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1.2 Genetics, Chemical Messengers and Reductionism

Practice exam-style IB Psychology questions for Genetics, Chemical Messengers and Reductionism, aligned with the syllabus and grouped by topic.

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Question 1
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Describe the extent to which human behaviour may be influenced by genetic inheritance, using one example.

[4]
Question 2
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Describe the interaction of environmental factors and genetics in the diathesis-stress model, with reference to an example.

[4]
Question 3
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Describe one limitation of biological reductionism, illustrated by an example of human behaviour.

[4]
Question 4
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Explain how the process of neurotransmission can influence human behaviour. Illustrate your answer with an example.

[4]

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Question 5
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Using an example, explain one strength of biological reductionism in the study of behaviour.

[4]
Question 6
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Using one chemical messenger as an example, explain how chemical signalling can influence human behaviour.

[4]
Question 7
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Context: Health and well-being

Leila has an inherited vulnerability to psychological difficulties but has experienced no persistent problems. After several months of financial uncertainty and caring for an ill relative, she begins to experience difficulties that interfere with daily life. Her brother argues that these difficulties were inevitable because of her inherited vulnerability.

Apply the diathesis-stress model to Leila's situation.

[6]
Question 8
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Context: Human relationships

When Mateo joins a community group, he rarely starts conversations. After several weeks of friendly exchanges, he begins seeking out other members and arranging to meet them outside the group. A psychologist proposes that chemical messengers may contribute to this change.

Suggest how one chemical messenger could contribute to Mateo's behaviour.

[6]

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Question 9
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium
SL+HL • Paper 1
Medium

1

Context: Human development

As a young child, Arun was reluctant to approach unfamiliar people. His biological father recalls behaving similarly during childhood, although he did not live with Arun. As Arun grows older, encouragement from his carers and positive experiences with other children help him become more willing to meet new people.

Explain how genetic inheritance could contribute to Arun's development without making his behaviour unchangeable.

[6]
Question 10
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard

1

Context: Learning and cognition

Researchers are considering a substance that slows the removal of chemical messengers from the spaces between nerve cells. They propose that this could change communication in brain networks involved in learning. A student concludes that anyone taking the substance would therefore learn everything faster.

Apply your knowledge of neurotransmission to the researchers' proposal and the student's conclusion.

[6]
Question 11
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard

1

Discuss the implications of genetic inheritance for establishing causality in explanations of one mental health disorder in the context of health and well-being.

[15]
Question 12
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard

1

With reference to human relationships, examine how measurement affects our understanding of the role of one or more chemical messengers in the formation of relationships.

[15]

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Test your knowledge with a custom paper containing questions from selected topics.

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Question 13
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard

1

In the context of learning and cognition, to what extent can changes in neurotransmission explain change in one cognitive process?

[15]
Question 14
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard

1

Evaluate biological reductionism as a perspective for understanding one cognitive process in the context of learning and cognition.

[15]
Question 15
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard
SL+HL • Paper 1
Hard

1

One claim in the psychology of health and well-being is that preventing mental health problems requires responsibility for environmental conditions as well as attention to inherited vulnerability. Evaluate this claim with reference to the diathesis-stress model.

[15]

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