Deck 1: Lifespan Development: an Introduction

Question 1

Lifespan psychology refers to a process beginning:

A) at conception and ending in death.
B) at birth and ending in death.
C) in infancy and ending in adolescence.
D) in adolescence and ending in death.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In the Werner and Smith study (1992) of Hawaiian children, how was the "vulnerable" group defined?

A) having been exposed to poverty or divorce
B) having been targeted for assistance by state and local agencies
C) having been exposed to four or more developmental risk factors.
D) having been born with "difficult" or "slow-to-warm-up" temperaments.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

An important result of investigating behavior by using the scientific method is:

A) control over life events.
B) finding the absolute truth of life's mysteries.
C) using the information gained to manipulate others more effectively.
D) to accept one's destiny.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following does Barack Obama's life story exemplify?

A) A person tends to follow the same path that his parents did.
B) Lifespan development often proceeds nonlinearly with both trials and successes.
C) The majority of developmental change happens within the first ten to twelve years of life.
D) Barak Obama is an example of an individual who failed to overcome risk factors.

Question 5

While understanding individual behavior is important, the focus of the study of development is to identify trends that can explain the growth of all humans. This is the __________ approach.

A) normative
B) average
C) theoretical
D) practical

Question 6

An examination of all the many influences on an individual's development is the __________approach.

A) innate
B) nature/nurture
C) biopsychosocial
D) physiological

Question 7

Eleanora was born into poverty to an alcoholic father and a neglectful mother. These are considered __________ factors for Eleanor's development.

A) malignant
B) control
C) natural
D) risk

Question 8

__________ has been described as the study of life from "womb to tomb" because it begins with conception and ends at death.

A) Biology
B) Behavioral psychology
C) Sociology
D) Lifespan development

Question 9

Dr. Fleiss has an interest in how human behavior changes from its earliest influences. So, she spends her time tracking the influence of prenatal conditions on temperament on infants. Using this data, she plans to see how these factors influence the behavior of the children as they age. Dr. Fleiss' area of study is:

A) lifespan development.
B) early childhood education.
C) gerontology.
D) biopsychology.

Question 10

An examination of the biological, cognitive/psychological, and social changes that occur over the course of a human life defines:

A) biopsychology.
B) lifespan development
C) abnormal psychology
D) human interests.

Question 11

An hypothesis is:

A) a carefully formulated question that can be tested through the scientific method.
B) a loosely defined set of principles that can explain many events.
C) interchangeable with theory.
D) may never be falsified.

Question 12

It has been argued by your text book author and others that the unique characteristic of humans that sets them apart from non-humans is that humans have an innate desire to:

A) reproduce and take care of their offspring.
B) communicate with each other with non-verbal signals.
C) use tools.
D) understand the reasons that events occur.

Question 13

__________ factors are events or characteristics that influence our lives in negative ways.

A) Pessimistic
B) Risk
C) Malignant
D) Maladaptive

Question 14

The technical term for the questions that scientists and others ask to determine why events occur is:

A) hypothesis.
B) theory.
C) guess.
D) postulate.

Question 15

In the Werner and Smith study (1992), of the children originally identified as high-risk, how many developed into confident, competent young adults?

A) one in five
B) one in three
C) one in ten
D) none of them

Question 16

Genetics, prenatal factors, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and culture are all elements of the __________ approach to understanding human development.

A) epigenetic
B) deterministic
C) biopsychosocial
D) sociobiological

Question 17

Which of the following were risk factors for the children studied by Werner and Smith (1992)?

A) poverty
B) divorce
C) mental illness
D) all of these

Question 18

Lilith's parents are not wealthy, but they have made sure she has had good medical care through free clinics and have worked hard to enrich her life. The efforts of Lilith's parents would be considered __________ factors for her development.

A) nurturing
B) protective
C) adaptive
D) control

Question 19

A(n) __________ approach to the study of human development focuses on life trends while still allowing investigation of individual differences.

A) modal
B) interactive
C) normative
D) sociobiological

Question 20

__________ factors are events or characteristics that influence our lives in positive ways.

A) Adaptive
B) Benign
C) Protective
D) Nurturing

Question 21

As identified by the author, all of the following represent objectives of lifespan psychology as a discipline with the EXCEPTION of:

A) providing an organized account of development across the lifespan.
B) identifying interconnections between later and earlier events.
C) accounting for mechanisms responsible for lifespan development.
D) controlling or redirecting unfavorable aspects of development.

Question 22

What does Rutter propose regarding age as an explanation for behavior?

A) Individuals tend to respond to the events in their lives in a manner consistent with their age.
B) Age alone can typically inform us of the psychological mechanism underlying a developmental phenomenon.
C) Age is an ambiguous explanation for behavior.
D) Age tells us much about the underlying causal mechanisms for developmental phenomena.

Question 23

The __________ period of development involves nine months of rapid growth during which organs appear.

A) conceptual
B) infantile
C) neonatal
D) prenatal

Question 24

Fiorella's parents are amazed at how quickly she is growing. The only other stage in Fiorella's life that will match this growth spurt occurred before she was born. Fiorella is probably:

A) a premature baby.
B) developmentally delayed.
C) a toddler.
D) an infant.

Question 25

Gabe was born at 32 weeks of gestation. He is considered at some risk, because he was not able to complete the __________ period intrauterinely.

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

Question 26

Of the following, which is an appropriate example of systematic change from a developmental perspective?

A) James realizes that he has to balance his checkbook, if he wants to avoid overdraft fees.
B) Natussa would rather not hold her mother's hand when she crosses the street, as she is a "big girl" even if she is only four.
C) Now that Molly is three, she is able to climb the stair with alternating feet instead of on her knees as she did when she was two.
D) Mindy likes to play her video games even though she knows she should be studying.

Question 27

The textbook specifically warns against reliance on __________ alone to explain development.

A) change
B) plasticity
C) age
D) dynamic processes

Question 28

It is essential in understanding the developmental process to recognize:

A) the importance of the genes in determining behavior.
B) the influence of peer pressure on learning morals.
C) how parental influences can override the effects of peer pressure.
D) the changes that occur early in life will influence behaviors that happen as we age.

Question 29

One of the most important features of development is __________ and as such is the major focus of your text.

A) change
B) stability
C) genetics
D) environmental plasticity

Question 30

Lamont is 3 years old and has amazed his parents with his ever-increasing vocabulary. Lamont is in the __________ period of development.

A) early childhood
B) middle childhood
C) infancy
D) toddly

Question 31

The __________ period of development extends from conception to birth.

A) neonatal
B) infantile
C) premature
D) prenatal

Question 32

Which of the following accurately illustrates a critical component of understanding the developmental process?

A) Genes are the most important determining factor for personality.
B) The temperament that a child exhibits is due to prenatal conditions as well as what has occurred since birth.
C) The first "real love" an adolescent experiences will have a major impact on his or her self-esteem.
D) Environmental factors, such as nutrition, will override heredity.

Question 33

The developmental period marked by rapid growth not equaled by other stages after birth is:

A) infancy.
B) early childhood.
C) middle childhood.
D) adolescence.

Question 34

Jacob had a typical childhood, graduated from high school at 18 and then went on to college where he met his future wife. However, Jacob was raised by his aunt and uncle and grew up in Iowa after being born in Israel. The __________ approach to understanding development would best be able to address these variables.

A) application
B) standard
C) normative
D) statistical

Question 35

During __________, school becomes a major force in development.

A) the play age
B) early childhood
C) middle childhood
D) adolescence

Question 36

The developmental period known as infancy lasts from birth to about:

A) four years of age.
B) three years of age.
C) two years of age.
D) about one year of age.

Question 37

The developmental period that occurs from two to six years of age is:

A) pre-childhood.
B) preschool age.
C) middle childhood.
D) early childhood.

Question 38

The outward manifestation of psychosocial abilities becomes readily apparent during:

A) infancy.
B) early childhood.
C) middle childhood.
D) adolescence.

Question 39

Tara and Sora are both 5 years old. When Tara is told she has to share a sandwich, Sora is delighted, but Tara is upset. What important element of development is illustrated?

A) How different parenting styles affect moral behavior.
B) How context determines behavior rather than maturational stage.
C) How children of the same age tend to see the world in black and white.
D) How scaffolding can influence prosocial behavior.

Question 40

Lifespan development can best be summed up in terms of:

A) aging.
B) maturation.
C) growth.
D) change.

Question 41

Leonard is at the peak of his career, so he has the freedom to devote more of his time to charitable causes, but he is concerned about physical changes, like changes in his stamina. Leonard is likely in:

A) early adulthood.
B) later adulthood.
C) "old old" age.
D) middle adulthood.

Question 42

Dan is preoccupied with getting established in the business community, but he is also concerned with establishing a good home for his family. Dan is likely in the __________ stage of development.

A) adulthood
B) early adulthood
C) middle adulthood
D) later adulthood

Question 43

__________ arguably laid the foundation for studying childhood as a separate subject in human development with authorship of The Mind of a Child in 1882.

A) Charles Darwin
B) B. F. Skinner
C) William Preyer
D) Jean Piaget

Question 44

Karola is distressed by changes in body hair and apparent weight gain, which has necessitated shopping in the women's section rather than the junior department. She feels like she hardly knows who she is anymore. Karola is likely in the period of development known as:

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

Question 45

Of the following, who would be most likely to argue against the concept of play as the "work of childhood" and, as such, important to development?

A) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
B) Roman scholars
C) John Locke
D) all of these

Question 46

__________ argued that children must have formal instruction in order to become functional adults.

A) Rene Descartes
B) William James
C) John Locke
D) Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Question 47

Miriam has entered into middle age. In general, what will her focus be?

A) Raising her children
B) Finding ways to give back to her community
C) Working towards promotion within her business
D) Establishing a positive review of her life

Question 48

Which of the following is an accurate representation of "childhood" from an historical perspective?

A) Children are miniature adults.
B) Children have an innocence that age will take away from them.
C) Children exhibit a particular joy in life that adults tend to lose.
D) all of these

Question 49

According to the text, the age range for early adulthood is __________.

A) 18 to 25 years
B) 19 to 34 years
C) 19 to 45 years
D) 25 to 45 years

Question 50

The peak period for leadership and an increase in community involvement is during:

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

Question 51

During __________, the main focus is the search for identity, often complicated by the changes brought on by puberty.

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

Question 52

What determines the interpretation of childhood?

A) The prevailing view of children at any particular time
B) The way children behave at any particular time
C) The intelligence of children at any particular time
D) none of these

Question 53

Marriage and children are the central concerns of the __________ period of development.

A) adolescent
B) early adult
C) middle adult
D) late adolescent

Question 54

__________ insisted that children learned best through modeling adults and so did not require direct instruction.

A) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
B) Early Christian philosophers
C) John Locke
D) Greek scholars

Question 55

__________ is most well known for his careful study of intelligence.

A) Alfred Binet
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Alfred Adler
D) G. Stanley Hall

Question 56

One of the issues for many people during middle adulthood is:

A) finding a loving and loyal partner.
B) adjusting to physical changes, such as menopause.
C) making sure there is enough time to foster independence in children.
D) establish a solid economic future.

Question 57

Although declining health may be a concern, increased wisdom is considered a benefit of:

A) middle adulthood.
B) late middle adulthood.
C) later adulthood.
D) the "old old."

Question 58

The period of development that can be the most stressful is __________, when the focus is on building relationships and finding a satisfying career.

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

Question 59

With the 1877 publication of Biographical Sketch of an Infant, __________ established a scientific basis for studying children.

A) John Watson
B) B.F. Skinner
C) John Locke d Charles Darwin

Question 60

Victoria is absorbed in learning and is particularly sensitive to her relationships with her teachers. If typical, Victoria is in the __________ stage of development

A) middle childhood
B) early childhood
C) preschool
D) adolescent

Question 61

Petersen (1988) argues that adolescence begins in _________ and ends in __________.

A) culture; puberty
B) biology; culture
C) storm; stress
D) uncertainly; biology

Question 62

Claude is hard of hearing and needs trifocals to read his newspaper. He is not as quick on his feet as he once was. What would be the most likely outcome if Claude were assessed for his cognitive ability?

A) Most people would recognize that Claude's intellect is fine.
B) While Claude may not pass a test of reaction times, he would perform adequately otherwise.
C) Claude's cognitive capabilities would be underestimated.
D) If Claude were reminded of the critical importance of his test scores, his performance would improve.

Question 63

An accurate description of the time course of development would be:

A) to emphasize the early childhood years as emphasized by Freud.
B) an investigation of early childhood through adolescence as shown by Piaget.
C) focused on adolescence through adulthood as argued by Levinson.
D) inclusive of every stage of development, including adulthood.

Question 64

According to most theorists, the conflict that adolescents experience with their parents:

A) is only slightly higher than that of childhood.
B) is an inevitable if uncomfortable part of maturation.
C) makes the transition to adulthood easier as emotional bonds are often strained.
D) is virtually nonexistent in most cases.

Question 65

Peter Pan is a classic example of a boy who did not want to become an adult. __________ argues that this is the standard condition of most adolescents today.

A) William Preyer
B) G. Stanley Hall
C) Thomas Szaz
D) John Dacey

Question 66

Are people in later adulthood less intelligent than younger people?

A) Yes, they tend to be significantly less intelligent.
B) No, they tend to be significantly more intelligent.
C) On intelligence tests, they score as less intelligent, but we are probably underestimating their abilities.
D) There is no data available to answer this question.

Question 67

Christine is having a difficult time. Her friends want her to move out of the house now that she is nearing graduation, but Christine still enjoys her time with her parents and total independence is frightening. Of the following developmental theorists, who would predict this as a typical concern of an adolescent?

A) Sigmund Freud
B) Charles Darwin
C) Jacqueline Lerner and Nancy Galambos
D) Jean Piaget

Question 68

Clark is over six foot tall, towering over his father, and he is often treated with the respect of much older boys and even girls. Yet at 16 years of age, Clark feels uncomfortable with the attention. This is an example of:

A) trait rather than stage theories of development.
B) how nature is more important than nurture in adolescence.
C) a sensitive period in emotional development.
D) how development in some areas occurs earlier than in others.

Question 69

Which of the following statements best suits the concept of adulthood?

A) Adulthood is the beginning of inevitable decline.
B) Adulthood is just as important as childhood in understanding the lifespan.
C) Adulthood is a time of stability as exemplified by the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
D) Development is complete at the end of adolescence.

Question 70

Gary is a 60-year-old man who runs marathons competitively. What is most likely true about his cognitive abilities now compared to when he was 20 years old?

A) He probably has significantly poorer cognitive performance now.
B) It is impossible to tell from the information given.
C) He probably has only slightly poorer cognitive performance now.
D) He probably has significantly better cognitive performance now.

Question 71

The modern conception of adolescence was a result of:

A) the recognition that adolescents needed strict guidelines and rules.
B) the acknowledgment that adolescents could work longer hours than younger children.
C) the Industrial Revolution.
D) understanding that extreme emotions were the result of rampant hormones.

Question 72

Mackenzie is entering the stage of development that will have the most challenges and extend for the most years of her life. Mackenzie is most likely:

A) an adolescent.
B) in middle school.
C) a young adult.
D) in late adulthood.

Question 73

__________ described adolescence as a time of "storm and stress."

A) William James
B) John Locke
C) G. Stanley Hall
D) Alfred Binet

Question 74

Why don't many older individuals show the cognitive decline once thought to be an inevitable part of aging?

A) They rely on those around them to fill in the missing pieces when they can't recall something.
B) Their years of experience make up for any loss in processing time.
C) The decline is only apparent in motor skills, not in verbal ability.
D) The perceived losses are reversed if the testing is done in a highly structured setting.

Question 75

Ally, 85 years old, is not as quick as she once was:

A) but she will compensate for this with the knowledge she has gained over the years.
B) and will likely continue to decline for the remainder of her life.
C) but this will only show when she talks.
D) which is an inevitable part of aging but will not likely get worse.

Question 76

Currently, the accepted view of development is that it is:

A) nearly complete by age six.
B) fairly set by middle childhood.
C) fulfilled by late adolescence.
D) an ongoing process throughout adulthood.

Question 77

Some older individuals seem to be less intelligent than young adults because:

A) young adults have had more formal training and so have accumulated a larger knowledge base.
B) the elderly are less efficient in retrieving memories.
C) young adults are more skilled, in general, than older adults.
D) the elderly are less motivated to show their abilities than young adults.

Question 78

How are children viewed today?

A) As miniature adults
B) As unworthy of scientific study
C) As the product of their parent's genes
D) As the product of genetic, biological, behavioral, and contextual forces that are constantly interacting

Question 79

Many of the apparent issues with cognitive performance in the elderly may be a function of:

A) difficulty with hearing.
B) poor vision.
C) deficits in motor coordination.
D) all of these

Question 80

__________ is the stage of development that is considered the most complex and stretches across the longest time-frame.

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