Which of the following terms is used regarding the relationship between genetic predispositions and social interactions?

• A. Proximate
• B. Ultimate
• C. Distal
• D. Reciprocal

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how we explain behavior by looking at the immediate, mechanism-level factors rather than evolutionary history. Proximate explanations focus on the direct, in-the-moment processes that connect genetic predispositions to how someone behaves in social interactions. This includes how genes influence physiology and brain function, how development shapes expression, and how social context and experiences trigger or regulate those predispositions. In short, it’s about the present-day mechanisms that translate a genetic tendency into observable social behavior.

Ultimate explanations would ask why the predispositions exist from an evolutionary standpoint, not how they are expressed in current social settings. Distal isn’t the standard term used in this particular framework, and reciprocal would imply a bidirectional influence that isn’t the specific focus of linking genes to behavior through social interactions. Therefore, proximate is the best fit for describing this relationship.