Bachelor of Liberal Arts General Flashcards

Which term describes the tendency for individuals in a group to conform and not voice dissenting opinions?

Answer: Groupthink

Groupthink occurs when the desire for group harmony overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives, suppressing dissent.

Which of the following best defines a 'primary source' in historical research?

Answer: An original document or artifact from the period being studied

Primary sources are original, firsthand materials created at the time of study, such as diaries, speeches, and photographs.

In formal logic, a 'deductive argument' is one that claims its conclusion is what?

Answer: Necessarily true if the premises are true

Deductive arguments guarantee the conclusion's truth if the premises are true; the conclusion follows necessarily.

Which economic system is characterized by private ownership and market-based allocation of resources?

Answer: Capitalism

Capitalism features private ownership of means of production and prices determined by supply and demand in free markets.

Which psychological concept describes the mental discomfort felt when holding two conflicting beliefs simultaneously?

Answer: Cognitive dissonance

Cognitive dissonance, coined by Leon Festinger, is the discomfort experienced when one's beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors are inconsistent.

The term 'Renaissance' literally means which of the following?

Answer: Rebirth

Renaissance is a French word meaning 'rebirth,' referring to the 14th–17th century European revival of classical art and learning.

In biology, which process describes how traits that improve survival are passed to future generations over time?

Answer: Natural selection

Natural selection is the mechanism by which heritable traits that increase survival and reproduction become more common over generations.