Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a true statement about the human genome?

Accepted Answer

Genes can be influenced by triggers such as environmental events, a field known as epigenetics. This can result in variations in gene expression and phenotype without alterations in the DNA sequence itself.

Question 2

Behaviors such as rolling over, sitting up, and learning to walk, are characterized:

Accepted Answer

These behaviors are developmental milestones that are heavily influenced by maturation and are typical across much cultural variation in practice.

Question 3

The Flynn effect discussed in the chapter as describing changes in intelligence quotients among cohorts is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The Flynn effect is an example of a history-normative influence, as it describes changes in intelligence scores over time for entire cohorts of people. It is not age-normative, as it does not describe changes in intelligence scores for individuals as they age, and it is not nonnormative, as it is a consistent pattern observed across many populations. Heritability refers to the proportion of individual differences in a trait that is due to genetics, and is not directly related to the Flynn effect.

Question 4

Epigenetics is the study of:

Accepted Answer

Epigenetics is the study of how external factors (like environment, diet, stress, etc.) can affect the way that genes are expressed without altering their underlying DNA sequence. Therefore, it focuses on determining what causes genes to express themselves differently, rather than mapping the human genome or patterns of inheritance.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a true statement about obesity?

Accepted Answer

Obesity is not solely determined by genetics; it is influenced by environmental factors such as diet and physical activity. Therefore, statement B is not true.

Question 6

Which of the following terms is NOT associated with life course theory?

Accepted Answer

Life course theory focuses on the complex interplay of social, psychological, and biological factors throughout an individual's lifetime, but does not explicitly involve genomic variance. A, B, and C are all concepts frequently discussed in life course theory.

Question 7

A therapist develops a community-based education program about wearing helmets to prevent injury when riding bicycles. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Competence promotion involves developing and implementing a program or intervention aimed at enhancing skills or knowledge related to health behaviors. In this case, the therapist is developing an education program to promote the use of helmets when riding bicycles, which is aimed at enhancing knowledge and skills related to injury prevention.

Question 8

The term heritability is associated with:

Accepted Answer

Heritability refers to the proportion of variability in a trait that is due to genetic variability, so it is associated with variability in the phenotype due to variability in the genotype. Choice B is incorrect because variability in the genotype can't be due to variability in the phenotype - the genotype is the underlying genetic makeup that determines the phenotype. Choice C is partially correct in that heritability reflects both genotype and phenotype, but the more specific association is with variability in the phenotype due to variability in the genotype. Choice D is incorrect as heritability is a fundamental concept in genetics and biology.

Question 9

In the dynamical systems theory of motor control, which of the following is the most representative statement?

Accepted Answer

The most representative statement in the dynamical systems theory of motor control is that movement emerges in the context of control parameters. This means that movements arise from the interaction between the individual and the environment and are influenced by various factors, such as task goals, sensory feedback, and biomechanical constraints. This perspective emphasizes the flexibility and adaptability of motor control, as movements are not preprogrammed but rather self-organized in response to changing conditions. Choices A, B, and D are all inconsistent with the dynamical systems theory and are therefore incorrect.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the constructs presented in this chapter is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

Developmental theory is important not only in treating certain populations, such as children, but for understanding human development and behavior across the lifespan.

Quiz 2: Human Performance: the Life Course Perspective