Deck 1: Introduction

Question 1

A life-span theorist believes that

A) developmental changes occur in the child and adolescent years of life.
B) the most important developmental changes occur during the first 10 years of life.
C) developmental changes occur in the early,middle,and late years of life.
D) the most important developmental changes occur in the middle of life.

Answer 1

developmental changes occur in the early,middle,and late years of life.

Question 2

Life expectancy increased during the 20th century because of improvements in

A) sanitation.
B) nutrition.
C) medicine.
D) all of these.

Answer 2

all of these.

Question 3

Life expectancy refers to

A) the average number of years a person can expect to live.
B) the maximum number of years a species can live.
C) the number of years lived by most people.
D) the oldest age of any person in recorded history.

Answer 3

the average number of years a person can expect to live.

Question 4

Researchers from many disciplines study human development in an effort to better understand how humans develop.This makes human development a __________ field of study.

A) multidirectional
B) cultural
C) multidisciplinary
D) multidimensional

Question 5

What does the traditional view of human development state about developmental change in adulthood?

A) There are few or no changes that occur during adulthood.
B) There are extreme changes that occur during adulthood.
C) There are constant changes that occur during adulthood.
D) There are more changes in earlier adulthood than in later adulthood.

Question 6

By age 50,many people need reading glasses or bifocals to improve their vision.This physiological change is a good example of a

A) nonnormative life event.
B) multidirectional influence on development.
C) normative age-graded influence on development.
D) nonnormative age-graded influence on development.

Question 7

The traditional and life-span perspectives are contrasting views of developmental change.According to the life-span perspective,when do developmental changes occur?

A) during infancy and early childhood
B) during adolescence and early adulthood
C) during middle and late adulthood
D) throughout the entire life cycle

Question 8

When she was a teenager,two members of Anna's family were killed by a tornado.More than 30 years later,she is still terrified by storms.This is an example of how a(n)__________ event can influence a person's development.

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

Question 9

On your first day of class,the Professor Red-Elk claims that for too long we have focused on the development of only young children.She argues that the development of adults and elderly people is just as important.This professor is articulating a __________ view.

A) contemporary
B) tabula rasa
C) traditional
D) life-span

Question 10

Tyler is 5 years old and has just entered kindergarten.This is an example of

A) a nonnormative influence on development.
B) a normative history-graded influence on development.
C) a normative age-graded influence on development.
D) a nonnormative age-graded influence on development.

Question 11

Levi was in New York on the day that the World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists.He is now afraid to fly.This is an example of how a __________ event can influence a person's development.

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

Question 12

Development is BEST defined as a pattern of growth that

A) begins at birth and continues throughout childhood.
B) begins at conception and continues until the person is fully grown.
C) begins at birth and ends when the person begins to decline due to age.
D) begins at conception and continues throughout the human life span.

Question 13

Two developmental psychologists are having a conversation.One believes in the traditional view of developmental change; the other believes in the life-span view.Most likely,they would DISAGREE about

A) the scientific methods used to study development.
B) whether the tabula rasa or innate goodness positions were correct.
C) whether most developmental change occurs in infancy and early childhood or in later phases of development.
D) whether the earlier theorists,such as Freud and Jung,were correct or whether the later theorists such as Piaget and Skinner were correct.

Question 14

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) lifelong.
B) multidirectional.
C) multidimensional.
D) plastic.

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

Many older adults become wiser by being able to call on experience,yet they perform poorly on cognitive speed tests.This can be explained by which of the following life-span characteristics?

A) plasticity
B) contextualism
C) multidimensionality
D) multidirectionality

Question 17

Tzu-Chiang is 55 years old,is currently "going back to college," and is enrolled in a college algebra course.Tzu-Chiang is surprised that he is performing well in the course despite not having a formal math class for over 30 years.Researchers would not be surprised by his performance because it has been shown that development is

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

Question 18

Development includes

A) stability and growth.
B) growth and decline.
C) stability and decline.
D) growth and change.

Question 19

Paul Baltes claimed that nonnormative life events could provide an important context for life-span development.With this concept,the term "nonnormative" refers to an event that

A) is not likely to happen to very many people.
B) happens to younger children but not to older adults.
C) used to happen to everyone but no longer occurs very much today.
D) happens to almost everyone regardless of when or where they live.

Question 20

People today are waiting longer to marry and raise children.In the 1950s,it was more common for people to marry and start a family before they were 20 years old.This difference is an example of a

A) normative age-graded influence on development.
B) normative history-graded influence on development.
C) multidimensional change in the context of development.
D) nonnormative life event that has changed across development.

Question 21

All of the following trends in older adulthood can be seen in recent decades,EXCEPT

A) older adults are living longer.
B) older adults are more likely to be childless.
C) older adults are less likely to live alone.
D) older adults are more likely to be married.

Question 22

Our relationships with others,changes in emotions,and changes in personality are all examples of __________ processes.

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

Question 23

Dante is 2 years old.His mother took him to the doctor and discovered that he had gained 5 pounds and had grown 2 inches since his last physical exam.This is an example of the role of __________ processes in development.

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

Question 24

Joshua spends all of his free time doing homework and studying so that he will get good grades and his parents will be proud of his achievements.Joshua is most likely in the period of development called

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

Question 25

Travis spends a great deal of time working and trying to establish his career.He also has been thinking about how his personal relationship is going and considering whether it could be long term and lead to establishing a family.Travis is most likely in

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

Question 26

Dr.Widaman is researching the cultural differences in school performance between Japanese and American children.He is comparing math scores between two groups of fifth graders.One of his groups is from Japan and the other group is from the United States.Dr.Widaman is conducting a __________ study.

A) longitudinal
B) correlational
C) cross-cultural
D) sequential

Question 27

Johnathan is almost completely dependent on his parents.He is just learning to recognize things that he wants and how to get them.Johnathan is in the period of development called

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

Question 28

The key developmental processes in life-span development include all of the following EXCEPT

A) cognitive processes.
B) biological processes.
C) socioemotional processes.
D) physical/sensory processes.

Question 29

Hannah and George disagree.Hannah argues that people within an ethnic group all share the same culture.George,by contrast,argues that people of the same ethnic group may or may not share the same culture.Who is right?

A) Hannah,because sharing the same culture defines ethnicity.
B) George,because diversity and differences exist among people within an ethnic group.
C) Hannah is correct when referring to ethnic groups within the United States; George is right when referring to ethnic groups in the entire world.
D) Hannah is correct when the persons in the ethnic group all share the same socioeconomic status; George is correct when the persons in the ethnic group do not share the same socioeconomic status.

Question 30

Kyesha is 80 years old and is typical of a growing number of older adults.Kyesha MOST LIKELY lives

A) with a spouse.
B) with children.
C) alone.
D) in a nursing home.

Question 31

People with similar occupational,educational,and economic characteristics are said to share the same

A) ethnic group.
B) poverty rate.
C) socioeconomic status.
D) subculture group.

Question 32

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship among biological development,cognitive development,and social development?

A) The three are independent processes.
B) The three are interdependent processes throughout the life span.
C) The three are less important aspects to consider than one's culture when studying development.
D) The three differ in their importance at different points in the life cycle with one aspect coming to the forefront during certain periods while the others play only a minor role.

Question 33

Which of the following is an example of social policy?

A) A volunteer coordinating an after-school program.
B) A mother disciplining her son.
C) A government lowering federal taxes.
D) A college student protesting a tuition increase.

Question 34

The developmental period that runs from approximately 40 years of age to about 60 years of age is

A) early adulthood.
B) the nesting years.
C) middle adulthood.
D) the crooning years.

Question 35

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

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

Question 36

Culture is based on the

A) nationality characteristics,race,religion,and language of a people.
B) practices of a large number of people living in the same geographic area.
C) exchange of ideas between groups of people who live in the same location.
D) behaviors,beliefs,and products of a particular group of people.

Question 37

Euro-Americans

A) are not an ethnic group in the United States; they are the majority culture.
B) form an ethnic group in the world but not in the United States.
C) do not form an ethnic group,because there is a lack of diversity within this group.
D) belong to an ethnic group just like any other ethnic group in the United States or the world.

Question 38

Ethnicity 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) a controversial classification of people according to real or imagined biological characteristics such as skin color and blood group.
D) a social status placed on a similar group of people based on their heritage,nationality,race,religion,and language.

Question 39

Constance is 75 years old and still very active.She gardens,hikes,plays chess,and is learning to play the piano.She exercises daily to stay fit.She loves reading,listening to music,and playing with her grandchildren.Her hearing and eyesight are not what they used to be,and she is not as steady on her feet as when she was younger.She wears a hearing aid,eyeglasses,and sensible shoes to minimize these losses.Researchers would say that Constance is a good example of how development includes

A) varying contexts.
B) growth,maintenance,and regulation of loss.
C) plasticity.
D) multidisciplinary influences.

Question 40

Aimee is now 83 years old.Much of her future development will focus on __________ and __________.

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

Question 41

The concept of discontinuity is characterized by all of the following,EXCEPT

A) qualitative change.
B) quantitative development.
C) sequence of stages.
D) distinct change.

Question 42

A set of ideas that helps us to explain our data and make further predictions is known as a(n)

A) idea.
B) scientific method.
C) theory.
D) hypothesis.

Question 43

Which of the following life-span phases lasts the longest?

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

Question 44

Martin believes that the length of a person's foot is directly correlated with his or her intelligence level.To test his __________,he should follow the steps of the scientific method.

A) hypothesis
B) theory
C) paradigm
D) reasoning

Question 45

Life-span psychologists generally agree that

A) stability correctly characterizes development; change does not.
B) change correctly characterizes development; stability does not.
C) neither stability nor change correctly characterizes development.
D) developmental includes both stability and change.

Question 46

Development in the young-old and old-old is characterized by considerable __________,but development in the oldest-old is characterized by __________.

A) cognitive gains; cognitive losses
B) functional gains; functional losses
C) adaptability; inflexibility
D) plasticity; frailty

Question 47

Continuity is to __________ as discontinuity is to __________.

A) fluid; rigid
B) gradual; abrupt
C) maturation; nurture
D) adulthood; childhood

Question 48

The first stage in Erickson's theory is

A) trust versus mistrust.
B) naïveté versus cynicism.
C) belief versus unbelief.
D) kindness versus callousness.

Question 49

The onset of puberty and the onset of menopause are examples of __________ age.

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

Question 50

Tingfeng We was a victim of child abuse as a young boy,but he did not grow up to become an abuser.Instead,he leads a fulfilling family life.This is an example of which characteristic of development?

A) change
B) stability
C) maturation
D) continuity

Question 51

Winnonna was found to have childhood depression; she goes on to have depression for the rest of her adult life.This is an example of which characteristic of development?

A) change
B) stability
C) maturation
D) discontinuity

Question 52

The theory that was created by Erik Erikson is known as the __________ theory of development.

A) psychobiological
B) psychoeducational
C) psychosocial
D) psychoanatomical

Question 53

As defined by Erik Erikson,a __________ is not a catastrophe but a turning point of increased vulnerability and potential.

A) complex
B) conflict
C) calamity
D) crisis

Question 54

Biology is to __________ as environment is to __________.

A) nature; nurture
B) nurture; nature
C) maturation; nature
D) nature; maturation

Question 55

Dr.Borthwick-Duffy believes people are primarily influenced by the environment and learned experiences,so she believes __________ plays a more powerful role in human development.

A) nurture
B) maturation
C) change
D) nature

Question 56

Life-span psychologists generally agree that

A) continuity correctly characterizes development; discontinuity does not.
B) discontinuity correctly characterizes development; continuity does not.
C) development cannot be characterized as either continuous or discontinuous.
D) developmental change can be both continuous and discontinuous.

Question 57

One of the differences between Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson is that

A) Erik Erikson saw that development occurred throughout the life span.
B) Erik Erikson believed that development lasted only until the age of 10.
C) Erik Erikson built his theory from his own philosophy and not from case studies.
D) Erik Erikson said that sexuality played a key role in the life-span development of the individual.

Question 58

A __________ is an integrated set of ideas that helps to explain,and a __________ is a set of specific assumptions that can be tested to determine their accuracy.

A) theory; hypothesis
B) generalization; theory
C) hypothesis; theory
D) theory; generalization

Question 59

Roberta is 45 years old and has always had a hard time speaking her opinion.A psychoanalytic psychologist would explain that she has developed this way because

A) her parents would not listen to or value her opinion when she was a child.
B) she has yet to articulate her own set of beliefs and therefore could not have an opinion.
C) through a series of rewards and punishments,she has learned not to speak her opinion.
D) her unmet need for belongingness and love is interfering with her ability to oppose others.

Question 60

Marie-Ann is 6 months old.When her mother hears her cries of hunger,she comes and feeds her; and when Marie-Ann is uncomfortable,her mother comes and moves her around until she is comfortable.Through these actions,Marie-Ann is learning that the world is a good place.What stage of psychosocial development is Marie-Ann currently in?

A) initiative versus guilt
B) independence versus dependence
C) trust versus mistrust
D) hope versus despair

Question 61

Julia is currently 2 years old.She is learning how to talk,and her parents would say that her favorite word is "no." This would be considered normal for a child in Erik Erikson's stage of

A) initiative versus guilt.
B) freedom versus servitude.
C) autonomy versus shame and doubt.
D) individuality versus identification.

Question 62

According to Jean Piaget,each stage is

A) quantitatively the same as the previous stage.
B) qualitatively the same as the previous stage.
C) quantitatively different from the previous stage.
D) qualitatively different from the previous stage.

Question 63

Ling-Chi is trying to make sense of her world.The two processes she uses to do this are __________ and __________.

A) assimilation; organization
B) adaptation; cognition
C) memory; accommodation
D) organization; adaptation

Question 64

George thinks he has a good life.He just graduated from college,has many close friends,and is engaged to be married.According to Erik Erikson's theory,George would be developing a sense of

A) generativity.
B) intimacy.
C) humility.
D) importance.

Question 65

The stage of industry versus inferiority in Erik Erikson's developmental theory occurs approximately during which period?

A) preschool
B) elementary school
C) junior high school
D) high school

Question 66

The information-processing approach to development is concerned mainly with

A) the influence of culture on development.
B) the manipulation,monitoring,and strategizing of information.
C) the influence of age on learning.
D) the influence of biology and evolution on an individual's development.

Question 67

Gustav spends a lot of time thinking about the world as it is now and as it could be if everyone took more personal responsibility for environmental and social conditions.Jean Piaget would say that Gustav is probably in the __________ stage of development.

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

Question 68

Which of the following of Erik Erikson's stages would most accurately describe the developmental phase of a preschooler?

A) trust versus mistrust
B) initiative versus guilt
C) industry versus inferiority
D) identity versus identity confusion

Question 69

The structure of Miss Darby's elementary classroom in New York City is based on sociocultural theory.Her classroom would likely be characterized by all of the following,EXCEPT

A) she has the children work at their own pace.
B) she has children work in groups to solve problems.
C) she spends a great deal of time working with individual children.
D) she is teaching students to use the computer and the Internet.

Question 70

Whereas Jean Piaget emphasized the biological processes of cognitive development,Lev Vygotsky emphasized the effects of __________ on development.

A) social interaction and culture
B) learned behaviors
C) the unconscious
D) operations (internalized mental actions)

Question 71

All of the following are contributions of the psychoanalytic perspective,EXCEPT

A) all of perspectives include child,adolescent,and adult developmental stages.
B) family relationships are a central aspect of development.
C) early experiences play an important role in development.
D) the unconscious mind is a powerful influence on child development.

Question 72

"Students at this age are full of surprises," comments the high school teacher."They come in looking and acting like punk rockers one day,then like nuns and monks the next!" Erik Erikson would say these students are

A) acting out repressed conflicts.
B) actively exploring different roles.
C) trying to evaluate the usefulness of their lives.
D) trying to establish intimate relationships with others.

Question 73

The main concern of Erik Erikson's stage of generativity versus stagnation is to

A) help the younger generation to develop and lead useful lives.
B) to keep improving oneself.
C) to develop healthy ego boundaries.
D) to make one feel secure in her or his job.

Question 74

The second stage of Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory is

A) independence versus dependence.
B) autonomy versus shame and doubt.
C) initiative versus guilt and shame.
D) creativity versus unproductiveness.

Question 75

Children in the preoperational stage of development lack the ability to

A) perform operations (internalized mental actions).
B) understand the symbolic nature of speech.
C) distinguish between self and others.
D) coordinate their sensory experiences and their physical actions.

Question 76

Hidalgo is very good at simple addition and subtraction,but he has a hard time understanding the abstract algebraic problems that his sister does in high school.Hidalgo is currently in which of Jean Piaget's stages of development?

A) preoperational
B) concrete operational
C) formal operational
D) conceptual operational

Question 77

According to Jean Piaget,this stage is marked by the development of logical,organized reasoning skills.

A) preoperational
B) concrete operational
C) formal operational
D) conceptual operational

Question 78

Ahkilia is bitter and resentful.She looks back on her life and realizes that she has made many mistakes and was too fearful to reach her goals.At 82 years old,she knows it is too late to make any significant changes.Ahkilia is living in

A) inferiority.
B) shame.
C) despair.
D) guilt.

Question 79

Dr.Wong is a cognitive theorist,so we know that he will stress the importance of __________ for understanding development.

A) conscious thoughts
B) repressed memories
C) reciprocal interactions
D) the effects of genes and evolution on the development of intelligence

Question 80

In this stage of Piagetian development,infants learn about their environment by coordinating their sensory experiences with their motor activity.

A) preoperational
B) sensorimotor
C) premotor
D) sensoriphysical