Deck 14: Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood

Question 1

Jacqueline nurtures and guides her children.According to Erikson,she has achieved _____ generativity.

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

Answer 1

parental

Question 2

New studies revealed that cardiovascular disease in middle-aged women was linked to:

A)improved nutrition.
B)stressful life events.
C)mindfulness training.
D)marital satisfaction

Answer 2

stressful life events.

Question 3

Erikson proposed that middle-aged adults face a significant issue which he termed:

A)intimacy versus isolation.
B)integrity versus despair.
C)generativity versus stagnation.
D)autonomy versus shame and doubt.

Answer 3

generativity versus stagnation.

Question 4

According to Levinson,which of the following should occur at the end of one's teens?

A)A transition from dependence to independence
B)An increase in generativity
C)An increase in feelings of stagnation
D)A transition from conventional to postconventional reasoning

Question 5

According to Levinson,which of the following is a major task that needs to be mastered in early adulthood?

A)Exploring the possibilities for adult living
B)Determining one's goals in life
C)Testing one's dreams in the real world
D)Becoming independent

Question 6

Identify the major task that must be mastered in early adulthood,according to Levinson.

A)Reaching the pinnacle of one's career
B)Developing a stable life structure
C)Focusing on family development
D)Forming an image of one's career

Question 7

_____ develops when individuals sense that they have done nothing for the next generation.

A)Perpetuity
B)Generativity
C)Self-actualization
D)Stagnation

Question 8

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 Erikson,Chris is experiencing some degree of:

A)social rejection.
B)apathy.
C)generativity.
D)stagnation.

Question 9

Abdiel has had three children.According to Erikson,he has achieved:

A)biological generativity.
B)parental generativity.
C)biological stagnation.
D)cultural stagnation.

Question 10

Levinson sees the twenties as a(n)_____ phase of adult development.

A)stagnant
B)novice
C)expert
D)generative

Question 11

In a longitudinal study of Smith College women,the desire for _____ increased as the participants aged from their thirties to their fifties.

A)generativity
B)self-concept
C)stagnation
D)self-absorption

Question 12

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

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

Question 13

According to Levinson,the transition from dependence to independence is marked by the:

A)realization of a goal.
B)testing of a dream.
C)free experimentation.
D)formation of a dream.

Question 14

From about the ages of 28 to 33,a man goes through a transition period in which he must face the more serious question of:

A)achieving his independence.
B)forming his dreams.
C)achieving his goals.
D)determining his goals.

Question 15

In terms of Erikson's generativity versus stagnation stage,the achievement of generativity is linked to all of the following EXCEPT:

A)Better health in late adulthood
B)Positive social engagement
C)Increased risk of dementia
D)Involvement in community activities

Question 16

_____ encompasses adults' desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation.

A)Self-actualization
B)Generativity
C)Self-absorption
D)Perpetuity

Question 17

Saeko has commited herself to the continuation and improvement of society as a whole through her connection with their children and grandchildren.According to Erikson,she is:

A)self-absorbed.
B)generative.
C)stagnant.
D)apathetic.

Question 18

In a recent study by Cox & others,_____ was strongly linked to middle-aged adults' positive social engagement in contexts such as family life and community activities.

A)stagnation
B)self-concept
C)generativity
D)self-absorption

Question 19

Guillermo has taught his apprentices all the specialized techniques he has developed over the years as a carpenter.According to Erikson,he has achieved _____ generativity.

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

Question 20

Identify the seventh stage of Erikson's life-span theory.

A)Intimacy versus isolation
B)Integrity versus despair
C)Autonomy versus shame and doubt
D)Generativity versus stagnation

Question 21

Adult development experts are virtually unanimous in their belief that midlife crises:

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

Question 22

George Vaillant concludes that the _____ are a decade of reassessing and recording the truth about the adolescent and adulthood years.

A)forties
B)fifties
C)sixties
D)thirties

Question 23

Mr.Chang works at a boring but tense job.Stress about his job keeps him up late on most nights.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 24

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)Levinson maintained that women who have had children experience an easier time during midlife than those who have not had children.
D)Levinson reported that his stages,transitions,and the crisis of middle age hold for women as well as men.

Question 25

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

Question 26

Which of the following is a major difference between Levinson's and Valliant's view on midlife?

A)According to Levinson,only males experience midlife crisis.
B)Valliant maintains that only a minority of adults experience midlife as a crisis.
C)Levinson maintains that the transition period to midlife is 6 years,while Valliant holds it to be 8 years.
D)Valliant's study was mainly focused on the white,middle-aged,male population within the upper-SES of society.

Question 27

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

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

Question 28

According to Levinson,by age 40,a man has:

A)reached a stable point in his career.
B)just started to determine his goals.
C)just formed a dream about his future.
D)come to grips with the conflict of being attached to others versus being separated from them.

Question 29

According to Levinson,the transition to middle adulthood lasts about _____ years.

A)two
B)four
C)five
D)seven

Question 30

New evidence suggests that greater emotional reactivity to daily stressors was linked to:

A)improved cardiovascular health ten years later.
B)increased risk of reporting a chronic physical health condition ten years later.
C)increase in the number of volunteer experiences the individual engaged in ten years later.
D)decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes ten years later.

Question 31

According to the Almeida & Horn study,which of the following is the difference in the experience of stressors between young adults and middle-aged adults?

A)Young adults experience daily stressors less frequently.
B)Middle-aged adults experience lesser multiple stressors than older adults.
C)Young adults were less physically reactive to work stressors.
D)Middle-aged adults experienced more "overload" stressors.

Question 32

A recent study of older adults who had depression and anxiety found an increase in ______ secretion when these individuals were confronted with daily stressors.

A)cortisol
B)leptin
C)melatonin
D)progesterone

Question 33

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 34

In a recent study,daily hassles,such as working at a boring job,were linked to:

A)increased anxiety and lower physical well-being.
B)increased employee benefits.
C)decrease in stress.
D)better emotional adjustment.

Question 35

A recent study of older adults (mean age = 57 years)found an increase in ______ secretion when these individuals were confronted with daily stressors such as arguments and overloads at home.

A)cortisol
B)leptin
C)melatonin
D)progesterone

Question 36

George Vaillant concludes that _____ is a time for detecting parental flaws and discovering the truth about childhood.

A)adolescence
B)late adulthood
C)middle adulthood
D)old age

Question 37

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

A)placed too much emphasis on change.
B)ignored the developmental stages adults go through.
C)did not consider the female experience.
D)focused on minor and not major life events.

Question 38

_____ percent of the men Levinson interviewed found the midlife transition tumultuous and psychologically painful,as many aspects of their lives came into question.

A)50 to 60
B)40 to 50
C)70 to 80
D)10 to 20

Question 39

According to the contemporary life-events approach,the influence of life events also depends on all of the following factors EXCEPT:

A)The individual's cognitive capacity
B)The individual's adaptation
C)The life-stage context
D)The sociohistorical context

Question 40

According to Levinson,the _____ rests on how effectively the individual reduces the polarities and accepts each of them as an integral part of his being.

A)failure of adolescent transition
B)success of the midlife transition
C)success of transition into early adulthood
D)success of transition into late adulthood

Question 41

Diana is fun-loving,sociable,and affectionate with all her friends and acquaintances.Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes this aspect of Diana's personality.

A)Extraversion
B)Conscientiousness
C)Neuroticism
D)Agreeableness

Question 42

Which of the following aspects of life do middle-aged adults feel they have less control over?

A)Finances
B)Sex life
C)Work
D)Marriage

Question 43

Identify the Big Five personality factor that classifies a person as either organized or disorganized.

A)Openness to experience
B)Extraversion
C)Conscientiousness
D)Agreeableness

Question 44

When women experience stress,they are more likely to engage in:

A)a tend and befriend pattern.
B)aggressive behavior.
C)a flight-or-fight response.
D)social distancing.

Question 45

Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes a person as either disciplined or impulsive?

A)Openness to experience
B)Conscientiousness
C)Neuroticism
D)Agreeableness

Question 46

Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes whether a person is independent or conforming.

A)Openness to experience
B)Extraversion
C)Conscientiousness
D)Agreeableness

Question 47

A recent study by Specht,Egloff,and Schukle found that _____ showed a continuous increase from early adulthood to late adulthood.

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

Question 48

Becky is careless,impulsive,and disorganized.According to the Big Five personality factors,Becky will score low on:

A)openness to experience.
B)agreeableness.
C)neuroticism.
D)conscientiousness.

Question 49

Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes whether an individual is fun-loving or somber.

A)Agreeableness
B)Openness to experience
C)Conscientiousness
D)Extraversion

Question 50

Which of the following is the conclusion of the study conducted by Costa and McCrae on approximately 1,000 college-educated men and women aged 20 to 96?

A)Considerable stability occurs in the five personality factors.
B)Extraversion is the most unstable personality factor.
C)While extraversion and openness remained stable,agreeableness and conscientiousness varied greatly.
D)The five personality factors were very unstable across different age groups.

Question 51

Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes whether a person is sociable or retiring?

A)Extraversion
B)Openness to experience
C)Conscientiousness
D)Agreeableness

Question 52

Bethany,a middle-aged mother,is having an argument with her daughter.Bethany has been under quite a lot of stress at work.During the argument with her daughter,we can expect an increase in Bethany's _____ output.

A)cortisol
B)leptin
C)melatonin
D)progesterone

Question 53

Researchers have primarily used _____ studies to assess stability and change across the life span.

A)longitudinal
B)cross-sequential
C)natural
D)experimental

Question 54

Which of the following is one of the Big Five factors of personality?

A)Generativity
B)Extraversion
C)Transitivity
D)Stagnation

Question 55

When men face stress,they are more likely to respond in a:

A)composed manner.
B)fight-or-flight manner.
C)stagnant manner.
D)tend and befriend pattern.

Question 56

Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes whether an individual is imaginative or practical?

A)Agreeableness
B)Extraversion
C)Conscientiousness
D)Openness to experience

Question 57

Middle-aged adults feel they have less control over their:

A)marriage.
B)finances.
C)work.
D)children.

Question 58

Professor Bettes wants to study how stable personality traits are from adolescence into late adulthood.The professor should use a(n)_______ study.

A)longitudinal
B)cross-sequential
C)natural
D)experimental

Question 59

According to Lachman,researchers have found that on average a sense of personal control peaks in _____ and then declines.

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

Question 60

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

A)Extraversion
B)Openness
C)Adaptability
D)Conscientiousness

Question 61

In terms of stability and change in personality,the greatest change is likely to occur in:

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

Question 62

Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes an individual as either self-satisfied or self-pitying?

A)Openness
B)Agreeableness
C)Neuroticism
D)Extraversion

Question 63

In a large scale study that examined stability and change in personality traits,participants in the study were better at estimating changes in their own personality from the:

A)past.
B)present.
C)future.
D)Participants' estimates of change were accurate across all time frames.

Question 64

Regarding stability and change in personality traits,the old view proposed that stability in personality sets in at about the age of:

A)20
B)30
C)40
D)50

Question 65

Vaillant's research showed that at age 50,the best predictors of who would be dead at 75 to 80 years of age were:

A)chronic depression and cardiovascular disease.
B)diabetes and depression.
C)alcohol abuse and smoking.
D)smoking and obesity.

Question 66

According to the Big Five factors of personality,which of the following personality supertrait describes whether an individual is either secure or insecure?

A)Neuroticism
B)Agreeableness
C)Openness
D)Extraversion

Question 67

Which one of the big five personality traits was NOT linked to improved self-rated health?

A)Agreeableness
B)Openness
C)Neuroticism
D)Conscientiousness

Question 68

Factors at age 50 that were linked with being in the "happy-well" group at age 75 to 80 years of age included all of the following EXCEPT:

A)being well-educated.
B)being wealthy.
C)having a stable marriage.
D)being forgiving.

Question 69

According to the Big Five factors of personality,which of the following personality supertrait describes a person as either helpful or uncooperative?

A)Conscientiousness
B)Agreeableness
C)Openness
D)Extraversion

Question 70

The _____ model of personality development states that with time and age people become more adept at interacting with their environment in ways that promote increased stability in personality.

A)conditioning
B)cumulative personality
C)reciprocity
D)social learning

Question 71

According to recent studies,decreases in neuroticism are associated with all of the following EXCEPT:

A)Better health
B)Increased stress
C)Improvements in cognitive functioning
D)Better achievement

Question 72

Across a 10-year period,which of the following Big Five personality factors did NOT predict health outcomes involving physical health,blood pressure,and number of days limited at work or home due to physical health factors?

A)Agreeableness
B)Extraversion
C)Openness
D)Neuroticism

Question 73

According to George Vaillant's longitudinal studies,_____ in middle age was more strongly related than intimacy to whether individuals would have an enduring and happy marriage at 75 to 80 years of age.

A)generativity
B)stagnation
C)autonomy
D)traditional gender role

Question 74

Identify the supertrait that encompasses traits such as soft-hearted,trusting,and helpful,according to Big Five factors of personality.

A)Conscientiousness
B)Openness to experience
C)Agreeableness
D)Extraversion

Question 75

One study by Sharp & others revealed that _____ was related to superior cognitive functioning and IQ across the life span.

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

Question 76

In the Berkeley Longitudinal Studies,which of the following characteristics generally changed the most across time for the adult?

A)Intellectual orientation
B)Nurturance or hostility
C)Openness to experience
D)Self-confidence

Question 77

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)a better financial situation.

Question 78

Most research studies indicate that the greatest change in personality traits occurs in:

A)midlife.
B)late midlife.
C)late adulthood.
D)early adulthood.

Question 79

The results from an 18-year longitudinal study revealed that the longevity gap between African-American and non-Latino white men is linked to:

A)higher marriage rates for non-Latino white men.
B)higher marriage rates for African-American men.
C)higher divorce rates for non-Latino white men.
D)higher divorce rates for African-American men.

Question 80

In the Berkeley Longitudinal Studies,which of the following characteristics was generally stable across time for the adult?

A)Nurturance
B)Hostility
C)Self-control
D)Self-confidence