Deck 13: Middle Adulthood: Cognitive, personality, and Social Development

Question 1

Though all three adaptive processes occur across the life span,adapting to life changes during middle adulthood primarily involves which kind of adaptive functioning?

A)Growth
B)Maintenance
C)Regeneration
D)Regulation of loss

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Based on research about the narratives adults produce when they're asked to tell about their life stories,which of the following descriptions applies to adults who are low in generativity?

A)Telling life stories with redemption themes
B)Being guided by a compelling,stable ideology
C)Conveying a progressive structure to one's life
D)Telling life stories with "contamination" sequences

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In theorizing about changes in adulthood,Schaie emphasizes the shift in family roles and the intellectual skills allocated for these various roles.What do most other theorists emphasize in their examination of life-course changes?

A)Brain structure: changes in neuron production and pruning
B)Personality: changes in self-concept and self-expression
C)Changes in cognitive skills and intelligence
D)Changes in physical strength and limitations

Answer 3

B

Question 4

During what phases of children's development is family life typically the calmest?

A)Adolescence
B)Toddler years
C)Infancy
D)Middle childhood

Question 5

Which of the following approaches does Gottman use in assessing marriages and predicting their stability?

A)Application of maintenance hypothesis
B)Intrapersonal knowledge profiles
C)Interpersonal skill ratings
D)Ratio of positive and negative factors

Question 6

According to longitudinal studies,what level of stability (if any)is found in personality traits across the life span?

A)No stability
B)Low level of stability
C)Moderate level of stability
D)High level of stability

Question 7

Peggy,a 62-year-old woman,has been unable to work for the past year because of a back injury that she sustained at her job as a cafeteria worker.Her adult son,Brian,lives close enough for her to babysit his two young children on a regular basis.Peggy's 35-year-old daughter,Linda,lives in another part of the state and recently had a new baby boy named Luke.Linda has asked her mother to move in with her to help care for her newborn.Based upon the life span development model,for which of the following individuals is growth the most characteristic mode of adaptation?

A)Peggy
B)Luke
C)Linda
D)Brian

Question 8

In comparing leadership styles of men and women in leadership roles,what difference do researchers find?

A)Women likely to be more interpersonal
B)Men likely to be more task-oriented
C)Women more likely to be democratic
D)Men more likely to be compromising

Question 9

Which of the following assumptions distinguishes life span developmental approaches to human development from other developmental approaches?

A)Development is shaped by the interplay of nature and nurture.
B)Cultural influences are more important in adult development than in child development.
C)Development across the life span is primarily a process of unfolding maturation.
D)Adaptation continues from birth to death.

Question 10

What kind of intelligence relates to the efficiency of processes like reasoning and mechanical functions?

A)Intrapersonal intelligence
B)Crystalized intelligence
C)Fluid intelligence
D)Digital intelligence

Question 11

Research that takes a life-course perspective involves examination of developmental influences related to historical events.What are these history-graded events called?

A)Cohort effects
B)Socioeconomic positions
C)Nonnormative events
D)Virtual landscape factors

Question 12

Though personality traits are largely stable after age 30,what basic dimensions of personality tend to increase during middle adulthood?

A)Neuroticism and conscientiousness
B)Conscientiousness and agreeableness
C)Extraversion and openness to experience
D)Confidence and openness to experience

Question 13

According to developmental theorist Vaillant,when do individuals experience a stage of career consolidation?

A)Young adulthood
B)During all stages of adulthood
C)Early middle adulthood
D)Late adulthood

Question 14

Based on 21st century data,which one of the following groups has the longest life expectancy in the United States?

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

Question 15

Among the following cognitive abilities or processes,which one is maintained (while the others decline)as we age?

A)Working memory
B)Semantic memory
C)Processing speed
D)Inhibitory control

Question 16

The Five Factor Model (Big 5),which represents the most basic dimensions of personality,includes all of the following traits EXCEPT:

A)Confidence
B)Extraversion
C)Openness to experience
D)Agreeableness

Question 17

Peggy,a 62-year-old woman,has been unable to work for the past year because of a back injury that she sustained at her job as a cafeteria worker.Her adult son,Brian,lives close enough for her to babysit his two young children on a regular basis.Peggy's 35-year-old daughter,Linda,lives in another part of the state and recently had a new baby boy named Luke.Linda has asked her mother to move in with her to help care for her newborn.Based upon the life span development model,for which of the following individuals is maintenance the most characteristic mode of adaptation?

A)Peggy
B)Linda
C)None of these individuals
D)Luke

Question 18

According to Gottman,what are the "four horsemen of the apocalypse" that do the most damage to relationships?

A)Stress,negativity,conflict,and hostility
B)Envy,dishonesty,injustice,and indifference
C)Contempt,criticism,defensiveness,and stonewalling
D)Addiction,abuse,job loss,and betrayal

Question 19

For helping professionals,which of the following provides the best overarching framework for understanding how development in middle adulthood connects to childhood as well as old age?

A)Darwinian theories
B)Life span developmental theory
C)Intrapersonal and interpersonal models
D)Identity development models

Question 20

Among the physical changes occurring in adults,which of the following is most likely to begin in the 30s?

A)Erectile dysfunction
B)Increase in the production of estrogen
C)Menopause
D)Decline in sensitivity to high-frequency sounds

Question 21

Based on research,which adolescent and early adult personality characteristics foreshadow high levels of generativity in middle adulthood?

A)Extraversion and agreeableness
B)Agreeableness and openness
C)Strong power and achievement needs
D)Needs for recognition and prestige

Question 22

In Gottman's (1999)research,which of the following "four horsemen of the apocalypse" behaviors is particularly destructive and perhaps most predictive of relationship failure?

A)Criticism
B)Defensiveness
C)Contempt
D)Stonewalling

Question 23

Genaro is a 55-year-old truck driver who developed anxiety attacks after a recent accident that left him with a serious back injury.Because of his anxiety,he has stopped going to physical therapy.He is considering whether he can return to truck driving,whether he can afford to retire,or if he will need to explore options for a new career.Which of the following would be an example of regulating loss in adapting to his circumstances?

A)Returning to physical therapy so that he can go back to his job as a truck driver
B)Coming to terms with his injury and the loss of his job and income
C)Making financial decisions that will allow him to retire early
D)Starting a support group for others suffering from anxiety in his church community

Question 24

Peggy,a 62-year-old woman,has been unable to work for the past year because of a back injury that she sustained at her job as a cafeteria worker.Her adult son,Brian,lives close enough for her to babysit his two young children on a regular basis.Peggy's 35-year-old daughter,Linda,lives in another part of the state and recently had a new baby boy named Luke.Linda has asked her mother to move in with her to help care for her newborn.Based upon the life span development model,for which of the following individuals is regulation of loss the primary mode of adaptation?

A)Peggy
B)Luke
C)Brian
D)Linda

Question 25

Research on mate selection indicates that people choose mates on the basis of all of the following characteristics EXCEPT

A)physical attractiveness.
B)homogamy.
C)compatibility.
D)agency.

Question 26

According to Erikson and Vaillant,which of the following statements best captures the psychological state that is typical of midlife?

A)Feeling content with a career niche that provides economic security
B)Striving to find a way to use one's talent to give meaning to life and to the lives of other people
C)A focus on maintaining a sense of self-esteem by achieving recognition for work
D)Struggling with intimacy as one becomes a marital partner or parent

Question 27

Cross-cultural research findings indicate that

A)age-related changes in personality traits differ across different cultural groups.
B)age-related changes in personality traits are consistent across different cultural groups.
C)age-graded changes in personality traits do not exist in more collectivistic cultures.
D)age-graded changes in personality traits do not exist in more individualistic cultures.

Question 28

According to Carter and McGoldrick,one of the second-order changes in the family in the launching period is

A)differentiating the self from one's family of origin.
B)maintaining couple functioning in the face of physiological decline.
C)opening the boundaries to allow adolescent children to move in and out of the system.
D)renegotiating the marital system as a dyad.

Question 29

Chen and Anne come to counseling because they are on the brink of a divorce.After five years of marriage,Anne sees Chen as a highly controlling individual who micromanages their bank account and continues to escalate their conflict.Chen considers Anne's spending extravagant and blames her family background for creating her lack of responsibility.From Chen's perspective,what theory about marriage would explain the relationship failure?

A)Intrapersonal theory
B)Steady state theory
C)Social exchange theory
D)Homeostatic theory

Question 30

Based upon research about marital relationships conducted by Gottman,what feature of a relationship best predicts the demise of a relationship?

A)Homeostatic steady state
B)Negative affect reciprocity
C)Disillusionment
D)Childlessness

Question 31

Sonya is a successful therapist with three adult children.She is 50 years old and in relatively good health.Sonya has some minor aches and stiff joints,mostly stemming from an old knee injury she suffered while playing sports in college.She and her husband reside on the West coast near Sonya's elderly father.Her younger daughter is still in middle school.Her two older children live in different states,and her oldest son has been diagnosed with HIV.Sonya tries to bring the family together as often as she can,but it is usually only once or twice a year.She is involved in her community and is a generous donor to programs that support research on AIDS.Which of the following describes Sonya or her life stage?

A)She is in the second honeymoon stage.
B)She is in the sandwich generation.
C)She is in the ego-integration stage.
D)She is in the individualistic stage.

Question 32

Chen and Anne come to counseling because they are on the brink of a divorce.After five years of marriage,Anne sees Chen as a highly controlling individual who micromanages their bank account and continues to escalate their conflict.Chen considers Anne's spending extravagant and blames her family background for creating her lack of responsibility.From Anne's perspective,what theory about marriage would explain the relationship failure?

A)Intrapersonal theory
B)Steady state theory
C)Social exchange theory
D)Homeostatic theory

Question 33

Fluid intelligence is to ____________ as crystallized intelligence is to ____________.

A)working memory / executive functions
B)pragmatics / mechanics
C)metacognition / working memory
D)mechanics / pragmatics

Question 34

The "Big Five" personality traits are

A)conscientiousness,agreeableness,aggressiveness,neuroticism and introversion.
B)warmth,neuroticism,conscientiousness,introversion and extroversion.
C)sociability,openness,neuroticism,agreeableness and aggressiveness.
D)agreeableness,neuroticism,openness,extraversion and conscientiousness.

Question 35

Sonya is a successful therapist with three adult children.She is 50 years old and in relatively good health.Sonya has some minor aches and stiff joints,mostly stemming from an old knee injury she suffered while playing sports in college.She and her husband reside on the West coast near Sonya's elderly father.Her younger daughter is still in middle school.Her two older children live in different states,and her oldest son has been diagnosed with HIV.Sonya tries to bring the family together as often as she can,but it is usually only once or twice a year.She is involved in her community and is a generous donor to programs that support research on AIDS.Which of the following could be considered a nonnormative event in Sonya's life?

A)Her children's move to other states
B)Her son's diagnosis of HIV
C)Her physical limitations
D)Her generation's approach to community involvement

Question 36

Which of the following physical changes is most likely to be experienced by adults in their 40s?

A)It will take longer than before for eyes to adapt to changes in light.
B)They will acquire a serious disability.
C)The ability to hear normal speech sounds will noticeably decline.
D)Their body will produce more elastin as they age.

Question 37

Genaro is a 55-year-old truck driver who developed anxiety attacks after a recent accident that left him with a serious back injury.Because of his anxiety,he has stopped going to physical therapy.He is considering whether he can return to truck driving,whether he can afford to retire,or if he will need to explore options for a new career.Which of the following would be an example of maintenance in adapting to his circumstances?

A)Returning to physical therapy so that he can go back to his job as a truck driver
B)Coming to terms with his injury and the loss of his job and income
C)Reading books on late-life career changes so that he can understand his options
D)Starting a business from home so that he can earn enough money to supplement a limited pension income

Question 38

Mark,a 47-year-old man,is very shy.He has difficulty interacting with others because he feels awkward and does not easily express his thoughts and feelings.He is a relatively successful artist who lives alone in a rural Southern state.Mark also remembers being very shy as a child.Which of the following is NOT a likely explanation for the continuity of Mark's personality over his life span?

A)Mark's early temperamental shyness was influenced by his genes.
B)Mark's parents did not try to make him more outgoing.
C)Mark selected a job which reinforced his temperamental characteristics.
D)Mark's early temperament and his later personality traits are moderately correlated.

Question 39

Genaro is a 55-year-old truck driver who developed anxiety attacks after a recent accident that left him with a serious back injury.Because of his anxiety,he has stopped going to physical therapy.He is considering whether he can return to truck driving,whether he can afford to retire,or if he will need to explore options for a new career.Which of the following would be an example of growth in adapting to these circumstances?

A)Returning to physical therapy so that he can go back to his job as a truck driver
B)Coming to terms with his injury and adjusting to his limitations
C)Returning directly to his job as a truck driver
D)Seeking counseling to help him deal with anxiety and learn about new career options

Question 40

According to Erikson's theory,which developmental task is central to the middle adulthood stage of life?

A)Ego integrity
B)Intimacy
C)Autonomy
D)Generativity

Question 41

Joe,a 52-year-old,lost his job when the plant he managed was closed,and his overall life satisfaction plummeted.After 9 months out of work,Joe was fortunate to find another,similar position.What can we expect for Joe now?

A)Joe's overall life satisfaction will now return to the baseline he experienced before the job loss.
B)Joe's overall life satisfaction will rise but will not return to baseline.
C)Joe's overall life satisfaction will continue to fall.
D)Joe's overall life satisfaction will not change in relation to job loss or reemployment.
Essay Questions (Chapter 13)

Question 42

Compare and contrast Erikson's view of midlife with that of Vaillant.

Question 43

Janine is a 45-year-old accountant who has considerable experience in working as a consultant with firms who are undergoing mergers and acquisitions.Recently one of the firms she successfully helped offered her a position as Vice President.She has never managed a major corporate division before.Based on what you know about women leaders,what would you predict about her leadership style?

A)She will probably be agentic and democratic.
B)She will probably be agentic and autocratic.
C)She will probably have difficulty being agentic,but will be democratic.
D)Leadership style is unrelated to gender.

Question 44

Describe sources of stability and sources of change in adult life.