Final answer:
The statement that individuals can develop new skills and grow in character in response to stress and trauma is true, illustrating the concept of post-traumatic growth. Women have shown resilience during wartime, thus contradicting the claim that they were incapable of handling war burdens. Fight or flight behavior has evolutionary origins, giving survival advantage and being passed down genetically.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some individuals that are exposed to stressful situations, trauma, and combat can indeed develop new skills, display previously hidden strengths, and experience personal growth in character. This question relates to the concept of post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth is the positive psychological change that occurs as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances. The answer to the question is A. True.
Contrary to the statement that many women found themselves incapable of handling the burdens of war when their husbands and fathers went off to fight, historical evidence shows that many women stepped up to take on roles that were traditionally held by men, showing resilience and adaptability. Therefore, the answer to Exercise 8.3.2 is B. False.
In the context of natural selection, fight or flight behavior has indeed been advantageous for survival and has been passed down through generations. Individuals that were able to survive due to this trait passed it on to their offspring, while those who lacked the trait were less likely to survive and reproduce. Thus, this adaptive response has been incorporated into human lineage.