Deck 8: Identity

Question 1

Researchers have identified which of the following factors as a critical component of the development of identity during adolescence?

A) self-esteem
B) self-determinism
C) self-censorship
D) self-regulation

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is a reason that "identity development" is an adolescent issue?

A) An identity crisis occurs during late childhood and early adolescence.
B) A sense of identity emerges for the first time during adolescence.
C) Identity development is one of the inevitable changes of puberty, but most young people struggle during this time.
D) Changes take place during adolescence that cause young people to alter how they view and feel about themselves.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of these is one of the "big five" personality dimensions that many researchers use?

A) depression
B) agreeableness
C) self-esteem
D) selfishness

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Adolescents who have more complex self-conceptions are less likely to

A) be depressed.
B) achieve more in school.
C) have lots of friends.
D) to be foreclosed.

Question 5

When asked to describe himself, Aaron stated, "Most of my friends think I don't care about school, but I really study a lot at night because school is important to me." This is an example of how adolescent self-conceptions become more

A) contradictory.
B) logical.
C) differentiated.
D) intensified.

Question 6

Gwen has recently been preoccupied with trying to understand what kind of person she is. As an exercise, she writes out a list of 20 traits that she thinks best describe her. According to researchers, Gwen is focusing on her

A) identity.
B) self-conception.
C) self-esteem.
D) socialization.

Question 7

Maria describes herself as an only child, as a person who likes art and music, who is shy, and who likes to read. Maria's description fits best with the idea of

A) self-conception.
B) self-esteem.
C) self-attribution.
D) self-control.

Question 8

Adolescents are most likely to behave ________ in romantic situations and with a classmate, and they are least likely to engage in ________ behavior with close friends.

A) authentically; inauthentic
B) authentically; authentic
C) inauthentically; false-self
D) inauthentically; true-self

Question 9

Adolescents improve their ability and tendency to consider the long-term consequences of their decisions, which is one aspect of

A) imagining their possible selves.
B) future orientation.
C) self-concept.
D) identity formation.

Question 10

Someone who often engages in false-self behavior is relatively likely to

A) report more emotional support from parents and peers.
B) have high self-esteem.
C) report depressive symptoms.
D) report feeling satisfied with life.

Question 11

Identity formation is best seen as a

A) series of interrelated developments.
B) single developmental issue.
C) discrete quantitative switch.
D) movement into a new and different person.

Question 12

Kikko strongly dislikes country music but told Keith, who is a big country music fan and her latest love interest, that country music is her favorite and that she would love to go with him to a country music concert. This type of behavior is called

A) the negative identity.
B) code switching.
C) identity confusion.
D) false-self behavior.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about self-conception is most likely to be made by a child rather than by an adolescent?

A) "I am a complicated person."
B) "Most people think I'm very secure, but really I'm pretty shy."
C) "I am a girl. I have two brothers. I like to read."
D) "I am honest. I am helpful. I am friendly."

Question 14

As adolescents develop, their self-conceptions become more

A) negative.
B) optimistic.
C) disorganized.
D) differentiated.

Question 15

Which of the following is one of the characteristics that distinguish between the adolescent's and the child's self-concept?

A) Adolescents tend to view the self as involving fewer dimensions than children do.
B) Adolescents distinguish among actual, ideal, and feared selves.
C) The child's self varies over time and across situations.
D) When asked to describe themselves, adolescents are more likely to list their possessions than their personal qualities.

Question 16

Adolescents are most likely to exhibit false-self behavior with their

A) friends.
B) parents.
C) dates.
D) siblings.

Question 17

An important aspect of having a healthy self-concept is to be able to balance one's ________ self with one's ________ self.

A) actual; other
B) actual; feared
C) ideal; feared
D) ideal; other

Question 18

Amy, a 16-year-old girl, is shy around boys though she would really like to be more outgoing. This reflects

A) the drive toward positive self-esteem.
B) the discrepancy between her ideal and actual selves.
C) a false sense of self-concept.
D) an imbalance between the "big five" personality dimensions.

Question 19

What does the five-factor model describe?

A) research methodology
B) personality dimensions
C) false-self behavior
D) self-esteem dimensions

Question 20

Sean is an adolescent who frequently engages in false-self behavior and has low self-esteem. What would a modern researcher most likely say about the connection between these two conditions?

A) False-self behavior generally leads to low self-esteem.
B) Low self-esteem often triggers false-self behavior in adolescents.
C) There is no relation between false-self behavior and low self-esteem.
D) False-front behavior may cause low self-esteem or vice versa.

Question 21

The parents of 14-year-old Ignacio call him the mayor of the neighborhood because he knows almost everyone by name. He enjoys talking with friends and strangers and doesn't mind hearing about their problems. Which of the "big five" personality dimensions is Ignacio showing?

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

Question 22

Which of the following is a reason that early adolescents might experience fluctuations in self-esteem?

A) Their levels of egocentrism are steadily increasing.
B) They are learning that it is usually possible to tell what people are thinking based on what they say.
C) The opinions of peers take on increased importance in early adolescence.
D) Early adolescents spend most of their time engaging in false-self behavior.

Question 23

When considering older adolescents (15 years and older) and early adolescents (8- to 11-year-olds), which of the following statements is true?

A) Early adolescents tend to experience a sharp increase in self-esteem.
B) Self-esteem usually becomes more stable as adolescents grow older.
C) On average, early adolescents are less self-conscious than older adolescents are.
D) Most early adolescents have a particularly stable self-image.

Question 24

Dewayne's parents are worried that as he enters adolescence, his self-esteem will greatly decrease. During what time should Dewayne's parents expect the most fluctuations in his self-image?

A) when he is 8-11 years old
B) when he is 12-14 years old
C) when he is 15-18 years old
D) when he is 19-21 years old

Question 25

Researchers would most likely say that the statement "Adolescence is a time of storm and stress" is

A) overly optimistic.
B) a wise assessment.
C) provably inaccurate.
D) a useful cliché.

Question 26

Findings from research studies have found that the most marked fluctuations in self-image happen

A) during the transition into adolescence.
B) during middle adolescence.
C) over the course of late adolescence.
D) during the transition from late adolescence to adulthood.

Question 27

Which of the following factors is the most important predictor of an individual's overall self-esteem?

A) athletic ability
B) academic ability
C) physical appearance self-esteem
D) moral behavior and development

Question 28

During early adolescence, Cathy had a relatively stable self-image. As she enters late adolescence, Cathy's self-image is likely to

A) fluctuate greatly from one day to the next.
B) remain stable.
C) change dramatically, then stabilize.
D) change dramatically, then continue to fluctuate.

Question 29

In general, how much do people's personalities differ before and after adolescence?

A) They are usually quite different.
B) There tend to be a few major changes.
C) They usually remain about the same.
D) There is no general pattern.

Question 30

According to researchers, which of the following might make a young adolescent especially vulnerable to the effects of stress?

A) constantly changing self-image
B) low sense of self-worth
C) egocentrism
D) impression management

Question 31

Temperament and personality tend to become ________ as we ________.

A) stable; take more classes
B) unstable; get older
C) more stable; get older
D) unstable; take more classes

Question 32

According to researchers, a young adolescent who has ________ is also likely to report high levels of anxiety, tension, and adjustment problems.

A) a volatile self-image
B) high self-esteem
C) low self-consciousness
D) a stable level of agreeableness

Question 33

What does it mean to say that "we grow more like ourselves every day"?

A) As adolescents age, their personalities become more like those of their peers.
B) People are drawn to settings and situations where they can challenge themselves by trying new things.
C) As adolescents age, they become more like their parents and grandparents.
D) People are drawn to situations and settings that reward them for the traits they already have.

Question 34

Most researchers today believe that adolescents evaluate themselves

A) globally, in terms of their overall personalities.
B) along several distinct dimensions, such as academics, athletics, and moral behavior.
C) in constant comparison to their peers and their ideal self.
D) both globally and along several distinct dimensions.

Question 35

According to personality research, there is evidence that between adolescence and young adulthood, individuals tend to become

A) more extraverted and less conscientious.
B) less extraverted and more agreeable.
C) more emotionally stable and more resilient.
D) less agreeable and more emotionally stable.

Question 36

Which of the following statements regarding sex differences in self-perceptions is true?

A) Early adolescent girls' self-esteem is higher than that of same-age boys.
B) Early adolescent girls have lower self-consciousness than same-age boys.
C) Early adolescent boys have a shakier self-image than same-age girls.
D) Early adolescent girls are more likely to say negative things about themselves than same-aged boys.

Question 37

Alice has high academic self-esteem, whereas Loriann has high physical appearance self-esteem. According to researchers, who will probably have higher overall self-esteem?

A) Loriann
B) Alice
C) Loriann and Alice will most likely have equally high self-esteem.
D) There is not enough information to answer this question.

Question 38

Mei was an impulsive preschooler. It is likely that, as an adolescent, she will be

A) impulsive.
B) angry.
C) anxious.
D) well-adjusted.

Question 39

How positively or negatively an individual feels about himself or herself defines

A) self-regulation.
B) self-esteem.
C) self-attribution.
D) self-idealization.

Question 40

Jamil is highly organized. Which dimension of the five-factor model measures this quality in him?

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

Question 41

Which adolescent's global self-esteem is most likely to be affected by his or her academic success?

A) John, a White adolescent
B) Mary, an Asian-American adolescent
C) Justin, a Mexican-American adolescent
D) Virginia, a Black adolescent

Question 42

Overall, which group of adolescents feels least positive about themselves?

A) White females
B) White males
C) Black females
D) Black males

Question 43

Problems in identity development can result when

A) earlier crises have not been resolved.
B) an adolescent's environment does not allow for a period of foreclosure.
C) the adolescent has to endure a period of moratorium.
D) the adolescent has not yet experienced the crisis of generativity.

Question 44

Tony and Jeff, both Black adolescents, attend different schools. Tony attends a school where his ethnic group is in the majority and Jeff attends a predominantly White school. What do studies predict about Tony and Jeff's self-perception?

A) Tony will have fewer self-image problems than Jeff.
B) Tony will have more self-image problems than Jeff.
C) Both Tony and Jeff will have high self-esteem.
D) Both Tony and Jeff will have low self-esteem.

Question 45

Bethany is transitioning from elementary into junior high school, and Emma will be starting her senior year of high school in the fall. According to research, who is more likely to experience disruptions in self-esteem?

A) Bethany
B) Emily
C) Both are equally likely to experience disruptions in self-esteem.
D) Neither is likely to experience disruptions in self-esteem.

Question 46

The key to resolving the crisis of identity versus identity diffusion, according to Erikson, is

A) identity achievement.
B) family relationships.
C) interactions with others.
D) peer relationships.

Question 47

Which of the following is one of the explanations researchers have presented to answer the question, "Given the prevalence of prejudice in American society and the generally disadvantaged position of Blacks, why do Black adolescents have high self-esteem?"

A) Black teenagers benefit from the support and positive feedback of adults in their communities.
B) Blacks have learned not to recognize the extent to which American society discriminates against them.
C) Very few Black adolescents have experienced racism.
D) A weak sense of ethnic identity among Black adolescents prevents harm to their self-esteem.

Question 48

Identity that is incoherent, disjointed, and characterized by an incomplete sense of self is called

A) false-self behavior.
B) moratorium.
C) identity diffusion.
D) marginal identity.

Question 49

According to Erikson, the major crisis of adolescence is called

A) basic trust versus mistrust.
B) autonomy versus shame and doubt.
C) industry versus inferiority.
D) identity versus identity diffusion.

Question 50

Involvement in delinquent activity may lead to ________ in self-esteem, perhaps because involvement in delinquency ________.

A) an increase; earns teenagers approval from certain peers
B) a decrease; leads to social isolation
C) stability; has no effect on an adolescent's self-image
D) sudden fluctuations; is dynamic and unpredictable

Question 51

Jessica is 15 years old and spends considerable energy wondering who she is and what kind of person she will become. Erikson would describe her as facing the crisis called

A) basic trust versus mistrust.
B) autonomy versus shame and doubt.
C) industry versus inferiority.
D) identity versus identity diffusion.

Question 52

Erik Erikson believed that ________ is the primary psychosocial crisis of adolescence.

A) balancing a sense of trust with a sense of mistrust
B) developing a sense of autonomy and the ability to do things for oneself
C) establishing a coherent sense of identity
D) developing intimate personal relationships

Question 53

Although research indicates that physical appearance self-esteem is the best predictor of adolescents' overall self-esteem,

A) adolescents say that their physical appearance is one of the least important contributors to how they feel about themselves.
B) adolescents who are not conventionally attractive instead base their self-esteem on other factors.
C) young boys appear to be more concerned than girls about their own physical attractiveness.
D) older adolescents tend to make issues of moral development and independence the most important factor.

Question 54

Bruce, a second-year college student, has switched majors three times. He is still undecided about what he wants to do with his life. Bruce is most likely in a state of

A) psychological confusion.
B) crystallization.
C) deindividuation.
D) psychosocial moratorium.

Question 55

According to Erikson, a necessary "time-out" for adolescents is called

A) a psychosocial moratorium.
B) a period of crystallization.
C) deindividuation.
D) a period of separation.

Question 56

According to researchers, because ________ girls do not feel as ________ about their appearance as girls of other racial backgrounds, these individuals typically have ________ overall self-esteem.

A) White; negatively; higher
B) White; insecure; lower
C) Black; negatively; higher
D) Black; positively; lower

Question 57

Which of the following statements about self-esteem in children is true?

A) Having high self-esteem boosts scholastic achievement.
B) High achievement in school boosts self-esteem.
C) High achievement in school and high self-esteem are inversely related.
D) High achievement in school and high self-esteem are unrelated.

Question 58

Which adolescent is likely to be the most vulnerable to disturbances in self-image?

A) Carol, a 13-year-old female
B) Catherine, an 18-year-old female
C) Carl, a 13-year-old male
D) Carlton, an 18-year-old male

Question 59

Susan is a White, female adolescent. As such, she is ________ likely to experience disturbances to her ________ than most other adolescents.

A) less; self-concept
B) more; self-image
C) less; possible selves
D) more; future orientation

Question 60

Which adolescent would be expected to have the greatest difficulty establishing a sense of identity?

A) Michael, who has many alternatives available to him in many different arenas
B) Teresa, who has a moderate number of alternatives available to her in a few different arenas
C) Jay, who has few alternatives available to him and is expected to follow in his father's footsteps
D) Sarah, whose religion insists that women remain at home and raise families

Question 61

Across all the identity development frameworks, what is a common factor related to healthy development?

A) having authoritarian parents who focus on measurable achievement
B) having a high self-esteem and positive self-regard
C) a period of experimentation and exploration before finalizing choices
D) exploration in depth and exploration in breadth

Question 62

Specific to the ways of resolving an identity crisis, in which category would you classify Anya, an adolescent who approaches identity-related decisions with an open mind and actively seeks data?

A) informational orientation
B) normative orientation
C) diffuse/avoidant orientation
D) rational orientation

Question 63

Which of the following individuals would be considered to be in an identity diffusion state?

A) Alexandra, who has not made firm commitments and is not currently trying to make them
B) Denise, who has made identity commitments without needing a period of exploration
C) Brandon, who is in the middle of a period of exploration
D) Francis, who has established a coherent sense of identity, but only after a period of exploration

Question 64

Have attempts to speed up the identity development process by training individuals to think more about how specific life events have played a role in their development been effective?

A) Yes, adolescents can be trained to crystallize their sense of identity.
B) No, these training programs have been ineffective.
C) The results of these training programs have been mixed.
D) These types of training programs are unethical and thus have not been attempted.

Question 65

Generally speaking, the parenting style that is associated with the healthiest identity development is

A) warm but not excessively constraining.
B) cool but not excessively demanding.
C) emotionally neutral and focused on achievement.
D) warm but discouraging of individuality.

Question 66

Sixteen-year-old Geneva believes that the death penalty is wrong because her parents, friends, and church say so. She has never really thought about the issue, but she has accepted this view as her own. This pattern of following what her parents and peers say and do is pervasive throughout most of her beliefs and behaviors. Which identity state do you think Geneva is in?

A) achievement
B) foreclosure
C) diffusion
D) moratorium

Question 67

James has flunked out of high school, has severed all his ties with family and friends, and has no sense of where he is headed. He also seems to have significant disruptions in his sense of time (some things seem to happen much faster than they really do). According to Erikson, James is experiencing

A) identity diffusion.
B) negative identity.
C) identity foreclosure.
D) psychosocial moratorium.

Question 68

What is the most accurate way to describe movement through the four identity states?

A) Progression through the states has a preconceived, orderly sequence.
B) Individuals move from state to state, but not necessarily in an orderly fashion.
C) Conflicts in each state must be satisfied before moving to next state.
D) Each state has developmental tasks that need to be solved, and failure to successfully navigate a state will halt development.

Question 69

Which identity status is associated with a coherent sense of identity?

A) achievement
B) foreclosure
C) moratorium
D) diffusion

Question 70

Researchers believe that some adolescents forge a sense of self-definition in a difficult environment by

A) selecting a negative identity.
B) staying away from drugs and alcohol.
C) engaging in identity moratorium.
D) engaging in identity foreclosure.

Question 71

Generalizing from research on identity states, which of these individuals is most likely to show authoritarian traits and have the highest need for social approval?

A) Sanjay, identity achieved
B) Ann, identity diffusion
C) Michele, psychosocial moratorium
D) Tara, identity foreclosed

Question 72

Adolescents who are in which identity state are most psychologically healthy, according to researchers?

A) identity maximization
B) identity foreclosure
C) identity achievement
D) identity moratorium

Question 73

Edith, the adolescent daughter of the local police chief, has recently been hanging out with a rowdy group of youth who have vandalized a number of public buildings. Edith has most likely adopted a

A) false-self behavior.
B) negative peer culture.
C) negative identity.
D) gender-variant behavior set.

Question 74

Which of these statements would the researcher Erik Erikson most likely agree with?

A) Most adolescents achieve a balanced and coherent sense of identity quite easily.
B) Each adolescent goes through one major psychosocial crisis.
C) Whenever possible, adolescents must be protected from psychosocial crises.
D) Psychosocial crises are a necessary part of adolescent development.

Question 75

As a psychology student, you attend a panel discussion that features a psychologist who follows Erik Erikson's theoretical framework and a psychiatrist who is interested in the four identity states. Based on what you have read in the chapter, how would you expect these two experts to react to each other?

A) The psychologist will most likely focus on teens' relationships with parents, while the psychiatrist will most likely focus on teens' relationships with peers.
B) They are likely to have dissimilar views of early childhood development.
C) The psychologist will most likely focus on quantitative research, and the psychiatrist will most likely focus on qualitative research.
D) They are likely to have similar views of adolescent development.

Question 76

As part of a research project, you interview high-school seniors. One senior, Manny, tells you that his mom is a shop steward at the local car manufacturer and will likely get him a job there when he graduates. For this reason, he shows no interest in attending college, joining the military, or starting his own business. Which identity state most accurately describes Manny?

A) identity diffusion
B) identity achievement
C) identity moratorium
D) identity foreclosure

Question 77

A sense of identity is typically crystallized

A) in early adolescence.
B) throughout the adolescent period.
C) in late adolescence.
D) in late adolescence to the early 20s.

Question 78

Which of the following individuals would be considered to be in an identity achieved state?

A) Alexandra, who has not made firm commitments and is not currently trying to make them
B) Denise, who has made identity commitments without needing a period of exploration
C) Brandon, who is in the midst of a period of exploration
D) Francis, who has made identity commitments, but only after a period of exploration

Question 79

What do the results from longitudinal studies on identity development indicate about the flexibility of identity statuses?

A) The majority of adolescents who were classified as being in a state of identity diffusion were still classified that way four years later.
B) The majority of individuals who had apparently foreclosed the identity development process were in the midst of an identity crisis four years later.
C) A large proportion of individuals who were classified as being in a state of identity achievement remained classified that way at later time-points.
D) For adolescents, states of achievement and foreclosure tend to be permanent.

Question 80

Which of the following individuals would be considered to be in an identity foreclosure state?

A) Alexandra, who has not made firm commitments and is not currently trying to make them
B) Denise, who has made identity commitments without needing a period of exploration
C) Brandon, who is in the middle of a period of exploration
D) Francis, who has established a coherent sense of identity, but only after a period of exploration