Deck 9: Life Span Development I

Question 1

Today, most psychologists take ________ approach to human development.

A)a nativist
B)an empiricist
C)a dualist
D)an interactionist

Answer 1

an interactionist

Question 2

The ________ method of developmental data collection follows one person (or a single group of people)over time, and provides information about ________.

A)longitudinal; age changes
B)cross-sectional; age changes
C)cohort; age differences
D)longitudinal; age differences

Answer 2

longitudinal; age changes

Question 3

Developmental psychology ________.

A)examines how changes occur through eight major stages of life
B)uses a learning theory approach that suggests nature is more important in development than nurture
C)avoids controversial issues by focusing only on what can be proven through research
D)does not involve experimental research, as it is not possible to manipulate variables on these topics

Answer 3

examines how changes occur through eight major stages of life

Question 4

Assad and Juana believe in stimulating their new baby's senses by playing and singing to her.They also believe it is important to reinforce her curiosity and her attempts to interact with them verbally.It is MOST likely that Assad and Juana believe that ________ is the major contributor to their child's development.

A)nurture
B)sensation training
C)nature
D)maturation

Question 5

The study of age-related changes in behavior and mental processes from conception through death is called ________.

A)thanatology
B)neuropsychology
C)developmental psychology
D)longitudinal psychology

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a limitation of longitudinal studies?

A)Time and money
B)"Generalizability"
C)Self-selected sample bias
D)Cohort effects

Question 7

________ studies are the quickest and least expensive method, whereas ________ studies provide the most in-depth information per participant.

A)Correlational; experimental
B)Fast-track; follow-up
C)Cross-sectional; longitudinal
D)Cohort-sequential; cohort-intensive

Question 8

________ research studies several groups of individuals at various ages at one point in time, and provides information regarding ________.

A)Longitudinal; age differences
B)Cross-sectional; age differences
C)Longitudinal; age changes
D)Cross-sectional; age changes

Question 9

________ is the process by which attachments are formed during critical periods early in life.

A)Separation anxiety
B)Imprinting
C)Love
D)Bonding

Question 10

Dr.Johan tends to believe in the ________ model of development, which says that development results from gradual, incremental changes.Dr.Ziback tends to believe in the ________ model, which says that development results from discrete, qualitative changes.

A)nurturing; natural
B)uniform; stop-start
C)continuity; stage
D)stability; change

Question 11

If you believe that your personality is developed early and that childhood traits can be used to predict one's adult personality, then you believe in ________.

A)continuity
B)staging
C)stability
D)maturation

Question 12

The results of a cross-sectional marketing study to determine how age affects people's beliefs about family purchases and financial planning were criticized on the ground that the data was influenced by cohort effects.This means that ________.

A)some of the subjects belonged to ethnic minorities
B)the subjects were self-selected by their friends and neighbors
C)one group of subjects may all have lived through a similar financial event, such as the Great Depression
D)only 63% of the questionnaires were returned

Question 13

If a psychologist wanted to compare a group of 6-year-old children to a group of 10-year-old children at the same time on recognition memory performance, the psychologist would use the ________ method of data collection.

A)cross-sectional
B)naturalistic observation
C)longitudinal
D)cohort

Question 14

________ effects that are difficult to separate are a major problem found in cross-sectional research.

A)Subjective
B)Cohort
C)Objective
D)Longitudinal

Question 15

If you want your research into developmental topics to provide the most in-depth information, you'd be well-advised to use the ________ approach.

A)experimental
B)quasi-experimental
C)longitudinal
D)cross-sectional

Question 16

The idea that development is governed by automatic, genetically predetermined signals is called ________.

A)elaboration
B)natural selection
C)maturation
D)tabula rasa

Question 17

If a psychologist was interested in studying the stability of IQ scores over time, she should use the ________ method of data collection by following the same group of participants over an extended duration.

A)test-retest
B)longitudinal
C)case history
D)cross-sectional

Question 18

Differences in age groups that reflect factors unique to a specific age group, rather than being due to developmental changes, are called ________ effects.

A)generational
B)social environmental
C)operational
D)cohort

Question 19

According to the textbook, the developmental period called middle adulthood includes which ages?

A)20 to 45
B)30 to 65
C)45 to 60
D)50 to 70

Question 20

A ________ period is a specific time during which an organism must experience certain stimuli in order to develop properly in the future.

A)sensitive
B)critical
C)specificity
D)maturational

Question 21

Which of the following behaviors is NOT influenced by culture?

A)15-year-old Chou is cooperative and respectful toward his grandparents.
B)5-year-old Kim believes that her father is just showing his love and concern when he beats her with a belt for not completing her chores.
C)16-year-old Brant enjoys lively debates with his history teacher.
D)17-month-old Zahra tried to climb the stairs and fell off the first step.

Question 22

The use of ________ during pregnancy is most associated with premature birth, low-birth-weight infants, and fetal death.

A)nicotine
B)caffeine
C)aspirin
D)cocaine

Question 23

In normal developmental cases, how many chromosomes does a human zygote have after conception?

A)23
B)46
C)20,000
D)an infinite amount, as chromosomes continue to develop

Question 24

The germinal period ________.

A)begins with fetal weight gain
B)begins with implantation
C)is the time it takes to germinate your answer to this question
D)begins at fertilization and ends with implantation

Question 25

Which of the following is TRUE about conception?

A)It is when each parent contributed 23 chromosomes to a new zygote.
B)The new cell is called an embryo.
C)The blastocyst is no larger than the period at the end of this sentence.
D)It is not considered part of the life span.That begins at birth.

Question 26

The fact that participants in this type of research may drop out over time, leaving behind a "self-selected" sample, means that the researcher may have a problem generalizing the results to a larger population of people.

A)cross-sectional
B)longitudinal
C)correlational
D)archival

Question 27

Jeremy was born with serious facial abnormalities and stunted growth.He is also showing signs of brain damage and neurobehavioral difficulties.Jeremy is most likely suffering from ________.

A)DNA syndrome
B)premature birth
C)fetal alcohol syndrome
D)prenatal exposure to nicotine

Question 28

Synaptic pruning refers to the ________ that helps strengthen connection between neurons and make those connections operate more efficiently.

A)decrease in myelinated synapses
B)decrease in the gap between neurons, due to dendrite enlargement
C)reduction of axons
D)natural reduction of unused synapses

Question 29

Which of the following is CORRECT regarding brain development?

A)The weight of an infant's brain is half that of an adult's and it reaches full adult weight by age 16.
B)The number of neurons in the infant brain at birth is about one-eighth the number in the adult brain.
C)Neurons grow in size and dendrite connections increase during the prenatal period.
D)Myelination peaks at age 12.

Question 30

Which of the following is INCORRECTLY matched?

A)Embryonic period: development of major body organs
B)Conception: development of blastocyst
C)Germinal period: conception and implantation
D)Fetal period: rapid weight gain and "fine detailing" of body organs and systems

Question 31

Before she knew she was pregnant, Moira had an x-ray on her abdomen when she was having pain.As radiation can be teratogenic, her unborn child may now be at a higher risk for which outcome?

A)cancer
B)an underdeveloped brain
C)prematurity
D)intellectual disability

Question 32

At birth, your head was about ________ the size of your total body.As an adult, however, your head is more like ________ of your total size!

A)one-third; one-tenth
B)one-quarter; one-eight
C)two-thirds; one-sixth
D)one-tenth; one-twelfth

Question 33

Teratogens are ________ that can cause birth defects.

A)DNA fragments
B)environmental agents
C)recessive genes
D)dominant genes

Question 34

Which of the following sensory systems is MOST poorly developed at birth?

A)taste
B)smell
C)vision
D)touch

Question 35

The fetal period lasts from ________.

A)conception to birth
B)implantation to birth
C)implantation to 8 weeks
D)8 weeks to birth

Question 36

Jairo lives in a community with a lot of a certain chemical in the water, and as a result of this exposure certain genes in Jairo's genetic code do not turn on when he hits puberty.This example, which notes the interaction of genetics and one's environment, would be of interest to a person who studies ________.

A)behavioral neuroscience
B)epigenetics
C)the human genome
D)teratogens

Question 37

The first stage of prenatal development (from conception to implantation), characterized by rapid cell division, is called the ________ period.

A)embryonic
B)fetal
C)placental
D)germinal

Question 38

From implantation through the 8th week, the major body organs and systems become differentiated.This stage of pregnancy is called the ________ period.

A)embryonic
B)fetal
C)zygotic
D)germinal

Question 39

At birth, the sense of ________ is poorly developed when compared to the other sensory systems.

A)hearing
B)smell
C)touch
D)vision

Question 40

The first motor abilities a newborn exhibits are ________.

A)unimportant for survival
B)innate and voluntary
C)limited to reflexive actions
D)complex integrations of external and internal sensory stimuli

Question 41

________ is the psychological development - a transition of sorts - that occurs during the period between childhood and adulthood.

A)Egocentrism
B)Identity
C)Autonomy
D)Adolescence

Question 42

________ aging results from disease, disuse, or neglect.

A)Primary
B)Secondary
C)Tertiary (third)
D)Physical

Question 43

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding the male climacteric?

A)Most men can father children into their 70s or 80s.
B)Men may experience a decline in sexual responsiveness as they age.
C)Men may experience unexpected weight gain and loss of muscle strength at this time.
D)Men have a specific time when their fertility ends, just as women do when they go through menopause.

Question 44

Aging brings several developmental consequences.Identify which option is not one of them.

A)widespread death of neurons
B)a decline in the speed of recall and retrieval
C)a decline in visual and auditory acuity
D)a decline in depth perception

Question 45

Using Fantz's "looking chamber," researchers have found that infants prefer ________.

A)complex patterns
B)simple patterns
C)black and white images
D)the faces of other babies

Question 46

Mikail eats high fat foods, does not exercise, and smokes cigarettes.These behaviors contribute to Mikail's ________ aging process, as he has developed high blood pressure, type-II diabetes, and emphysema.

A)programmed
B)primary
C)secondary
D)linear

Question 47

The Hayflick limit refers to the ________.

A)maximum human life span
B)amount of damage the human heart can sustain
C)genetically controlled maximum number of cell divisions
D)maximum number of times a given immune cell can perform its function

Question 48

The biological changes that occur during adolescence that leads to sexual maturity and the ability to reproduce is called ________.

A)the age of fertility
B)adolescence
C)puberty
D)the climacteric

Question 49

Which choice has been used as an independent variable in infant sensory-perceptual research?

A)Infant vocalizations
B)Skin temperature and galvanic skin responses
C)The sucking reflex
D)Salivation behaviors

Question 50

Humans appear to have a maximum possible lifespan of about ________ years.

A)70-80
B)80-90
C)120
D)130

Question 51

________ refers to the onset of menstruation in females; ________ is the first ejaculation in males.

A)Premenstrual syndrome; emission
B)Primary menorrhea; expulsion
C)Menses; premature ejaculation
D)Menarche; spermarche

Question 52

Mental speed declines with age, and general information processing and much of memory are largely ________ by the aging process.

A)affected
B)unaffected
C)reduced
D)slowed

Question 53

Which statement regarding infant sensory and perceptual development is the least accurate?

A)Vision is almost 20/20 at birth.
B)A newborn's sense of pain is highly developed at birth.
C)An infant can recognize, and prefers, its own mother's breast milk by smell.
D)An infant can distinguish between sweet, salty, and bitter tastes.

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT an example of a secondary sex characteristic?

A)development of ovaries
B)growth of pubic hair
C)development of breasts
D)deepening of the voice

Question 55

Which of the following physical changes is NOT associated with late adulthood?

A)Cardiac output decreases.
B)Smell sensitivity increases.
C)Blood pressure increases.
D)Visual acuity and depth perception decline.

Question 56

Growth of pubic hair, breast development, the appearance of facial hair, and deepening of the voice are called ________.

A)signs of puberty
B)sexual maturation
C)secondary sex characteristics
D)primary sex characteristics

Question 57

The clearest and most dramatic physical sign of puberty is ________ and significant changes in reproductive structures and sexual characteristics.

A)menarche for females and spermarche for males
B)the growth spurt
C)primary sex characteristics
D)secondary sex characteristics

Question 58

Primary aging ________.

A)refers to gradual and inevitable changes in physical and mental processes
B)is genetically controlled
C)is the same as secondary aging
D)is a direct result of lifestyle choices, including both healthy and unhealthy decisions

Question 59

Some employers are reluctant to hire 50- to 60-year-old workers because of a generalized belief that they are prone to illness and will take too much time off.This is an example of ________.

A)a fiscally conservative decision
B)the graying of America
C)ageism
D)racism

Question 60

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding menopause?

A)It is the cessation of one's menstrual cycles.
B)It typically occurs between 45 and 55 years of age.
C)It is the result of decreases in estrogen production.
D)It is strongly associated with severe mood swings, depression, and loss of sexual interest.

Question 61

Mitzy said, "The car wants to go to the park." Mitzy's attribution of motivation to the car is called ________.

A)animism
B)animated egocentrism
C)primitive logic
D)overextension

Question 62

Which is associated with Piaget's preoperational stage?

A)a lack of object permanence
B)egocentric thinking
C)infancy and toddlerhood
D)formal logic

Question 63

The ability to understand that certain physical characteristics remain unchanged, even when their outward appearance changes, is called ________.

A)a sensory operation
B)a formal operation
C)conservation
D)transitivity

Question 64

If a child refers to a pig as a "doggie," that child is ________ the pig into an existing cognitive structure.

A)encompassing
B)assimilating
C)operationalizing
D)accommodating

Question 65

________ was one of the first scientists to theorize that intellectual growth occurs in distinct stages, motivated by an innate need to know.

A)Baumrind
B)Beck
C)Piaget
D)Elkind

Question 66

The preoperational belief that all things are alive and have intentions, motivations, and feelings is called ________.

A)fantasy
B)imaginary processing
C)object animation
D)animism

Question 67

Cognitive structures that are like "blueprints" for organizing our interactions with the environment are called ________.

A)data points
B)thoughts
C)schemas
D)concepts

Question 68

________ occurs when existing schemas are used to interpret new information, whereas ________ involves changes and adaptations of the schemas.

A)Adaptation; accommodation
B)Accommodation; assimilation
C)Egocentrism; post schematization
D)Assimilation; accommodation

Question 69

A young child's inability to experience or appreciate anyone else's point of view is called ________.

A)egocentrism
B)social egoism
C)ethnocentrism
D)ego-fantasy

Question 70

When 5-month-old Jessica learns that mommy continues to exist even when she is quietly resting in another room, Jessica has developed ________.

A)sensory permanence
B)perceptual constancy
C)perceptual permanence
D)object permanence

Question 71

Assimilation occurs when new information is ________.

A)adjusted
B)modified
C)absorbed into existing schemas
D)consistent with what we already know

Question 72

Which is associated with Piaget's sensorimotor stage?

A)being 2 to 7 years of age
B)animistic thinking
C)egocentrism
D)a lack of object permanence

Question 73

Tesia said, "The rain quit falling because I wanted to go out to play." This is an example of ________, which indicates that Tesia is in the ________ of cognitive development.

A)animism; sensorimotor stage
B)subjective permanence; preoperational
C)egocentrism; preoperational stage
D)conservation; concrete operational stage

Question 74

When a child learns that a truck is different from a car, even though both have four wheels and a metal body, ________ has occurred.

A)an adaptation
B)accommodation
C)an association
D)assimilation

Question 75

Accommodation occurs when new information ________.

A)is used "as is"
B)fits into an existing schema
C)results in adjusting old or creating new schemas
D)is taken in and used

Question 76

The ability to think abstractly or hypothetically occurs in Piaget's ________ stage.

A)sensorimotor
B)preoperational
C)formal operational
D)concrete operational

Question 77

The four stages of Piaget's cognitive development model are ________.

A)assimilation, accommodation, adaptation, and association
B)sensorimotor, concrete operational, preoperational, and formal
C)sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational
D)sensorimotor, precognitive, operational, and abstract operational

Question 78

Once a child can perform mental operations on tangible objects and events, and understand the principles of conservation and reversibility, she has reached Piaget's ________ stage.

A)post-operational
B)operational
C)formal operational
D)concrete operational

Question 79

When a typist changes from a conventional typewriter to a word processor, his typing schema will have to ________ in order to incorporate the new techniques needed for the new equipment.

A)assimilate
B)differentiate
C)accommodate
D)recapitulate

Question 80

The personal fable of adolescence is a result of ________ differentiation from others, while the imaginary audience of adolescence is a result of ________ differentiation from others.

A)too much; too little
B)too little; too much
C)overt; covert
D)covert; overt