer, Wilhelm Wundt. a. structuralism b. functionalism c. Gestalt psychology d. behaviorism e. cognitive psychology f. social psychology

When you mention to your family that you enrolled in a psychology course, your family members share their understanding of the field. Which comment best reflects psychological science? a. "You're going to learn how to get in touch with your feelings." b. "The concept of ' psychological science' is such an oxymoron. It is impossible to measure and study what goes on in people's heads" c. "I think you'll be surprised by the range of questions psychologists ask about the mind, the brain, and behavior, not to mention the scientific methods they use to answer these questions." d. "By the end of the class, you'll be able to tell me why I am the way I am."
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Psychology Textbooks

Approaches in Psychology

Read Explanation

Gender

Read Explanation

Data Handling and Analysis

Read Explanation

Research Methods in Psychology

Read Explanation

Biological Bases of Behavior

Read Explanation

Psychological Treatment

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