Deck 14: Families

Question 1

Through ________ generativity,adults develop skills that are passed down to others.

A) biological
B) parental
C) work
D) cultural

Answer 1

work

Question 2

Earlier views were that midlife crises are common in middle adulthood.Currently,adult development theorists believe that the high prevalence of such crises:

A) has been validated.
B) has been exaggerated.
C) has no cross-cultural validity.
D) has been underestimated.

Answer 2

has been exaggerated.

Question 3

According to Levinson,the change to middle adulthood requires that the adult male come to grips with four major conflicts.Which of the following is NOT one of these conflicts?

A) being young versus being old
B) being attractive versus being unattractive
C) being masculine versus being feminine
D) being destructive versus being constructive

Answer 3

being attractive versus being unattractive

Question 4

People who experience a midlife crisis:

A) will see its effects in all contexts of life.
B) may see its effects in only one context of life.
C) will go through a succession of failures from one part of life to another.
D) are outside of the norm for the age group.

Question 5

) According to Erik Erikson,developing a strong sense of generativity in middle adulthood can help a person achieve a sense of ________ in later adulthood.

A) integrity
B) autonomy
C) intimacy
D) independence

Question 6

What did Levinson's research conclude about women in midlife transition?

A) Women have significantly less distress during this process.
B) Women face the midlife transition earlier and with greater difficulty than do men.
C) Women who have had children have an easier time than those who have not.
D) There are no real significant differences between how men and how women fare in midlife transition.

Question 7

According to Levinson's research on the midlife transition,most men:

A) found it an easy and gradual developmental phase.
B) were not aware of the significant developmental changes taking place.
C) found it to be a painful and difficult time.
D) struggled with the issues much later than Levinson concluded.

Question 8

Peter,a 20-year-old,is in the ________ phase,according to Levinson.

A) becoming one's own man
B) novice
C) forming an independent identity
D) forming a stable relationship

Question 9

As he looks back over his life,Chris realizes that his work was not as important to him as he believed,and that he lost too much valuable time with his children.If he could do it over again,he would work less and spend more time with his children.According to Erik Erikson,Chris is experiencing some degree of:

A) doubt.
B) shame.
C) despair.
D) stagnation.

Question 10

Bernard is trying to come to grips with the reality that he is no longer a young man,and he spends more time than ever before contemplating his future.According to Levinson,Bernard is ________ years old.

A) 25
B) 30
C) 40
D) 50

Question 11

Daniel Levinson's studies suggest that most adults feel that middle age is a time of:

A) crisis.
B) reconsolidation.
C) peace and tranquility.
D) intimacy and social closeness.

Question 12

A major criticism of the theory of the midlife crisis is that:

A) there is virtually no evidence to support its existence.
B) more men than first thought have a midlife crisis.
C) it actually occurs much later than first thought.
D) it has been greatly exaggerated.

Question 13

) According to Erik Erikson,the person MOST likely to experience generativity in middle adulthood is one who experienced ________ in earlier adulthood.

A) isolation
B) intimacy
C) stagnation
D) ego transcendence

Question 14

In Erik Erikson's theory,adults strive for generativity to achieve a sense of:

A) immortality.
B) recognition.
C) achievement.
D) satisfaction.

Question 15

Which of the following would Erik Erikson believe is the midlife crisis faced by most middle-aged adults?

A) Did I make enough money?
B) Was I the best spouse I could be?
C) Did I make the best use of my education?
D) Did I spend enough quality time with my children?

Question 16

The seventh stage of Erikson's life-span theory is the characteristic of middle age.What name did Erikson give this stage?

A) intimacy versus isolation
B) integrity versus despair
C) generativity versus stagnation
D) keeping the meaning versus rigidity

Question 17

Stage theories of development emphasize ________,whereas individual variation approaches focus on ________.

A) biology; experience.
B) similarities; differences.
C) social context; genetic basis.
D) variations in development; commonalities in development.

Question 18

Daniel Levinson's theory of adult development can be criticized because it:

A) was based on interviews with men only.
B) was not based on the lives of real people.
C) focused too much on the lives of young adults who were more idealistic.
D) was based only on the lives of important historical figures rather than on living people.

Question 19

) According to Erik Erikson,a person who develops a sense of stagnation in middle adulthood is at risk for ________ later in life.

A) shame
B) identity diffusion
C) generativity
D) despair

Question 20

An important concern about the adult-stage theories of Erikson,Levinson,and Vaillant is that they:

A) do not clearly specify stages of development.
B) emphasize stability more than change.
C) rely too heavily on laboratory studies.
D) do not account well for individual differences in adult development.

Question 21

The life-events approach to understanding adult development has been criticized because it:

A) focuses on major life events but not on daily experiences as stressors.
B) claims that most life events do not significantly alter one's development.
C) focuses too much on the concept of midlife crisis to explain development.
D) suggests too many different levels of events in explaining adult development.

Question 22

The ________ approach emphasizes mediating factors and sociohistorical context,among other factors,to explain individual development.

A) individual differences
B) psychosocial
C) contemporary life-events
D) seasons of life

Question 23

An assumption that underlies the contemporary life-events approach to adult development is that adult development is:

A) driven by the person's social context.
B) controlled by the person's life events.
C) shaped by the person's actions,choices,and perceptions.
D) determined by the person's biological and environmental histories.

Question 24

Mr.Chang gets very angry when he discovers his newspaper in the mud underneath the bushes once again.He begins throwing things and yelling loudly.Mr.Chang is experiencing the stress of:

A) a major life event.
B) a daily hassle.
C) a middle-age development crisis.
D) psychological generativity.

Question 25

At age 47,Renaldo is divorced and is moving to another state to find a new job.According to the ________ approach to understanding adult development,we can say that Renaldo is entering a new stage in life.

A) life-stress
B) life-events
C) midlife crisis
D) development stages

Question 26

The life-events and daily-hassles approaches to adult development are alike in that both:

A) evaluate the impact of major events that occur in life upon the adult's development.
B) emphasize events that happen to a person,not events that happen within a person.
C) consider the effects of individuals' physical health on their ability to adjust to events.
D) fail to consider the impact of day-to-day problems that people encounter in their lives.

Question 27

What is the difference between life events and hassles?

A) Life events are minor; hassles are major.
B) Life events are within one's control; hassles are outside of one's control.
C) Life events are temporary; hassles are longer-lasting.
D) Life events lead to stress; hassles lead to boredom.

Question 28

Professor Weinstein is discussing the contemporary life-events approach to development.He criticizes this theory for:

A) ignoring the developmental stages adults go through.
B) placing too much emphasis on change.
C) not considering the female experience.
D) focusing on minor and not major life events.

Question 29

Sandra's mother is concerned about Sandra's lack of interest in marrying and having children.She told Sandra,"When I was your age,I had already found a good husband and settled down." Sandra and her mother:

A) have different social clocks.
B) have different coping styles.
C) have different burnout levels.
D) are in different developmental stages.

Question 30

Cohort effects are differences based on:

A) gender.
B) historical context.
C) secular trends.
D) generational drift.

Question 31

In general,a ________ task is more stressful than a(n)________ task.

A) hassle; catastrophe
B) life-event; conflict
C) hassle; life-event
D) predictable; unpredictable

Question 32

"I did it myyyyy way," the singer crooned.Which theory of adult development might this singer prefer?

A) a stage theory
B) a daily hassles theory
C) a socioemotional theory
D) an individual variations theory

Question 33

The adult stages of development proposed by Levinson and Vaillant may not have taken into account differences in the social clock.This means that their results:

A) may not be valid for the subjects in their studies because the subjects' social clocks were not assessed.
B) are not valid for both men and women born during the same time period as the subjects in their studies.
C) may not be valid for those born in a different historical period than the subjects in their studies.
D) are valid for any adult because the social clock has not changed significantly since the time setting of their studies.

Question 34

Stewart,at 38 years old,is not yet married,although most of his close friends have been married for years.Because of this,Stewart feels:

A) stress.
B) relief.
C) loneliness.
D) depressed.

Question 35

The ________ life-events approach emphasizes that the manner in which life events influence an individual's development depends not only on these events but also upon mediating factors.

A) contemporary
B) standard
C) cognitive
D) assimilative

Question 36

Why is the social clock an important consideration when understanding development?

A) It informs people how much longer they can expect to live in comparison with others in their culture.
B) It may differ for different generations and indicate different age ranges for completing developmental tasks.
C) It informs people how much social interaction their culture says is necessary for healthy adult development.
D) It is a useful tool for making comparisons across different generations to see if the hypothesized developmental course is valid.

Question 37

How has the social clock changed over the last few decades?

A) It is truer for women but less true for men.
B) It is less rigid today than in earlier decades.
C) It is more dependent on socioeconomic status.
D) It is no longer a valid theme in today's society.

Question 38

What change in the social clock has taken place in recent years?

A) It is much more rigid than in the past.
B) Males are much more likely to follow it.
C) It is more variable now than in the past.
D) It is less important than cohort effects.

Question 39

A recent study of stress revealed that middle-aged adults experience ________ "overload" stressors compared with young and older adults.

A) fewer
B) more
C) the same amount of
D) different kinds of

Question 40

Critics of the life-events approach and the daily-hassles approach argue that:

A) neither tells us how individuals cope.
B) both emphasize the male experience.
C) neither has much impact on adult development.
D) both are culturally biased.

Question 41

Why is it difficult to identify a midlife crisis in other cultures?

A) Many other cultures do not have a well-defined concept of midlife.
B) Research indicates that such a crisis simply does not take place in most cultures.
C) Many other cultures have no freedom to make changes at midlife.
D) Many other cultures have clear rituals and goals to guide them through midlife,so there is no need for a crisis.

Question 42

In the Berkeley longitudinal studies,which of the following characteristics generally CHANGED across time for the adult?

A) intellectual orientation
B) nurturance or hostility
C) openness to experience
D) self-confidence

Question 43

According to Costa and McCrae's study on adult personality development,in early adulthood,_________ DECREASES.

A) gender role ideology
B) neuroticism
C) social dominance
D) agreeableness

Question 44

Of Costa and McCrae's Big Five personality traits,which one is most likely to increase in early and middle adulthood?

A) conscientiousness
B) adaptability
C) coping style
D) extraversion

Question 45

Middle adulthood for women is:

A) a similar experience across cultures.
B) quite dissimilar for women of different cultures.
C) similar to middle adulthood for men across cultures.
D) more difficult for women in nonindustrialized cultures.

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT one of the big five personality traits identified by Costa and McCrae?

A) extraversion
B) openness
C) adaptability
D) conscientiousness

Question 47

According to Costa and McCrae's study on adult personality development,in early adulthood,_________INCREASES.

A) social vitality
B) openness to experience
C) traditional work ethic
D) robust coping style

Question 48

Which of the following is one of Costa and McCrae's Big Five personality traits?

A) sensitivity
B) masculinity/femininity
C) aggressiveness
D) extraversion

Question 49

Cross-cultural studies show that in nonindustrialized countries,the concept of middle age is:

A) often missing; these cultures only refer to adults as young or old.
B) about the same as it is in industrialized countries like the United States.
C) more finely discerned; many cultures speak of five or more different stages of middle adulthood.
D) more rigidly defined; there are rites of passage set at particular ages for entering into middle age and the elder years.

Question 50

According to Costa and McCrae's study on adult personality development,as we age,we move from ________ to ________.

A) extraversion; introversion.
B) being closed; being open.
C) agreeableness; disagreeableness.
D) interdependence; independence.

Question 51

Chuck,who is in his late 50s,is less ________ than his son,who is 20 years younger.

A) flexible
B) nurturing
C) reflective
D) hard-working

Question 52

Which of the following BEST summarizes the results of the major longitudinal studies of personality development?

A) Personality changes considerably throughout the adult years.
B) Personality is well developed by age 30 and rarely changes after that age.
C) The extent of personality change over time is fairly consistent for the population as a whole.
D) Over time,some aspects of personality change,whereas others remain stable.

Question 53

When Alexa was younger,she was very shy and lacked confidence.At age 62,she is still unlikely to initiate a conversation,but she feels comfortable and confident in her skills,abilities,and life choices.In explaining Alexa's personality development,the Baltimore (Costa & McCrae)study would most likely be used to emphasize ________,whereas findings from the Berkeley studies would be likely to emphasize ________.

A) change; stability.
B) stability; change.
C) social change; biological change.
D) social status; social stability.

Question 54

According to Costa and McCrae's study on adult personality development,in middle adulthood,_________INCREASES.

A) agreeableness
B) openness to experience
C) neuroticism
D) interdependence relationship style

Question 55

Stages of adulthood in the Gusii culture of Kenya are defined by:

A) the person's age.
B) events in a person's life.
C) the evaluations of the elders within the culture.
D) the type of midlife crisis the person experiences.

Question 56

In general,the argument that middle adulthood has advantages for women in nonindustrialized cultures is based on the idea that women in these cultures typically:

A) become wealthier as they age.
B) develop careers outside the home as they age.
C) take on more of the day-to-day chores as they age.
D) gain respect and trust in the community as they age.

Question 57

In the Gusii culture of Kenya,most middle-aged adults:

A) experience a mild midlife crisis.
B) do not experience a midlife crisis.
C) experience multiple midlife crises.
D) experience a traumatic midlife crisis.

Question 58

All but one of the following are members of the big five set of personality traits described by Costa and McCrae.Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) sensitivity
B) extraversion
C) openness
D) agreeableness

Question 59

In the Berkeley longitudinal studies,which of the following characteristics was generally STABLE across time for the adult?

A) nurturance
B) nurturance or hostility
C) relationship control
D) self-confidence

Question 60

Mngada is in middle adulthood in her native culture,a nonindustrialized country.According to what is known about midlife in different cultures,we can expect that Mngada will probably:

A) not experience much of a midlife crisis.
B) experience a midlife crisis that results in a significant loss of status and respect by her culture.
C) experience a midlife crisis in much the same way that she would if she lived in an industrialized country.
D) experience a more severe and negative midlife crisis than she would if she lived in an industrialized country.

Question 61

Ron and his sister,Sarah,are both in their mid-50s and have a close personal relationship.Most research on sibling relationships suggests that:

A) you cannot predict later relationships by looking at relationships earlier in life.
B) they had a close relationship throughout childhood and early adulthood,too.
C) they probably had a tumultuous relationship in childhood that turned close as both matured.
D) they probably had a good childhood relationship that turned neutral in early adulthood then recently returned to closeness.

Question 62

In a survey conducted by AARP (2004),the primary reason middle-aged and older men cited for wanting a divorce was:

A) different values and lifestyles.
B) alcohol or drug abuse.
C) cheating.
D) no obvious problems; they just fell out of love.

Question 63

Allan and Jan are a middle-aged couple going through a divorce.They have both agreed that divorce is the best solution for them.Which of the following is likely?

A) Both Allan and Jan will see the divorce as a betrayal by the other partner.
B) Both Allan and Jan will have greater difficulty acquiring the material things they need at this stage of life.
C) Allan and Jan's children will have greater difficulty adjusting to the divorce than if it had happened when they were younger.
D) Both Allan and Jan will be better able to use the divorce as a way to make positive changes in their lives than they could have several years ago.

Question 64

In general,the situation of adult children living in their parents' home is MOST successful when:

A) children agree to forgo input into household rules.
B) parents agree to make no demands on their children.
C) parents and children agree to treat one another as adults.
D) parents and children maintain their previous roles as adult and child.

Question 65

Which of the following is true concerning the results of studies on adult personality?

A) The studies indicate considerable change in adult personality.
B) The studies indicate considerable stability in adult personality.
C) The studies indicate both stability and change in adult personality.
D) The studies indicate neither stability nor change in adult personality.

Question 66

In a survey conducted by AARP (2004),_________ divorced adults reported that they had made the right decision to dissolve their marriages.

A) 3 out of 4
B) 1 out of 2
C) 1 out of 10
D) 9 out of 10

Question 67

Mary is unhappy about her 24-year-old daughter's request to move back home after college.Which of the following is likely to be Mary's main concern?

A) the strain on Mary's finances
B) her daughter's career development
C) Mary's effect on her daughter's feelings of independence
D) the effect of her daughter's presence on Mary's privacy

Question 68

Trevor and Michelle's last child has just left home to attend college.According to research,this will be a time when:

A) Trevor and Michelle will grow more emotionally distant.
B) Michelle will feel depressed,but Trevor will not.
C) they will spend less time together as they both pursue outside interests.
D) they will have increased martial satisfaction.

Question 69

Stephan and Suzanne have just waved good-bye to their youngest daughter as she leaves for her honeymoon; she is the last of their children to leave home.Stephan turns to Suzanne and says,"Free at last!" Suzanne feels happier than she has in years.Stephan and Suzanne are:

A) suffering from the empty nest syndrome.
B) emotionally unattached to their children.
C) normal in their response to the departure of their children.
D) living through their children's lives rather than living for themselves.

Question 70

In a survey conducted by AARP (2004),the person most likely to initiate a divorce was:

A) the wife.
B) the husband.
C) the wife,but only in European-American families.
D) the husband or wife,equally.

Question 71

Middle-aged Americans agree that a major component of their well-being involves:

A) physical health.
B) positive relationships.
C) recovery from midlife crisis.
D) being grandparents.

Question 72

The empty nest syndrome implies that parents:

A) have multiple interests and activities.
B) are uncomfortable alone with one another.
C) have few interests and activities other than their children.
D) have invested too much time in activities not related to their children.

Question 73

Theorists of a cumulative personality model of development would agree that:

A) men and women experience very different normative changes during middle adulthood.
B) there are no significant changes in personality from childhood to middle adulthood.
C) personality,overall,becomes more stable as we age.
D) everyone passes through the same stages of personality development at about the same time.

Question 74

When middle adulthood arrives,most relationships among brothers and/or sisters are:

A) close.
B) neutral.
C) apathetic.
D) distant.

Question 75

In a survey conducted by AARP (2004),divorced adults reported that they had generally stayed in their marriages and postponed their divorces because of:

A) their children.
B) financial problems.
C) religious beliefs.
D) cultural norms.

Question 76

Which of the following is true about the empty nest syndrome?

A) It is a major difficulty for most middle-aged adults.
B) It is more common for middle-aged men than for middle-aged women.
C) It is a common,although minor,problem for most middle-aged adults.
D) It is an uncommon problem for most middle-aged adults.

Question 77

In a survey conducted by AARP (2004),the primary reason middle-aged and older women cited for wanting a divorce was:

A) verbal,physical,or emotional abuse.
B) alcohol or drug abuse.
C) cheating.
D) no obvious problems,they just fell out of love.

Question 78

Girard and his sister were never close growing up.Now that they are adults,their relationship is:

A) very close.
B) neutral.
C) distant.
D) improving.

Question 79

The main reason that some children delay leaving home until early adulthood is that:

A) their parents encourage them to stay home to "keep the nest full."
B) they need their parents' emotional support.
C) they do not have enough money to live on their own.
D) they need to stay in school longer to acquire career skills.

Question 80

The main difference between couples who divorce earlier in life and those who divorce later in life lies in their:

A) level of emotional intensity.
B) level of interdependence on each other.
C) level of sexual intimacy.
D) ability to cope successfully with stress.