Deck 14: Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood

Question 1

Jacqueline nurtures and guides her children. According to Erik Erikson, she has achieved ________ generativity.

A) biological
B) parental
C) work
D) cultural

Answer 1

parental

Question 2

In Erikson's theory, ________ encompasses adults' desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation.

A) self-actualization
B) generativity
C) self-absorption
D) perpetuity

Answer 2

generativity

Question 3

Guillermo has taught his apprentices all the specialized techniques he has developed over the years as a carpenter. According to Erikson, he has achieved ________ generativity.

A) biological
B) parental
C) work
D) cultural

Answer 3

work

Question 4

According to Levinson, the transition from dependence to independence is marked by the

A) realization of a goal.
B) testing of a dream.
C) free experimentation of a dream.
D) formation of a dream.

Question 5

According to Levinson, which of the following is a major task that needs to be mastered in early adulthood?

A) exploring the possibilities for adult living
B) determining one's goals in life
C) testing one's dreams in the real world
D) becoming independent

Question 6

Abdiel has three children. According to Erikson, he has achieved

A) biological generativity.
B) parental generativity.
C) biological stagnation.
D) cultural stagnation.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true of Erikson's stage of generativity versus stagnation?

A) Universally, research refutes Erikson's theory that generativity is an important dimension of middle age.
B) Generative adults usually refrain from committing themselves to the continuation and improvement of society as a whole.
C) Generative adults develop a positive legacy of the self and then offer it as a gift to the next generation.
D) Adults usually strive to achieve a kind of recognition through legacies.

Question 8

From about the ages of 28 to 33, a man goes through a transition period in which he must face the more serious question of

A) achieving his independence.
B) forming his dreams.
C) achieving his goals.
D) determining his goals.

Question 9

Which of the following is the seventh stage of Erikson's psychosocial theory?

A) intimacy versus isolation
B) integrity versus despair
C) autonomy versus shame and doubt
D) generativity versus stagnation

Question 10

Jensen is 25 years old, and he will be starting his career as a business analyst. According to Levinson, Jensen is in the ________ phase of adult development.

A) stagnant
B) novice
C) expert
D) generative

Question 11

According to Levinson, identify a major task that must be mastered in early adulthood.

A) reaching the pinnacle of one's career
B) developing a stable life structure
C) focusing on family development
D) forming an image of one's career

Question 12

Jared is 50 years old. He has been working in a corporate law firm since the past 25 years. Even though he has been successful in his career, he realizes that he has done nothing for his children. According to Erikson's theory, Jared's realization indicates ________.

A) perpetuity
B) generativity
C) self-actualization
D) stagnation

Question 13

In Erikson's theory, adults strive for generativity to achieve a sense of

A) immortality.
B) recognition.
C) achievement.
D) omniscience.

Question 14

Kyle just celebrated his 40th birthday. According to Levinson, Kyle has

A) reached a stable point in his career.
B) just started to determine his goals.
C) just formed a dream about his future.
D) just started his career and is focused.

Question 15

In a longitudinal study of Smith College women, the desire for ________ increased as the participants aged from their thirties to their fifties.

A) generativity
B) self-concept
C) stagnation
D) self-absorption

Question 16

Saeko has committed herself to the continuation and improvement of society as a whole through her connection and relationship with their children and grandchildren. According to Erikson, she is

A) self-absorbed.
B) generative.
C) stagnant.
D) apathetic.

Question 17

Erikson proposed that middle-aged adults face a significant issue, which he termed

A) intimacy versus isolation.
B) integrity versus despair.
C) generativity versus stagnation.
D) autonomy versus shame and doubt.

Question 18

According to Levinson, which of the following should occur at the end of one's teens?

A) a transition from dependence to independence
B) an increase in generativity
C) an increase in feelings of stagnation
D) a transition from conventional to postconventional reasoning

Question 19

According to Levinson, the transition to middle adulthood lasts about ________ years.

A) 2
B) 4
C) 5
D) 7

Question 20

As he looks back at life, Chris realizes that his work was not as important to him as he believed and that he lost too much valuable time with his children. If he could do it over again, he would work less and spend more time with his children. According to Erikson, Chris is experiencing some degree of

A) social rejection.
B) apathy.
C) generativity.
D) stagnation.

Question 21

Over which of the following aspects of life do middle-aged adults feel they have the least control?

A) finances
B) sex life
C) work
D) marriage

Question 22

According to Levinson, the ________ rests on how effectively an individual reduces the polarities and accepts each of them as an integral part of his or her being.

A) failure of adolescent transition
B) success of the midlife transition
C) success of transition into early adulthood
D) success of transition into late adulthood

Question 23

Adult development experts are virtually unanimous in their belief that midlife crises

A) have been validated.
B) have been exaggerated.
C) have no cross-cultural validity.
D) have been underestimated.

Question 24

The ________ life-events approach emphasized the manner in which life events that influence an individual's development depends not only on these events but also on mediating factors.

A) contemporary
B) standard
C) cognitive
D) assimilative

Question 25

The life-events approach to understanding adult development has been criticized because it

A) placed too much emphasis on change.
B) ignored the developmental stages adults go through.
C) did not consider the female experience.
D) focused on minor and not major life events.

Question 26

According to Lachman, researchers have found that on average a sense of personal control peaks in ________ and then declines.

A) early adulthood
B) midlife
C) adolescence
D) late adulthood

Question 27

According to Levinson, the transition to middle adulthood requires the adult male come to grips with four major conflicts. One of the major conflicts is

A) being married versus being single.
B) being attractive versus being unattractive.
C) being destructive versus being constructive.
D) being extroverted versus being introverted.

Question 28

Which of the following is a shortcoming of stage theories of adult development?

A) They do not adequately address universals of adult personality development.
B) They do not adequately address individual variations in adult development.
C) They place far too much importance on cultural variations in adult development.
D) They place too much importance on individual variations in adult development.

Question 29

According to research, women and men differ in the way they experience and respond to stressors. When coping with stress, women were more likely than men to

A) try to fix problems themselves.
B) engage in comfort eating.
C) attend a support group meeting.
D) have sex or use pornography.

Question 30

Which of the following acts as the focus of stage theories trying to explain midlife?

A) universals of adult personality development
B) gender differences in adult personality development
C) individual variations in adult development
D) cultural variations in adult personality development

Question 31

According to Lachman, researchers have found that in one-third of the cases in which individuals have reported going through a midlife crisis, the crisis

A) varies between men and women.
B) leads to emotional instability.
C) is related to aging.
D) is triggered by life events.

Question 32

Middle-aged adults feel they have less control over their

A) marriage.
B) finances.
C) work.
D) children.

Question 33

According to the contemporary life-events approach, one of the factors on which the influence of life events depends is the

A) individual's cognitive capacity.
B) individual's adaptation.
C) individual's personality.
D) individual's race.

Question 34

According to the Almeida and Horn's study, which of the following is the difference in the experience of stressors between young adults and middle-aged adults?

A) Unlike middle-aged adults, young adults experienced daily stressors less frequently.
B) Unlike young adults, middle-aged adults experienced less multiple stressors than older adults.
C) Unlike middle-aged adults, young adults were less physically reactive to work stressors.
D) Unlike young adults, middle-aged adults experienced more "overload" stressors.

Question 35

Daniel Levinson's studies suggest that most adults feel that middle age is a time of

A) crisis.
B) reconsolidation.
C) peace and tranquility.
D) intimacy and social closeness.

Question 36

According to Levinson, the transition to middle adulthood requires the adult male come to grips with four major conflicts. Which of the following is one of the major conflicts?

A) being young versus being old
B) being attractive versus being unattractive
C) being extroverted versus being introverted
D) being married versus being single

Question 37

Jenna is reevaluating and recording the facts about her adolescent and adulthood years. According to the Grant Study by George Vaillant, Jenna is most likely in her ________.

A) 40s
B) 50s
C) 60s
D) 30s

Question 38

What did Levinson's research conclude about women in midlife transition?

A) Women have significantly less distress during this process.
B) Women face the midlife transition earlier and with greater difficulty than do men.
C) Women who have children experience an easier time during midlife than those who do not have children.
D) Levinson reported that his stages, transitions, and the crisis of middle age hold for women as well as men.

Question 39

George Vaillant concludes that ________ is a time for detecting parental flaws and discovering the truth about childhood.

A) adolescence
B) late adulthood
C) middle adulthood
D) old age

Question 40

Which of the following is a major difference between Levinson's and Valliant's views on midlife?

A) Unlike Valliant, Levinson believes that only males experience a midlife crisis.
B) Unlike Levinson, Valliant maintains that only a minority of adults experience a midlife crisis.
C) Levinson maintains that the transition period to midlife is 6 years, while Valliant holds it to be 8 years.
D) Unlike Levinson, Valliant's study was mainly focused on white, middle-aged, male population within the upper SES of society.

Question 41

In the context of stress, which of the following is a difference between a fight-or-flight manner and a tend-and-befriend pattern?

A) A fight-or-flight manner involves becoming aggressive and withdrawing from social contact, whereas a tend-and-befriend pattern involves seeking social alliances with others, especially friends.
B) When women face stress, they are more likely to respond in a fight-or-flight manner, whereas when men experience stress, they are more likely to engage in a tend-and-befriend pattern.
C) A fight-or-flight manner involves seeking psychotherapy or reading a self-help book, whereas a tend-and-befriend pattern involves not admitting to have problems and fixing problems without anyone's help.
D) When older adults face stress, they are more likely to respond in a fight-or-flight manner, whereas when adolescents experience stress, they are more likely to engage in a tend-and-befriend pattern.

Question 42

Becky is careless, impulsive, and disorganized. According to the Big Five personality factors, Becky is most likely to score low on

A) openness to experience.
B) agreeableness.
C) neuroticism.
D) conscientiousness.

Question 43

Hannah is grieving the death of her mother, so she is experiencing extreme stress. She is likely to engage in

A) a tend-and-befriend pattern.
B) an aggressive behavior.
C) a fight-or-flight response.
D) social distancing.

Question 44

Amanda got divorced after 15 years of marriage. Ever since, she has been experiencing high levels of stress. To cope with stress, Amanda is most likely to

A) attend a support group meeting.
B) have sex or use pornography.
C) take prescription medication.
D) withdraw from social contact.

Question 45

Which of the following supertraits deals with emotional stability and describes an individual as being calm or anxious?

A) conscientiousness
B) extraversion
C) openness
D) neuroticism

Question 46

Diana is fun-loving, sociable, and affectionate with all her friends and acquaintances. Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes this aspect of Diana's personality.

A) extraversion
B) conscientiousness
C) neuroticism
D) agreeableness

Question 47

According to research, women and men differ in the way they experience and respond to stressors. When coping with stress, men were more likely than women to

A) read a self-help book.
B) engage in comfort eating.
C) take prescription medication.
D) have sex or use pornography.

Question 48

Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes whether an individual is imaginative or practical?

A) agreeableness
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) openness to experience

Question 49

Gary got divorced after 7 years of marriage. He is highly stressed and is using the fight-or-flight manner to respond to stress. Gary is most likely to

A) withdraw from social contact.
B) be merciful and forgiving.
C) seek social alliances.
D) tend and befriend people.

Question 50

Chelsea is described as somber and reserved by her coworkers. According to the Big Five factors of personality, Chelsea is most likely to score low on

A) extraversion.
B) openness to experience.
C) conscientiousness.
D) agreeableness.

Question 51

Which of the following is one of the Big Five factors of personality?

A) generativity
B) extraversion
C) transitivity
D) stagnation

Question 52

A recent study by Specht, Egloff, and Schukle found that ________ showed a continuous increase from early adulthood to late adulthood.

A) agreeableness
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) openness

Question 53

Which of the following is the conclusion of the study conducted by Costa and McCrae on approximately 1,000 college-educated men and women aged 20 to 96?

A) Considerable stability occurs in the five personality factors.
B) Extraversion is the most unstable personality factor.
C) While extraversion and openness remained stable, agreeableness and conscientiousness varied greatly.
D) The five personality factors were very unstable across different age groups.

Question 54

Adam has been facing work-related stress lately. The stress is negatively affecting his health. Adam is likely to respond in a

A) composed manner.
B) fight-or-flight manner.
C) stagnant manner.
D) tend-and-befriend pattern.

Question 55

Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes a person as either disciplined or impulsive?

A) openness to experience
B) conscientiousness
C) neuroticism
D) agreeableness

Question 56

Carla is described by her coworkers as highly organized and meticulous. She has a strong sense of self-discipline. According to the Big Five factors of personality, Carla is most likely to score high on

A) openness to experience.
B) extraversion.
C) conscientiousness.
D) agreeableness.

Question 57

Darren has a stressful work life. His workload has increased threefold, and he is having a hard time dealing with stress. In such a situation, Darren is most likely to

A) take prescription medication.
B) read a self-help book.
C) attend a support group meeting.
D) seek psychotherapy.

Question 58

Which of the following is one of the Big Five factors of personality identified by Costa and McCrae?

A) enthusiasm
B) patience
C) adaptability
D) conscientiousness

Question 59

Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes whether an individual is fun-loving or somber.

A) agreeableness
B) openness to experience
C) conscientiousness
D) extraversion

Question 60

Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes whether an individual is independent or conforming.

A) openness to experience
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) agreeableness

Question 61

According to research, which of the following is a difference between individuals high in conscientiousness and individuals high in neuroticism?

A) Individuals high in conscientiousness are more likely to live longer, whereas individuals high in neuroticism are more likely to die at a younger age.
B) Individuals high in conscientiousness are more likely to be drug dependent, whereas individuals high in neuroticism are more likely to have an alcohol addiction.
C) Individuals high in conscientiousness are successful entrepreneurs, whereas individuals high in neuroticism are successful managers.
D) Individuals high in conscientiousness feel negative emotion than positive emotion in daily life, whereas individuals high in neuroticism experience more lingering positive states.

Question 62

Middle-aged Americans agree that a major component of their well-being involves

A) physical health.
B) positive relationships.
C) recovering from a midlife crisis.
D) a stable financial situation.

Question 63

Don and Ellie have been married for over 30 years. Which of the following is likely to be MOST important in their relationship?

A) romance
B) passion
C) infatuation
D) security

Question 64

According to a study by Donnellan, Larsen-Rife, and Conger (2005), individuals high on ________ were more likely to have satisfying romantic relationships.

A) agreeableness
B) neuroticism
C) extraversion
D) openness

Question 65

In the Berkeley Longitudinal Studies, which of the following characteristics generally changed the most in the life span of an adult?

A) intellectual orientation
B) nurturance or hostility
C) openness to experience
D) self-confidence

Question 66

According to the Big Five factors of personality, which of the following personality supertraits describes an individual as either secure or insecure?

A) neuroticism
B) agreeableness
C) openness
D) extraversion

Question 67

Most research studies indicate that the greatest change in personality traits occurs in

A) midlife.
B) late midlife.
C) late adulthood.
D) early adulthood.

Question 68

Humberto and Xanat are a middle-aged couple. They have been married for 25 years. They view their marriage as a positive experience. According to a study by Gorchoff, John, and Helson, it is likely that they

A) have a satisfying sexual relationship.
B) feel a high level of physical attraction toward each other.
C) engage in mutual activities.
D) are religious.

Question 69

Which of the following statements is true of George Vaillant's longitudinal studies of adulthood and aging?

A) Factors such as having good coping skills and being thankful were linked with the "happy-well" category.
B) Only individuals with normal weight were more likely to be alive and happy at 75 to 80 years of age.
C) Intimacy in middle age was more strongly related than generativity whether individuals would have an enduring and happy marriage at 75 to 80 years of age.
D) Wealth and income at age 50 were usually linked with being in the "happy-well" category at 75 to 80 years of age.

Question 70

In the Berkeley Longitudinal Studies, which of the following characteristics was generally stable in the life span of an adult?

A) nurturance
B) hostility
C) self-control
D) self-confidence

Question 71

In the longitudinal studies by George Vaillant, one of the factors at age 50 that was linked with being in the "happy-well" category of 75- to 80-year-olds was

A) being future-oriented.
B) being wealthy.
C) having a stable job.
D) having children.

Question 72

Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes an individual as either self-satisfied or self-pitying?

A) openness
B) agreeableness
C) neuroticism
D) extraversion

Question 73

In a survey conducted by AARP (2004), divorced adults reported that they had generally stayed married and postponed their divorces because of

A) their children.
B) financial problems.
C) religious beliefs.
D) cultural norms.

Question 74

Jason's friends describe him as softhearted, trustworthy, and helpful. According to the Big Five factors of personality, Jason is most likely to score high on

A) conscientiousness.
B) openness to experience.
C) agreeableness.
D) extraversion.

Question 75

According to George Vaillant's longitudinal studies, ________ in middle age was more strongly related than intimacy to whether individuals would have an enduring and happy marriage at 75 to 80 years of age.

A) generativity
B) stagnation
C) autonomy
D) assuming a traditional gender role

Question 76

Vaillant's research showed that at age 50, the best predictors of who would be dead at 75 to 80 years of age were

A) chronic depression and cardiovascular disease.
B) diabetes and depression.
C) alcohol abuse and smoking.
D) smoking and obesity.

Question 77

A study by Briley, Domiteaux, and Tucker-Drob (2014) revealed that ________ was related to superior cognitive functioning and IQ across the life span.

A) agreeableness
B) openness
C) extraversion
D) neuroticism

Question 78

What are the two major forms of love?

A) passionate and intimate
B) companionate and consummate
C) romantic and affectionate
D) sexual and noncommittal

Question 79

Cathy and Miguel have been dating for 6 months. Which of the following is likely to be LEAST important in their relationship considering that both are in early adulthood?

A) passion
B) loyalty
C) physical attraction
D) romance

Question 80

The ________ model of personality development states that with time and age people become more adept at interacting with their environment in ways that promote increased stability in personality.

A) cognitive personality
B) cumulative personality
C) humanistic personality
D) integrative personality