Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

Ethology is best described as the study of what?

1. Human emotional responses

2. The evolutionary bases of animal behavior

3. Childhood development

4. Cognitive functions in humans

The correct answer is: The evolutionary bases of animal behavior

Ethology is best understood as the scientific study of animal behavior in the context of their natural environments, often emphasizing the evolutionary significance of that behavior. It focuses on how behaviors have evolved over time to aid an organism's survival and reproduction. This field combines principles from biology and psychology to explore how instinctual behaviors are shaped by evolutionary processes. In this context, it encompasses observations of animals in their habitats, leading to insights into their behavioral patterns, mating rituals, communication methods, and social structures, among others. Ethologists often investigate how these behaviors contribute to the fitness of the species, making the link between behavior and evolutionary biology a central concept in ethology. On the other hand, the other options represent different areas of study within psychology or developmental science, but do not encapsulate the core focus of ethology. Human emotional responses, childhood development, and cognitive functions in humans are distinct fields that examine specific aspects of psychological or developmental processes, not primarily driven by evolutionary principles in the way that ethology is focused on the behavior of animals in relation to their evolutionary adaptations.