Psyc 4560 - Exam 4

The Clever Hans phenomenon led to the recognition of:

• Animal psychic abilities

• The limitations of scientific observation

• The importance of skepticism in research

• The existence of a universal animal language

According to the manipulator/mind-reader's view, what is the primary purpose of communication between a signaler and a recipient?

• Manipulation of the recipient

• Reciprocal understanding

• Mutual benefit

• Exchange of information

According to the classic ethological approach, what characterizes the communication between a signaler and a recipient?

• Both parties usually benefit, and selection favors deceitful behavior.

• Common interests and goals, with little pressure for deceit.

• Selection favors the most manipulative individual.

• The signaler and receiver are in constant conflict.

What does Zahavi's handicap principle propose as a factor contributing to the evolution of honesty in communication?

• Signals that are impossible to fake.

• Traits that are difficult to detect.

• Traits that are easy to fake.

• Traits that are costly to produce.

Using the example of peacock tails, how does the handicap principle explain the evolution of honesty in signaling?

• Peacocks evolved grand tails to deceive predators.

• Grand tails are easy to fake, leading to honesty.

• Costly tails indicate good genes or survival strategies.

• Peacocks evolved inconspicuous tails to avoid detection.

How does the precision of information conveyed in the waggle dance impact the forager's inclusive fitness?

• Precision is irrelevant to inclusive fitness.

• More precise information leads to higher inclusive fitness.

• Less precise information benefits inclusive fitness.

• Precision only affects the forager's individual fitness, not inclusive fitness.

In the bee's waggle dance for foraging, what does the angle between the bee's "straight run" and a vertical line indicate?

• The angle of sunlight

• The distance from the hive to the food source

• The time spent foraging

• The quality of the food source

What is the term used to describe Rico's ability to correctly respond to a new word after a single exposure?

• Clever Hans effect

• Fast mapping

• Inferential reasoning

• Random assignment

How did Chaser demonstrate "inferential reasoning by exclusion"?

• By pairing novel objects with novel names

• By excluding objects with known names to infer the name of a new object

• By imitating new behaviors without prior training

• By rehearsing new words for an extended period

How did Washoe demonstrate her ability to learn ASL gestures without direct instruction?

• Through operant conditioning

• By observing humans signing amongst themselves

• Through reward-based training

• By imitating other apes in the experiment