Deck 16: Psychosocial Development in Middle Adulthood

Question 1

In the timing-of-events model,personality development is dependent on

A)specific,age-related maturational processes that occur in a fairly predictable way from one person to the next.
B)crises that occur when people turn 30,then 40,then 50 years old.
C)significant life events that occur at different times for different people.
D)changes in reproductive capacity.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Among the Gusii of Kenya,

A)there are no expectations about stages of life.
B)expectations about stages of life are very different from those in the United States.
C)expectations about stages of life are surprisingly similar to those in the United States.
D)women dominate the culture.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In Gusii society,transitions in social status depend on

A)spiritual powers.
B)ability to reproduce.
C)life events.
D)age.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to Jung,during the midlife transition,men and women

A)turn inward to express previously suppressed aspects of personality.
B)concentrate on obligations to family and society.
C)become less self-centered and more empathic.
D)do not change significantly,since personality is set in childhood.

Question 5

Norm and Edna are in their late 40s and are childless.According to Erikson,this couple may have problems

A)developing the virtue of hope.
B)experiencing intimacy as they progress through midlife.
C)relieving feelings of identity confusion.
D)achieving generativity.

Question 6

In Vaillant's study of men in their 50s,those who were considered best-adjusted displayed all of the following characteristics EXCEPT

A)responsibility for others at work.
B)accomplishments of their children.
C)gifts to charity.
D)frustration at the lack of accomplishments of their children.

Question 7

According to Erikson,middle-aged adults are involved in the crisis of

A)identity versus identity confusion.
B)generativity versus stagnation.
C)industry versus inferiority.
D)intimacy versus isolation.

Question 8

Melinda,who is in her mid-40s,owns a successful computer company.Recently,she has taken on a 14-year-old high school girl as an intern in order to "show her the ropes" of running a business.According to Erikson,Melinda is demonstrating

A)altruism.
B)generativity.
C)intimacy.
D)industry.

Question 9

Levinson felt that men become more concerned with ______________ during middle adulthood.

A)career
B)SES
C)self-esteem
D)relationships

Question 10

According to both Erikson and Vaillant,more than half of the people they studied who had entered their 50s

A)had not shown any exceptional success at work.
B)often did not achieve intimacy.
C)often took responsibility for others.
D)were often hampered by the onset of physical problems.

Question 11

According to Erikson,the virtue of middle adulthood is

A)hope.
B)care.
C)trust.
D)love.

Question 12

Adam is 42 years old and in the midst of his midlife transition.According to Carl Jung's analysis of midlife,Adam needs to accomplish two important tasks for a successful transition:

A)to become more extroverted and more involved with family.
B)to become more assertive and more achievement-oriented.
C)to give up the image of youth and acknowledge one's eventual death.
D)to increase generativity and decrease stagnation.

Question 13

According to Erikson,generativity can take the form of

A)fostering the development of the young.
B)decreased concern for the well-being of others.
C)a maintenance of a youthful lifestyle.
D)indulging oneself in long-delayed pleasures.

Question 14

Researchers study three types of psychosocial developmental change.These include all of the following EXCEPT change related to

A)maturational needs or tasks that all human beings experience.
B)historical events that affect a particular population.
C)the socioeconomic status of a family.
D)unusual experiences and unusual timing.

Question 15

In Gusii society,a "midlife crisis" is

A)impossible because they do not clearly label midlife transitions.
B)apparently similar to one in our society,involving reassessment of life and future performance.
C)usually the result of a loss of spiritual powers.
D)experienced only by women.

Question 16

According to research on "the social clock," which person would be viewed most negatively by other adults?

A)A 47-year-old woman who is getting her first job
B)A 29-year-old man who becomes president of a rapidly growing company
C)A 47-year-old woman who is having her first child
D)A 47-year-old man who is getting married for the first time

Question 17

It can be inferred from Erikson that achieving generativity is

A)not easy for childless people.
B)actually easier for childless people than for parents.
C)equally difficult for childless people and parents.
D)unnecessary for childless people.

Question 18

Both Vaillant and Jung reported

A)a lessoning of gender differentiation at midlife and a tendency for men to become more nurturing and expressive.
B)a desire to protect people from making decisions based on cultural biases.
C)that most men and women influence decisions equally by age and by specific events.
D)the effects of age on personality development have a profound effect on decision making.

Question 19

Cohort,gender,ethnicity,culture,and socioeconomic status affect the life course by

A)influencing the expectations and trajectory of life decisions.
B)protecting people from making decisions based on cultural biases.
C)influencing decisions equally by age and by specific events.
D)distinguishing the effects of age on personality development from the effects of specific events.

Question 20

According to the text,generativity can be expressed in the middle years through

A)teaching.
B)creativity.
C)travel.
D)politics.

Question 21

In a study of Mills College female alumni,participants at midlife demonstrated that they

A)were too old to still be in good health.
B)were afraid of launching children and becoming financially secure.
C)had stopped caring for others and were finally focused on themselves.
D)had developed greater confidence and security.

Question 22

Most research has cast doubt on the idea that middle age brings about ________ as a source of psychological disturbance.

A)menopause
B)a climacteric
C)a midlife crisis
D)a crisis of industry versus inferiority

Question 23

A midlife review for Donald may include all of the following EXCEPT

A)regret over failure to achieve his dream of becoming company president.
B)a keener awareness that his social clock is ticking and he has still not had a child.
C)a midlife crisis.
D)the imminence of developmental deadlines.

Question 24

A psychological turning point that often yields new insights into the self and corrects life's design and trajectory is called a

A)male climeractic.
B)menopause.
C)midlife crisis.
D)midlife review.

Question 25

As children move away from home,Gutmann identified a reversal of life roles called gender

A)attitudes.
B)decisions.
C)crossover.
D)goals.

Question 26

According to narrative psychology,life-story interviews with middle-age adults often reflect their

A)personalities.
B)goals in life.
C)past accomplishments.
D)None of these

Question 27

Positive mental health involves a sense of psychological well-being,which depends upon having a

A)healthy sense of self.
B)heightened sense of paranoia.
C)sense of popularity.
D)great deal of praise and positive feedback.

Question 28

An attempt to fit a new experience into an existing schema is identity

A)formation.
B)assimilation.
C)accommodation.
D)style.

Question 29

According to the text,these factors contribute to life satisfaction EXCEPT

A)social support.
B)religiosity.
C)conscientiousness.
D)introversion.

Question 30

Studies from the 1960s to 1980s found that,compared with younger men,men in middle age were

A)the busiest in developing their careers.
B)the most achievement-oriented.
C)more open about their feelings.
D)those who made significant changes in their life structures.

Question 31

Highly generative adults tend to construct

A)commitments.
B)generativity scripts.
C)generative stories.
D)gender roles.

Question 32

The midlife crisis is brought on by an individual's awareness of his or her

A)aging process.
B)limited resources for change.
C)mortality.
D)inability to fulfill the dreams of their youth.

Question 33

Based on almost all measures of generativity in middle adulthood,

A)men reported higher levels of generativity than women.
B)women reported higher levels of generativity than men.
C)there were no measurable differences between men and women.
D)generativity could not be measured,only inferred.

Question 34

Which of the following is a characteristic of an ego-resilient adult?

A)Social awkwardness
B)Feels a lack of personal meaning in life
C)A frenzied manner
D)Good sense of humor

Question 35

Travis is 44 years old and is worrying about his lost youth,his changing appearance,his unfulfilled dreams,and his future.Jacques (1967)would describe Travis' emotional state as

A)a midlife crisis.
B)a male climacteric.
C)stagnation.
D)burnout.

Question 36

All of the following are valid criticisms of the concept of the midlife crisis EXCEPT

A)this sort of transition is not necessarily limited to the middle years.
B)it appears to be more related to life events,circumstances,and personality than to age.
C)the transition,though potentially stressful,does not necessarily take on crisis proportions.
D)midlife stress is limited chiefly to professional men.

Question 37

Whitbourne concluded that a person customarily reaches identity equilibrium on the basis of their identity style.All of the following are typical identity styles EXCEPT

A)assimilative.
B)accommodative.
C)comprehensive.
D)balanced.

Question 38

According to the longitudinal study of Mills College graduates by Ravenna Helson,middle-aged women increased more than their male partners in

A)competence.
B)confidence. C,independence.
D)All of these

Question 39

Identity has been described as the accumulated perceptions of the self,both conscious and unconscious.This means that

A)our identity is an absolute view based on facts.
B)once established,identity is stable throughout life.
C)self-perceptions are confirmed or denied throughout a person's lifetime and adjustments are made to this view.
D)only information from intimate relationships has value in redefining one's view of oneself.

Question 40

Many studies of middle-age adults have found a gradual average decline in negative emotions.Which of the following is TRUE?

A)Women and men did not differ in negative emotions with age.
B)Women have more positive emotions at all ages than men.
C)Women have more negative emotionality at all ages than men.
D)Married people report less positive emotions than unmarried people.

Question 41

Middle-age cohabitants may reap the same rewards as married people.This statement is TRUE for

A)men.
B)women.
C)men and women equally.
D)There is no evidence to back up this statement.

Question 42

Research findings of marital satisfaction in the later years of long-term marriages may in part be due to the fact that

A)children have left home.
B)menopause has eliminated the fear of pregnancy.
C)older samples do not include couples that have already gotten divorced.
D)studies were longitudinal.

Question 43

Ethnic conservatism refers to

A)the tendency of immigrants to accept assimilation to the majority culture.
B)the tendency of immigrants to reject assimilation to the majority culture.
C)the tendency of immigrants to promote assimilation to the second generation of immigrants.
D)None of these

Question 44

Like many other women who get divorced in middle age,Linda reported less depression and hostility,but

A)had more physical illnesses.
B)had more problems with financial security.
C)lost the close relationship she once enjoyed with her grown children.
D)experienced a difficult midlife crisis.

Question 45

Of the following,who is likely to find divorce most traumatic?

A)A young man
B)A young woman
C)A middle-aged man
D)A middle-aged woman

Question 46

Margo,who is in her early 20s,is about to marry.If current literature is correct,when might she expect the most stress and unhappiness in her marriage?

A)As a newlywed
B)During the childrearing years
C)After the children leave home
D)In late adulthood

Question 47

Edna and Roderick have been married for 25 years.They have built up their financial resources,and their emotional bond has grown over the years.According to the text,Edna and Roderick have considerable

A)marital capital.
B)marital mutuality.
C)marital scaffolding.
D)marital assimilation.

Question 48

Which age group has the largest number of people in its social convoy?

A)Adolescence
B)Young adulthood
C)Middle adulthood
D)Older adulthood

Question 49

Cohabitating middle-aged men seem to feel more depressed than married men because they

A)worry about not having care in their elderly years from their mate.
B)cannot determine the quality of the relationship.
C)still feel divorced or single.
D)None of these

Question 50

According to Carstensen's socioemotional selectivity theory,people's goals for social interaction include

A)finding sources of information.
B)submerging their sense of self.
C)developing networks for social advancement.
D)avoiding pleasure and emotional well-being.

Question 51

Homosexuals who do not come out until middle age may affect other aspects of their development,such as

A)difficulty establishing gay relationships.
B)challenges in experiencing generativity.
C)early establishment of identity.
D)tighter bonds with parents and siblings.

Question 52

Middle-aged people show the most adaptability in the face of separation or divorce because they

A)have greater maturity and expertise in handling problems.
B)have a longer time to get accustomed to the idea of divorce.
C)reported greater hostility in their marriages.
D)have more prospects for remarriage.

Question 53

Gay men who do not "come out" until midlife often go through a prolonged search for

A)relationship.
B)acceptance.
C)identity.
D)All of these

Question 54

In a longtime marriage,positive aspects of the relationship,such as discussion,cooperation,and shared laughter,tend to

A)decrease.
B)increase.
C)follow a U-shaped curve.
D)peak early and then decrease.

Question 55

In cross-sectional studies,the midlife period is characterized by

A)less autonomy than young adults.
B)more purposeful and more focused on personal growth.
C)increases in environmental mastery.
D)unstable self-acceptance.

Question 56

Which of the following statements about friendships in middle age is TRUE?

A)People tend to have more friendships in middle age than at any other time of life.
B)Middle-aged people often have less time for friendships but they have more quality in their friendships.
C)Friendships are typically most complex during middle age.
D)Age is a very important factor in making friends at this time of life.

Question 57

Married couples are likely to have the most marital satisfaction

A)after the last child enters school.
B)at midlife.
C)after the last child leaves home.
D)after age 70.

Question 58

Some research suggests that marital satisfaction over a lifetime appears to follow a U-shaped curve;this means that

A)satisfaction is lower in the early years of a marriage and then again in late adulthood.
B)satisfaction is highest in the early years of a marriage and then again in late adulthood.
C)there is a "normal distribution" of satisfaction throughout marriage.
D)most marriages worsen over the years.

Question 59

Which of the following is TRUE of homosexual couples?

A)They tend to be mostly white and affluent.
B)One member of the pair tends to be more dominant and career-oriented.
C)They tend to be more concerned with sexuality than heterosexual couples.
D)Many are still working out conflicts with parents.

Question 60

Middle-aged women seem to be susceptible to depression and other mental health problems as a result of

A)cardiovascular disease.
B)vicarious stress.
C)selective theory.
D)None of these

Question 61

The empty nest is a transition stage.Elaine,like many other women who used the role of motherhood to define themselves,must

A)redefine her relationship with her spouse.
B)find employment outside the house in order to have value.
C)reconnect with her siblings because she feels empty.
D)None of these

Question 62

A life stage that some researchers claim represents an adult child's accepting and meeting their elderly parents' needs is called

A)ageism.
B)filial maturity.
C)postformal obligation.
D)respite stage.

Question 63

Which of the following would be most likely to care for an ill and elderly person?

A)Middle-aged daughter
B)Young adult daughter
C)Middle-aged son
D)Young adult son

Question 64

All of the following appear to be common problems associated with caring for elderly,infirm parents EXCEPT

A)feelings of guilt and anger.
B)physical and emotional exhaustion.
C)feeling tied down.
D)worrying about the need for care long before it actually becomes necessary.

Question 65

Friendships are most important for women in

A)early middle age.
B)late middle age.
C)late young adulthood.
D)early late adulthood.

Question 66

Sue is 49 and has a 69-year-old mother.It is probable that she

A)rarely sees or talks to her mother.
B)sees or talks to her mother frequently.
C)lives with her mother.
D)has a great deal of conflict with her mother.

Question 67

Older parents and middle-aged children agree that responsibilities of the children include all of the following EXCEPT

A)helping parents understand their resources.
B)providing emotional support.
C)making room in their homes for a parent.
D)talking over matters of importance.

Question 68

The process by which middle-aged children learn to balance love and duty to their parents with autonomy within a two-way relationship is called

A)filial maturity.
B)filial crisis.
C)filial responsibility.
D)All of these

Question 69

Generalizing from your knowledge when young adult children return to their parents' home,which of Erikson's crises might the young adult have difficulty resolving?

A)Identity versus identity confusion
B)Intimacy versus isolation
C)Generativity versus stagnation
D)None of these;returning home has been shown to enhance young people's ability to resolve Eriksonian crises.

Question 70

Terri and her husband moved out of state several years after their marriage.They attend family gatherings and send cards for the appropriate events but have little emotional attachment to either of their families.Their relationships would be

A)sociable.
B)tight-knit.
C)obligatory.
D)detached.

Question 71

Most adult children today

A)do not provide care for aging parents who need it.
B)plan ahead about how they will care for their parents.
C)feel better about providing care if they do so because of a sense of attachment.
D)feel better about providing care if they are doing it out of a sense of duty.

Question 72

Some women find the time when their adolescent children leave home difficult,but they are outnumbered by other mothers who

A)experience increased physical and psychological illness at this time.
B)suffer from severe depression.
C)find the departure of children liberating.
D)experience the beginning stages of a midlife crisis.

Question 73

Generalizing from the text,a nonnormative experience of parent-child co-residence is becoming

A)more so.
B)less so.
C)about the same as previous generations.
D)a societal problem.

Question 74

Which of the following statements about middle-aged people's relationships with their parents is TRUE?

A)They usually cannot view their parents as objectively as they used to.
B)There is typically a strong bond between them and their parents.
C)Ties with parents tend to be static;the relationship stops changing after children reach adulthood.
D)None of these

Question 75

Which of the following statements about the "empty nest" crisis is TRUE?

A)It is merely a myth.
B)It affects some,but by no means all,mothers.
C)It affects mothers but not fathers.
D)It is hardest on both mothers and fathers who have been deeply involved with their children.

Question 76

The empty nest does not signal the end of parenthood;it is a _______________ to a new stage: the relationship between parents and adult children.

A)modification
B)transition
C)trauma
D)crisis

Question 77

Intergenerational families that are geographically and emotionally close and have frequent contact and give mutual support are known as

A)sociable.
B)tight-knit.
C)obligatory.
D)detached.

Question 78

Most dependent elders receive care in their own home or at

A)a nursing home.
B)the home of a caregiver.
C)a retirement home.
D)an old folks' home.

Question 79

Typically,adult children and their elderly parents

A)seldom see each other.
B)get along rather poorly with each other.
C)get along well with each other.
D)live together.

Question 80

At some time during middle age,adult children realize that their parents are old and that now they must be a pillar of strength for their parents,as well as for their own children.This realization may be

A)comforting.
B)distressing.
C)exciting.
D)surprising.