Deck 9: Life Span Development

Question 1

Which of the following is a major area of theoretical discussion within the field of developmental psychology?

A) nature or tabula rasa
B) stability or change
C) young or old
D) early stages or later stages

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Jasmine believes that personality is a trait that can change over time, whereas Silvis believes that once personality is established in childhood it is fixed for the rest of one's life. What issue of developmental psychology does this difference address?

A) nature or nurture
B) stability or change
C) young or old
D) continuity or stages

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The fact that we crawl before we walk and walk before we can run are examples of ________.

A) the tabula rasa
B) maturation
C) critical periods
D) an interactionist perspective

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The fact that imprinting occurs within the first few minutes of life demonstrates the importance of ________.

A) maturation
B) a critical period
C) the tabula rasa
D) nurture

Question 5

What would a naturist say about Tiger Woods's achievements in golf? "His achievements are primarily due to ________."

A) gradual and steady improvement
B) his innate athletic abilities
C) the support from his father
D) learning from the best teachers

Question 6

The story of Genie, who is sometimes referred to as a "wild child," stresses the fact that there is an important role for which of the following in language development?

A) maturation
B) critical periods
C) stages
D) continuity

Question 7

Psychologists who emphasize stability believe that personal characteristics ________.

A) are steady and unwavering over a person's life span
B) vary considerably over a person's life span
C) may vary considerably and some characteristics remain stable in most individuals
D) for some people they are nearly all quite stable, and for other people they vary considerably

Question 8

A major problem found in cross-sectional research is the existence of which type of effects, which are caused by differences in the histories of different age groups?

A) sequential
B) cohort
C) objective
D) longitudinal

Question 9

Which of the following is an advantage of the cross-sectional approach to conducting research in human development?

A) It provides quick information about age differences.
B) It provides information about age changes.
C) It typically includes a smaller sample size.
D) It increases confidence in results.

Question 10

Which one of the following is an advantage of the longitudinal approach to conducting research in human development?

A) It provides quick information about age differences.
B) It is quick and less expensive.
C) It offers more information about age-related changes.
D) Its participants tend to stay and complete the whole study.

Question 11

Modern researchers sometimes use a method to study human development that combines which two methods?

A) cohort and interactionist
B) maturation and cross-sectional
C) cohort and longitudinal
D) longitudinal and cross-sectional

Question 12

A threadlike molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid is called a(n) ________.

A) DNA strand
B) chromosome
C) telomere
D) gene

Question 13

Which of the following options is the smallest unit of heredity?

A) a gene
B) a chromosome
C) a strand of DNA
D) a strand of RNA

Question 14

Jayla wants to understand how heredity interacts with environment to produce given actions or mental processes. She is probably a student of ________.

A) teratology
B) behavioral neuroscience
C) epigenetology
D) behavior genetics

Question 15

At conception you were a single cell barely 1/175 of an inch in diameter, called a(n) ________.

A) fetus
B) embryo
C) zygote
D) ovum

Question 16

Which period is the first stage of prenatal development (from conception to implantation in the uterus) that involves the first two weeks of pregnancy?

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

Question 17

The correct order of the stages of pregnancy is ________.

A) fetal period, germinal period, embryonic period
B) germinal period, fetal period, embryonic period
C) germinal period, embryonic period, fetal period
D) embryonic period, fetal period, germinal period

Question 18

The germinal period, which is the first of the prenatal stages, ________.

A) is about 4 weeks in duration
B) is when the fetus begins to develop
C) is the time when development of major organs takes place
D) begins at fertilization and ends with implantation

Question 19

The critical period for development, when exposure to disease prenatally can have the most devastating effects, is ________.

A) at around 8 months
B) during the first 2 weeks
C) during the first 3 months
D) after 6 months

Question 20

Which of the following is TRUE regarding a father's contribution to the health of the fetus?

A) Fathers can transmit genetically heritable diseases.
B) Sperm damaged by alcohol and other environmental toxins cannot fertilize an egg.
C) The placental barrier will protect a fetus whose mother is exposed to the father's smoking.
D) Only fathers can transmit infectious diseases.

Question 21

Exposure to X-rays during prenatal development is known to lead to several potential effects, including ________.

A) cancer
B) hyperactivity
C) inhibition of bone growth
D) deafness

Question 22

Exposure to excessive stress during prenatal development can increase the risk for ________.

A) intellectual disability
B) deafness
C) low birth weight
D) spina bifida

Question 23

Ephraim has decided not to have his daughter immunized during childhood. "All of the other kids are going to receive vaccinations, so there is no reason for us to take that risk for her," he says. Ephraim is banking on the protection of ________.

A) aggregated immunity
B) collective immunity
C) herd immunity
D) nomothetic immunity

Question 24

For what activity was Andrew Wakefield stripped of his medical license?

A) Falsifying research data suggesting that the MMR vaccine causes autism.
B) Plagiarizing the work of Piaget and suggesting that it was a new theory of cognitive development.
C) Developing the medication thalidomide to help pregnant women, only to later find out that it caused terrible birth defects.
D) Telling women in China that they were pregnant with daughters so that they would opt for abortions, even when they were having sons.

Question 25

At birth, an infant's head is ________ its body's size, whereas in adulthood, the head is ________ its body's size.

A) 1/3; 1/4
B) 1/3; 1/10
C) 1/4; 1/10
D) 1/4; 1/8

Question 26

Tamara's baby is a newborn and the baby's first motor movements are ________.

A) bowel movements
B) voluntary imitations
C) facial expressions
D) reflexes

Question 27

Angela's baby, Justin,recently learned to sit up on his own without support and without falling over. How many months old is Justin most likely to be?

A) 2
B) 5.5
C) 10
D) 17.5

Question 28

Lei-lei is developing at an average rate and she is starting to walk unassisted. About how old is Lei-lei?

A) 5.5 months
B) 10 months
C) 1 year
D) 2 years

Question 29

Regarding an infant's sensory and perceptual development, which of the following would you expect?

A) vision to be 20/20 at birth
B) sense of touch and pain to be highly developed at birth
C) no special recognition or preference for either breast milk or formula.
D) very acute sense of hearing the slightest sound that can keep the infant awake

Question 30

Infant vision reaches 20/20 normal adult vision by ________.

A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 2 years
D) 4 years

Question 31

Floyd and Fiona are fraternal twins. With regard to adolescent growth spurts, you can predict that ________.

A) Floyd will be the same height as Fiona until around age 19 in late adolescence
B) Fiona will be taller than Floyd between the ages of 10 and 14
C) Floyd will be taller than Fiona between the ages of 10 and 14
D) Fiona will be taller than Floyd until around age 19 in late adolescence

Question 32

Research finds that puberty is triggered by changes in the brain, including the release of certain hormones during ________.

A) moments of learning
B) physical activity
C) mealtimes and periods of consumption
D) deep sleep

Question 33

Which of the following is responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics?

A) thyroid gland
B) pituitary gland
C) hippocampus
D) amygdala

Question 34

At what age do the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex typically reach full maturity?

A) teenage years
B) mid-20s
C) between 30 and 40 years
D) not until well into our older years

Question 35

The period of development between about 18 and 25 years in which individuals in modern culture shave left the dependency of childhood but have not yet assumed adult responsibilities is called ________.

A) developing adulthood
B) transitional adulthood
C) temporary adulthood
D) emerging adulthood

Question 36

Stanley is 68 years old and is in dreadful health. He has high blood pressure, is morbidly obese, suffers from high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, and has emphysema from years of cigarette smoking. Stanley is suffering from the effects of ________.

A) primary aging
B) secondary aging
C) tertiary aging
D) peripheral aging

Question 37

The cellular clock theory of aging suggests that human cells have a finite time period before which structures get so short that they can no longer divide?

A) heterosomes
B) autosomes
C) telomeres
D) choleraces

Question 38

According to the cellular clock theory, the tips of chromosomes can only divide how many times?

A) 25
B) 100
C) 250
D) 500

Question 39

Gertrude is the envy of her community She is 119 years of age, and there is going to be a massive party for her 120th birthday next month. All of the local businesses have donated goods to make it a true gala event. Gertrude is approaching the ________.

A) Hayflick limit
B) Vygotsky limit
C) Schtulman limit
D) Flynn limit

Question 40

The manager at the Acme company hired Tom, a 30-year-old man with the same qualifications as Alex, a 55-year-old applicant because the manager was concerned that Alex might have health problems that would lead him to take too much time off. This is an example of ________.

A) sexism
B) social norms
C) ageism
D) independent hiring practices

Question 41

A child believes that any object that flies is a bird based on a past experience that the "birdie is in the sky." He now calls airplanes and hot air balloons "birdies." This would be an example of ________.

A) accommodation
B) assimilation
C) priming
D) equilibration

Question 42

In the first few weeks of life, schemas are primarily ________.

A) reflexive
B) cognitive
C) perceptual
D) developmental

Question 43

A 4-year-old child is speaking on the phone with her grandmother, and instead of verbally responding to her grandmother's questions, she shakes and nods her head. This child thinks that her grandmother can see her gestures and is demonstrating ________.

A) object permanence
B) egocentrism
C) centration
D) reversibility

Question 44

Which of the following best describes a child's preoperational belief of animism?

A) My daddy wants a pony for his birthday.
B) If my ball is hidden behind the couch, it doesn't exist.
C) My truck moves because I pushed it with my hands.
D) The sun is shining because it is happy and smiling.

Question 45

Significant language advances tend to occur during what stage of cognitive development?

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

Question 46

John was shown a ball of string, then the teacher unraveled it so the string became one long piece that was more than 10 feet long. John knows that the ball of string has the same amount of string as when it is unraveled into one long piece. Which stage of Piaget's cognitive development is John exhibiting?

A) sensory operation
B) formal operation
C) conservation
D) stability

Question 47

Which of the following statements best describes Piaget's concept of personal fable?

A) Mary believes that everyone on the soccer team was staring at her when she showed up without her uniform.
B) Mary tells her mother that nobody understands what it feels like to not have a date for the prom.
C) Mary understands that her grandparents also felt awkward as teenagers, too.
D) Before applying for graduate school, Mary asks herself what she does best and what work she enjoys.

Question 48

The personal fable and risk taking that occur during adolescent egocentrism may be due primarily to the underdevelopment of what part of the brain?

A) amygdala
B) frontal lobes
C) occipital lobe
D) hypothalamus

Question 49

The zone of proximal development refers to ________.

A) belief that an adolescent is special and unique, and that they alone are having thoughts and feelings that no one else understands or experiences
B) the area between what children can accomplish on their own and what they can accomplish with the help of others who are more competent
C) the idea that moral reasoning is based primarily on what is "right" and what is "wrong" as indicated by society's rules
D) the idea that in the first year of life, an infant's primary caretaker can teach that the world is a safe place and that people can be trusted

Question 50

Vygotsky's term for providing support during the learning process that is tailored to the needs of the student is instructional ________.

A) scaffolding
B) modeling
C) structuring
D) accommodating

Question 51

According to Ainsworth's studies on infant attachment, if Jocelyn leaves her baby Henry in a room and he does not react or show much emotion when she leaves, then Henry is exhibiting what type of behavior?

A) disorganized/disoriented
B) secure
C) anxious/ambivalent
D) anxious/avoidant

Question 52

According to Ainsworth's studies on infant attachment, if Cassie leaves her infant Dante in the room and he cries, but then he has mixed reactions when she returns, then Dante is exhibiting what behavior?

A) anxious/ambivalent
B) caregiver-based
C) insecurely attached
D) dependent

Question 53

Eric demands that his mother bring him a glass of water even though he can do it himself, and he disobeys her suggestion that he get his own glass of water. He throws the glass on the floor. According to Baumrind, it is MOST likely that his parents are engaged in which type of parenting?

A) disorganized-disoriented
B) authoritarian
C) authoritative
D) permissive-indulgent

Question 54

Mr. and Mrs. Miaki think that children should not speak at the dinner table unless an adult asks them a question. They stress obedience to their house rules and proper table manners; they expect mature behavior in their children. Baumrind would classify the Miakis as which type of parents?

A) inflexible
B) authoritative
C) authoritarian
D) laissez-faire

Question 55

Thornton is easily upset and will throw his toys in a tantrum; at other times he will cry if he doesn't get what he wants. Thornton sometimes pulls his younger sister's hair when he is angry. He does not communicate well with friends or adults. According to Baumrind, it is MOST likely that his parents are engaged in which type of parenting?

A) abusive
B) authoritarian
C) authoritative
D) permissive-neglectful

Question 56

Jonas always does his homework without being told, and he gets himself ready for school, and prepares his own breakfast; he won the science fair competition at his school this year. According to Baumrind, which parenting style is most likely to produce a child like Jonas?

A) permissive
B) autonomous
C) authoritative
D) authoritarian

Question 57

Research found that when participants told a lie, a specific part of their brain had an intense emotional response. As they told more lies, that brain structure showed decreased activation. Which part of the brain seems to acclimate to lying in this way?

A) the amygdala
B) the hypothalamus
C) the central sulcus
D) the hippocampus

Question 58

Aretha wanted all of the grape flavored gum from Halloween, so she made a deal with her brother that if he gave her his grape gum, she would help him get an extra cookie at dinner time. According to Kohlberg, what level of moral development is this?

A) preconventional
B) postconventional
C) conventional
D) social contract

Question 59

Sarah knows that she should obey the rules and always stops when the traffic light is red. Her friend Sophie knows this rule, too, but when no one is around late at night she goes through the red light. Sarah is at what level of moral development?

A) instrumental-exchange
B) social-contract
C) conventional
D) postconventional

Question 60

There are no other cars on the road at three AM and you come to a stop sign, you decide not to drive through it, but instead you follow the traffic laws and stop because you believe the rules are legitimate and good for public welfare; you are demonstrating which orientation stage of moral development?

A) punishment and obedience
B) law and order
C) social contract
D) instrumental-exchange

Question 61

What is the crisis of young adults as defined by Erikson's psychosocial stages?

A) autonomy vs. shame and doubt
B) intimacy vs. isolation
C) industry vs. inferiority
D) ego integrity vs. despair

Question 62

According to Erikson, humans progress through eight stages of psychosocial development. Which of the following is the CORRECT sequence for the "successful" completion of the last four stages?

A) identity, intimacy, generativity, ego integrity
B) ego integrity, trust, intimacy, generativity
C) initiative, intimacy, generativity, ego integrity
D) identity, autonomy, intimacy, generativity

Question 63

When one group of same-aged participants are studied together, they may be affected by specific historical events that affected them in all in a similar manner. These influences are called ________ effects.

Question 64

The relatively new field of ________ studies how the expression of a person's genes can be impacted by non-genetic, or environmental, factors.

Question 65

The Russian psychologist who suggested that a child's sociocultural influences were essential to their cognitive development was ________.

Question 66

The researcher who criticized Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of morality based on the fact that it applied more readily to men than to women was ________.

Question 67

Young Matthew is always initially intimidated and shy in a new situation. After a little while, however, he tends to find himself more relaxed and it is then easy for him to engage in activities. According to Thomas and Chess, Matthew has a(n) ________ temperament.

Question 68

Describe the process used in the two major forms of research in developmental psychology, along with the strengths and potential drawbacks of each.

Question 69

Briefly describe early childhood changes in the brain, motor abilities, and sensory/perceptual development.

Question 70

Contrast the terms puberty and adolescence, and list the major physical changes that occur during puberty, middle age, and later adulthood.

Question 71

Discuss some of the physical issues that are confronted during middle age and late adulthood and their implications for psychological well-being.

Question 72

List and describe the characteristics in each of Piaget's four stages of cognitive development. Illustrate a child's abilities and limits at each level of development.

Question 73

Discuss Baumrind's different parenting styles, and how each has a different effect on the development of a child.

Question 74

Describe the strange situation experiment developed by Ainsworth, and list and describe the attachment styles identified via this approach.

Question 75

Describe the moral reasoning someone at each of Kohlberg's stages would use for why the following statement is morally correct: "Cheating is wrong." What are some of the criticisms of Kohlberg's theory?

Question 76

List and describe Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development, illustrating each with a successful and unsuccessful resolution.