Deck 1: Introduction

Question 1

Dr. Tepper-Harmon believes that life-span development cannot be studied without considering biological, socioemotional, and cognitive dimensions. Dr. Tepper-Harmon believes that development is:

A) multidirectional.
B) contextual.
C) multidimensional.
D) plastic.

Answer 1

multidimensional.

Question 2

The idea that no age period dominates development highlights the life-span perspective that development is:

A) plastic.
B) contextual.
C) multidimensional.
D) lifelong.

Answer 2

lifelong.

Question 3

Psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, neuroscientists, and medical researchers all share an interest in understanding development through the life span. This indicates how development is:

A) multidirectional.
B) plastic.
C) multidisciplinary.
D) multidimensional.

Answer 3

multidisciplinary.

Question 4

Development can be defined as the pattern of movement or change that:

A) begins at childhood and continues until adulthood.
B) begins at conception and continues until adulthood.
C) begins at birth and continues through the human life span.
D) begins at conception and continues through the human life span.

Question 5

"Individuals are changing beings in a changing world." Which characteristic of development is reflected in this statement?

A) Development is multidisciplinary.
B) Development is contextual.
C) Development is multidimensional.
D) Development is multidirectional.

Question 6

The maximum life span of humans:

A) has increased over time.
B) has not changed since the beginning of recorded history.
C) has matched their life expectancy in recent times.
D) is about 65 years as the first decade of the twenty-first century draws to a close.

Question 7

Two developmental psychologists are having a conversation. One follows a traditional approach to developmental change; the other follows the life-span approach. Which of the following issues would they most likely differ on?

A) Whether developmental change starts at birth or at conception
B) Whether the tabula rasa or innate goodness positions were correct
C) Whether most developmental change occurs from birth to adolescence or throughout adulthood as well as childhood
D) Whether the earlier theorists, such as Freud and Jung, were correct or whether the later theorists, such as Piaget and Skinner, were correct about developmental change

Question 8

When teaching his psychology class, Professor Sharma emphasizes that developmental change occurs throughout adulthood as well as childhood. Professor Sharma is taking a(n) _____ approach to developmental change.

A) life-span
B) evolutionary
C) normative
D) constructivist

Question 9

If you subscribe to Paul Baltes's perspective of life-span development, you would view development as a process that involves growth, maintenance, and ____________.

A) fulfillment
B) regulation of loss
C) decline
D) stability

Question 10

Life expectancy in the United States has increased by _____ years during the twentieth century.

A) 20
B) 10
C) 30
D) 50

Question 11

The life expectancy in the United States is currently:

A) 60 years.
B) 79 years.
C) 85 years.
D) 53 years.

Question 12

The _____ approach to the study of development emphasizes extensive change from birth to adolescence, especially during infancy, little or no change in adulthood, and decline in old age.

A) prescriptive
B) constructivist
C) traditional
D) evolutionary

Question 13

Tzu-Chiang is 55 years old and is currently enrolled in a college algebra course. He is pleasantly surprised that he is performing well in the course despite not taking a formal math class for over 30 years. Researchers would consider this an instance that illustrates how development is:

A) plastic.
B) multidisciplinary.
C) lifelong.
D) contextual.

Question 14

During adolescence, as individuals establish romantic relationships, other relationships with friends may decrease. This illustrates how throughout life, some dimensions or components of a dimension expand and others shrink, or how development is:

A) plastic.
B) contextual.
C) multidisciplinary.
D) multidirectional.

Question 15

Many individuals become wiser as they age, but their performance on tasks that require speed in processing information starts to decline. This illustrates how throughout life, some dimensions or components of a dimension expand and others shrink, or how development is:

A) plastic.
B) contextual.
C) multidisciplinary.
D) multidirectional.

Question 16

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks." This old saying refutes Paul Baltes's life-span perspective that views development as being:

A) plastic.
B) multidisciplinary.
C) lifelong.
D) contextual.

Question 17

The idea that no age period is more important than any other highlights the life-span perspective that development is:

A) plastic.
B) contextual.
C) multidimensional.
D) lifelong.

Question 18

On your first day of class, Professor Red-Elk claims that for too long we have focused on the development of young children, especially infants. She argues that the development of adults and elderly people is just as important. This professor is articulating a(n) _____ approach.

A) evolutionary
B) constructivist
C) normative
D) life-span

Question 19

If you subscribe to Paul Baltes's perspective of life-span development, which of the following statements would you NOT agree with?

A) Development is lifelong.
B) Development is unidirectional.
C) Development is plastic.
D) Development is contextual.

Question 20

_____ refers to the capacity for change.

A) Elasticity
B) Plasticity
C) Contextuality
D) Tenacity

Question 21

Dr. Wilman is researching the place women occupy in families in both Japan and the United States. Dr. Wilman is conducting a(n) _____ study.

A) longitudinal
B) ethnocentric
C) cross-cultural
D) decentralized

Question 22

Compared with earlier decades, U.S. adults today are:

A) more likely to be married.
B) more likely to be childless.
C) less likely to be living alone.
D) less likely to need social relationships and support.

Question 23

The finding that most women enter menopause by age 51 is an example of how a biological process can exert a _____ influence on development.

A) plastic
B) multidirectional
C) normative age-graded
D) nonnormative age-graded

Question 24

Agatha is 83 years old. According to Baltes and his colleagues, _____ and _____ in her capacities will take center stage.

A) growth; maintenance
B) maintenance; regulation of loss
C) regulation of loss; augmentation
D) growth; regulation of loss

Question 25

_____ encompasses the behavior patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a particular group of people that are passed on from generation to generation.

A) Culture
B) Genotype
C) Social policy
D) Ethnocentricity

Question 26

Influences that generally affect a generation-for example, the effect of the Vietnam war on the baby boomers-are considered _____ influences.

A) nonnormative multidirectional
B) normative age-graded
C) nonnormative age-graded
D) normative history-graded

Question 27

_____ is(are) a national government's course of action designed to promote the welfare of its citizens.

A) Social policy
B) Generational policy
C) Cultural legislation
D) Socialized equity programs

Question 28

Keesha's father died unexpectedly in an accident when she was four years old. This incident will likely affect Keesha's development and is an example of a:

A) normative history-graded influence.
B) nonnormative life event.
C) nonnormative history-graded influence.
D) normative age-graded influence.

Question 29

_____ include biological processes such as puberty and menopause. They also include sociocultural and environmental processes such as beginning formal education and retirement.

A) Normative age-graded influences
B) Normative history-graded influences
C) Nonnormative age-graded events
D) Nonnormative life events

Question 30

A focus on the normative age-graded and normative history-graded influences highlights the characteristic in the life-span perspective that development is:

A) multidisciplinary.
B) contextual.
C) multidimensional.
D) multidirectional.

Question 31

Socioeconomic status (SES) refers to:

A) the behavior patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a particular group of people that are passed on from generation to generation.
B) a person's position within society based on occupational, educational, and economic characteristics.
C) the degree to which development is similar or universal across cultures.
D) a social label placed on a similar group of people based on their heritage, nationality, race, religion, and language.

Question 32

Keith has won the lottery and now has more money than he ever dreamed of having. This incident will likely affect Keith's development and is an example of a:

A) normative history-graded influence.
B) nonnormative life event.
C) nonnormative history-graded influence.
D) normative age-graded influence.

Question 33

The main areas of focus of the Ascent two-generation educational intervention are economic support, social capital, and:

A) increasing education for mothers and improving early education for children.
B) increasing the number of students in elementary school classrooms.
C) decreasing the number of special education teachers in our school system.
D) decreasing teacher benefits to increase school budgets.

Question 34

When she was a child, Anna's home was wrecked by a tornado and her neighbor was killed. More than 30 years later, she is still terrified of storms. This is an example of how a ____ event can influence a person's development.

A) normative age-graded
B) normative generational
C) nonnormative life
D) normative history-graded

Question 35

Compared with earlier decades, U.S. adults are more likely to be:

A) married.
B) living in a nursing home.
C) living with a relative.
D) childless.

Question 36

In 2014, the percentage of U.S. children under 18 years of age living in families with incomes below the poverty line was:

A) below 10%.
B) between 10% and 20%.
C) between 20% and 30%.
D) between 30% and 40%.

Question 37

Going by current trends, 86-year-old Matilda is likely to be living:

A) with a spouse.
B) with children.
C) by herself.
D) with grandchildren.

Question 38

Nonnormative life events:

A) do not happen to all people.
B) happen to younger children but not to older adults.
C) are common to people of a particular generation.
D) influence the cultural makeup of a population.

Question 39

The cultural makeup of the U.S. population has changed over the past few years due to immigration and other factors. Such long-term changes in the genetic and cultural makeup of a population are part of:

A) nonnormative multidirectional change.
B) normative historical change.
C) nonnormative life events.
D) nonnormative demographic change.

Question 40

When people are grouped based on similar occupations, educational achievements, and financial circumstances, they are being grouped by:

A) gender.
B) socioeconomic status.
C) culture.
D) geographic region.

Question 41

_____ is a time of establishing personal and economic independence, career development, and, for many, selecting a mate, learning to live with someone in an intimate way, starting a family, and rearing children.

A) Early adulthood
B) Late adolescence
C) Middle adulthood
D) Late adulthood

Question 42

_____ processes involve changes in the individual's relationships with other people, changes in emotions, and changes in personality.

A) Cognitive
B) Biological
C) Socioemotional
D) Polycentric

Question 43

Mary is three years old and in preschool. Identify the development period that Mary is currently in.

A) Infancy
B) Early childhood
C) Middle childhood
D) Late childhood

Question 44

Jonathan is almost completely dependent on his parents for his wants and needs and is only just beginning to acquire language skills and sensorimotor coordination. Which of the following development periods is Jonathan in?

A) Late childhood
B) Middle childhood
C) Early childhood
D) Infancy

Question 45

_____ processes refer to changes in the individual's thought, intelligence, and language.

A) Cognitive
B) Biological
C) Socioemotional
D) Cultural

Question 46

Late adulthood is a time of:

A) life review, adjustment to new social roles, and diminishing strength and health.
B) expanding personal and social involvement and responsibility.
C) establishing personal and economic independence and advancing in a career.
D) selecting a mate, learning to live with that person in an intimate way, starting a family, and raising children.

Question 47

Peter is a senior partner at his law firm and is an important member of his church and community. Both of his children are in college. Peter's situation is most representative of which period of development?

A) Early adulthood
B) Middle adulthood
C) Late adulthood
D) Retirement

Question 48

Developmental periods, such as when one is an infant, adolescent, or middle-aged person, refer to:

A) historical circumstances common to people of a particular generation.
B) time frames in a person's life that are characterized by certain features.
C) time frames in which a person experiences maximum change.
D) time frames in a nation's history that are characterized by rapid development.

Question 49

Two concepts that help provide a framework for describing and understanding an individual's development are:

A) developmental attributes and behavior.
B) developmental characteristics and traits.
C) developmental challenges and opportunities.
D) developmental processes and periods.

Question 50

Changes in motor skills, nutrition, exercise, the hormonal changes of puberty, and cardiovascular decline are all examples of _____ processes that affect development.

A) cognitive
B) biological
C) socioemotional
D) cultural

Question 51

Putting together a two-word sentence and solving a crossword puzzle are examples of _____ processes that affect development.

A) cognitive
B) biological
C) socioemotional
D) cultural

Question 52

Brittany is preoccupied with the pursuit of independence and identity and is spending more time with friends and less with family. Her thoughts are more logical, abstract, and idealistic. She is also experiencing rapid physical changes such as gains in height and weight. Which of the following periods of development is Brittany most likely in?

A) Middle childhood
B) Late adulthood
C) Late childhood
D) Adolescence

Question 53

Travis spends a great deal of time working and trying to establish his career. He is also wondering if he should move in with his girlfriend and about their long-term prospects. Travis is most likely in the _____ period of development.

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

Question 54

A toddler's aggressive attack on a playmate and an adolescent's joy at the senior prom are examples of _____ processes that affect development.

A) cognitive
B) biological
C) socioemotional
D) polycentric

Question 55

Jessica spends a lot of time thinking about the choices she has made in her life and the events she has witnessed. She is adjusting to decreasing strength and health, and she has made several lifestyle changes as a result. Jessica is most likely in the _____ period of development.

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

Question 56

The connection across biological, cognitive, and socioemotional processes is most obvious in the two rapidly emerging fields of:

A) developmental cognitive neuroscience and developmental social neuroscience.
B) developmental biological neuroscience and developmental social neuroscience.
C) developmental socioemotional pharmacology and developmental biological pharmacology.
D) developmental cognitive biology and developmental cognitive biology.

Question 57

The _____ period is the time from conception to birth.

A) perinatal
B) prenatal
C) neonatal
D) postnatal

Question 58

Continuing into our late thirties, the _____ period of development is the time we establish our economic independence.

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

Question 59

Palma and her husband Frankie are in their late forties. They are leaders in their community and supervisors in their respective careers. Which of the following developmental periods are they in?

A) Central adulthood
B) The nesting years
C) Middle adulthood
D) Late adulthood

Question 60

Joey has shot up in height over the past year, has developed a deeper voice, and is starting to grow facial hair. He is preoccupied with the pursuit of independence and identity and is spending more time with friends and less with family. Which of the following periods of development is Joey in?

A) Middle childhood
B) Adolescence
C) Early adulthood
D) Late childhood

Question 61

Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons older individuals are happier and report more satisfaction with their lives?

A) An increase in physical problems
B) Better relationships with the people that matter to them
C) More time for leisurely pursuits
D) Many years of experience that may help them adapt to their circumstances

Question 62

Betty, 66 years old, is in great physical shape. She works out at the gym every day, and recently her doctor told her she is in exceptionally good health. Betty is young in terms of her _____ age.

A) social
B) chronological
C) psychological
D) biological

Question 63

_____ age is an individual's adaptive capacities compared with those of other individuals of the same chronological age.

A) Social
B) Psychological
C) Physical
D) Biological

Question 64

The finding that individuals who have better social relationships with others tend to live longer than individuals who are lonely provides evidence that _______ is an important developmental consideration.

A) chronological age
B) social age
C) psychological age
D) biological age

Question 65

The 35-year-old grandmother, the 65-year-old father of a preschooler, the 15-year-old surgeon, and the 70-year-old student all serve to illustrate that:

A) old assumptions about the proper timing of life events no longer govern our lives.
B) developmental age is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
C) chronological age is becoming a more accurate predictor of life events in our society.
D) biological age is becoming increasingly relevant.

Question 66

Individuals who have the best biological, social, and psychological age are also showing:

A) successful aging.
B) normal aging.
C) psychological aging.
D) pathological aging.

Question 67

Based on the fact that she is 90 years old, Katie-Lou would most likely be characterized as:

A) young-old.
B) middle-old.
C) oldest-old.
D) late-old.

Question 68

Which of the following statements about the "young-old" is TRUE?

A) They are people between 60 and 65 years of age.
B) They have little potential for physical and cognitive fitness.
C) They show considerable loss in cognitive skills.
D) They can develop strategies to cope with the gains and losses of aging.

Question 69

In predicting an adult woman's behavior, it may be more important to know that she is the mother of a three-year-old child than to know whether she is 20 or 30 years old. This reflects the concept of:

A) chronological age.
B) social age.
C) psychological age.
D) biological age.

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT one of the four types of age considered in a life-span perspective?

A) Chronological age
B) Developmental age
C) Psychological age
D) Biological age

Question 71

The finding that the hedonic aspects of life course trajectories take an upward trajectory from early adulthood through late adulthood is referred to as a(n) _____ effect.

A) developmental
B) biological
C) evaluative
D) positivity

Question 72

The younger the person's _____ age, the longer the person is expected to live, regardless of chronological age.

A) biological
B) mental
C) social
D) psychological

Question 73

Ramada, 69, an avid golfer and fitness enthusiast, recently got a comprehensive health exam done, and her physician remarked that her vital organs were in such good shape that her _____ age was about 10 years less than her chronological age.

A) social
B) mental
C) biological
D) psychological

Question 74

According to recent research on age and happiness, whom would we expect to be the happiest?

A) Marge, who is 18 years old
B) Barry, who is 27 years old
C) Kimberly, who is 45 years old
D) Jeremiah, who is 74 years old

Question 75

_____ has the longest span of any period of development and the number of people in this age group has been increasing dramatically.

A) Middle and late childhood
B) Adolescence
C) Middle adulthood
D) Late adulthood

Question 76

_____ characterizes individuals for whom psychological functioning often peaks in early middle age, remains relatively stable until the late fifties to early sixties, and then shows modest decline.

A) Successful aging
B) Normal aging
C) Psychological aging
D) Pathological aging

Question 77

Determining _____ age involves knowing the functional capacities of a person's vital organs.

A) social
B) chronological
C) biological
D) psychological

Question 78

_____ characterizes individuals who show greater than average decline as they age through the adult years.

A) Successful aging
B) Normal aging
C) Psychological aging
D) Pathological aging

Question 79

Which of the following is NOT one of the recent findings in the study of life satisfaction?

A) Young adults show the highest levels of life satisfaction.
B) Some studies show low life satisfaction in middle age.
C) Studies have found differences in life satisfaction across different countries.
D) Physical health has an affect on life satisfaction.

Question 80

The finding that a higher level of conscientiousness was protective in older adults provides evidence that _____ age is an important developmental consideration.

A) social
B) psychological
C) physical
D) biological