What does it indicate if one variable increases while the other decreases in correlation?

• A. A positive correlation.
• B. An uncorrelated relationship.
• C. A negative correlation.
• D. A perfect correlation.

Answer: (C)

When one variable increases while the other decreases, this indicates a negative correlation. In a negative correlation, there is an inverse relationship between the two variables: as one variable rises (for example, an increase in temperature), the other variable tends to fall (such as a decrease in the number of people wearing winter clothing). This relationship suggests that the changes in one variable correspond to opposite changes in the other, which is a key characteristic of negative correlations.

Understanding correlations is crucial in biological psychology, as these relationships can reveal how different biological and psychological factors interact. For instance, if stress levels increase and, as a result, sleep quality decreases, that would also be an example of a negative correlation, illustrating how physiological responses can impact psychological well-being.