Deck 6: Middle Childhood

Question 1

Describe the developmental changes in aggression that occur over childhood.

Answer 1

From its life peak at around age 2, as children get older, rates of aggression decline and wounds to "the self" become salient provocations for aggressive acts. Also, as children move into elementary school, overt aggression (hitting, yelling, and screaming) is replaced by more indirect modes. In particular, during late elementary school and middle school, relational aggression-such as spreading rumors, teasing, and acting to destroy relationships-becomes especially common.

Question 2

According to Erik Erikson, the developmental task of early childhood is initiative, while the developmental task of middle childhood is _____.

Answer 2

industry

Question 3

Felix is a 10-year-old boy who is always in trouble for hurting other children, and has been labeled as an "antisocial child." Felix has decided that the world is out to get him, and he misreads even kind acts as insults. First, identify the developmental pathway that may have made Felix the person he is today, and then label his paranoid worldview.

Answer 3

Felix may have been an exuberant and/or difficult toddler; his inability to control himself may have provoked harsh discipline from his parents. Early in elementary school, Felix's aggressive, out-of-control behavior may have caused him to be rejected by his peers and teachers, further amplifying his hostility. This may have led to Felix being defined as an antisocial child, and possibly may have caused Felix to think, "The world is out to get me." The name for Felix's paranoid worldview is a hostile attributional bias.

Question 4

Akin is an exuberant child who has a very high opinion of himself and always seems to be in the center of any activity, whether or not his teacher wants him to be there. Minnie thinks very little of herself and has given up trying to make good grades. What steps might the teacher take to promote realistic self-esteem in Akin and Minnie?

Question 5

Explain the information-processing approach.

Question 6

_____ refer to the skills involved in regulating and monitoring behavior.

Question 7

The memory stage in which people transform material into information they later remember is called _____ memory.

Question 8

Three fourth-grade children are in their school playground: a shy, anxious girl; a self-confident, happy child; and a child who has externalizing tendencies. The children are shocked to see a classmate run past them with an angry bird pecking her on the head. The girl is frightened and injured by the bird. What reactions might you expect from each of the children who witnessed the attack?

Question 9

Maria is strongly opposed to the current emphasis on diagnosing U.S. children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while Chilo argues that this category is valid and lifesaving. First, make Maria's case, and then make Chilo's case.

Question 10

Eliza gets angry with her 5-year-old son when he doesn't follow her rules for proper behavior. When, at a pizza restaurant, he leaves the table without permission to watch the chef toss the dough, she punishes him for being disobedient. Based on the text discussion about the developing brain, what might be the reason for this child's rule breaking? Again, based on the text, what should Eliza be doing as a parent?

Question 11

A third-grade girl is a rejected child. What might be causing her problems and how might her parents intervene?

Question 12

Sam and Estevan, both fifth-graders, are best friends. Describe the main characteristics or qualities that made them "best buddies" and the developmental functions of their relationship.

Question 13

Describe several "executive function" differences between younger and older children, and spell out what adults can do about this.

Question 14

The MOST widely diagnosed health disorder among U.S. children, characterized by distractibility and restlessness, is _____.

Question 15

Neither Ramona nor Judy, both age 8, are able to get along with their classmates, although these girls have very different personalities. The school counselor has told the teacher that Ramona has externalizing tendencies, while Judy has internalizing tendencies. What behaviors would you expect from Ramona and Judy? What is the self-esteem risk for each girl?

Question 16

Neural pruning begins around age 9 in the _____ lobes of the brain.

Question 17

You are devising a questionnaire to predict how much a particular elementary school-aged child plays outside. Based on this chapter, what items might you include?

Question 18

_____ refers to the ability to filter out unnecessary stimuli and focus on what is important.

Question 19

At age 7, Anthony is in the stage of _____ childhood.

Question 20

The ratio of a person's height to weight is called that individual's _____.

Question 21

To improve self-esteem, caregivers must enhance _____, or children's feelings that they can be competent.

Question 22

_____ programs try to change the school norms to make bullying socially unacceptable.

Question 23

Spreading rumors, tattling, and acting to destroy relationships is called _____ aggression.

Question 24

Andrea is 8-years-old and is entering _____. According to Erikson, she will learn that reaching her goals requires _____.

A) middle childhood; industry
B) early childhood; initiative
C) adolescence; identity
D) middle childhood; initiative

Question 25

In contrast to shame, _____ connects a child to others and helps promote prosocial behavior.

Question 26

Children who are rejected may either have emotional problems or be _____ from the group.

Question 27

To promote prosocial behavior, caregivers should use _____ in order to get the child to imagine the feelings of the person he or she has hurt.

Question 28

Children tend to choose friends who are _____ to themselves.

Question 29

The text points out that cyberbullying is _____ than bullying of the face-to-face kind.

Question 30

Children who are especially timid and self-conscious have _____ tendencies.

Question 31

Children who are _____ tend most often to be bullied.

Question 32

A person who sees a threat in a benign social situation has a(n) _____.

Question 33

Which theorists viewed middle childhood as entry into the adult world?

A) Erikson and Piaget
B) Piaget and Bandura
C) Bandura and Erikson
D) Vygotsky and Bandura

Question 34

Children who are highly aggressive and disruptive have _____ tendencies.

Question 35

_____ aggression is hurtful behavior that people use to achieve a goal.

Question 36

Prosocial behavior usually begins in _____.

Question 37

In Erikson's view, if children do not develop a sense of industry during middle childhood they are at risk of developing a sense of:

A) inferiority.
B) guilt.
C) mistrust.
D) role confusion.

Question 38

Garth is extremely timid, and feels he is failing when he is doing just fine. Garth MOST likely has _____ tendencies and unrealistically low self-esteem.

Question 39

Piaget labeled the age of _____ as the age of "reason."

A) 5
B) 7
C) 9
D) 11

Question 40

A child who helps comfort an upset classmate is showing _____.

Question 41

According to Erikson, a preschooler's challenge is to try new things; in elementary school, a child's challenge is to _____.

A) work hard to succeed
B) try new things
C) obey one's parents
D) learn social skills

Question 42

If Sunay is 21, his _____ has not fully developed.

A) motor cortex
B) myelin sheath
C) visual cortex
D) hippocampus

Question 43

Young children can run and jump well before they can follow the rules of games because the:

A) motor cortex develops before the frontal lobes.
B) frontal lobes develop before the motor cortex.
C) frontal lobes are not fully mature until middle childhood.
D) motor cortex is not fully mature until middle childhood.

Question 44

Claire and Mario are expecting their first child. They enjoy hiking and riding bikes together. What can you predict about their unborn child?

A) Their child will more than likely have better motor skills compared to children whose parents are not physically active.
B) Their child will more than likely have poorer motor skills compared to children whose parents are not physically active.
C) Their child will more than likely have better motor skills compared to children whose parents are also physically active.
D) Their child will more than likely have poorer motor skills compared to children whose parents are also physically active.

Question 45

Neural pruning in the frontal lobes begins:

A) late in infancy.
B) at around age 5.
C) at around age 9.
D) after puberty.

Question 46

At roughly which age do the frontal lobes begin their pruning phase?

A) 3 years
B) 9 years
C) in a person's early twenties
D) 40 years

Question 47

An information-processing researcher would state that learning:

A) and memory go through stages.
B) takes place in qualitatively different stages.
C) occurs according to one's own inner timetable.
D) is a collaborative process.

Question 48

Which statement currently describes childhood obesity rates in the United States?

A) declining at young ages, but still unacceptably high
B) declining at every age, but still unacceptably high
C) rising at young ages
D) rising at every age

Question 49

Brittany loved playing softball when she was younger (age 10). What can you predict about her physical activity level while she is in high school?

A) She will be as physically active as others in high school who played sports when they were younger.
B) She will be less physically active as others in high school who played sports when they were younger.
C) She will be more physically active as others in high school who played sports when they were younger.
D) It is not possible to make a prediction about her physical activity level in high school with the information provided.

Question 50

Mary Ann tells you that she plans to completely toilet train Kimbra by her second birthday. Based on this chapter, the main problem with this plan for Kimbra is that the:

A) frontal lobes are just beginning to develop.
B) motor cortex is just beginning to develop.
C) child is in the terrible twos.
D) child will not be able to sit on the toilet.

Question 51

A recent study from Germany found that less than half of second graders spent four days a week playing outside for:

A) 1 hour.
B) 2 hours.
C) 3 hours.
D) 4 hours.

Question 52

Obesity rates in the United States rose the most dramatically during the:

A) 1950s.
B) 1980s.
C) early 2000s.
D) second decade of the twenty-first century.

Question 53

Which part of the brain is responsible for thinking through and inhibiting actions?

A) motor cortex
B) frontal lobes
C) temporal lobe
D) visual cortex

Question 54

Research from all over the world has documented that children today are:

A) less proficient cognitively than in the past.
B) more proficient cognitively than in the past.
C) less proficient physically than in the past.
D) more proficient physically than in the past.

Question 55

When taking this test, which activity is NOT heavily programmed by the frontal lobes?

A) seeing the print on this page
B) understanding the test items
C) deciding to take this test
D) remembering what has been studied

Question 56

Which of the following has NO relationship to academic success?

A) fine motor skills
B) gross motor skills
C) BMI
D) cognitive reasoning ability

Question 57

Which of the following is the BEST explanation for the fact that the average scores on standard motor-skills tests among children from first to sixth grade are lower today than in previous generations?

A) Children no longer play organized sports.
B) Children rarely eat finger foods.
C) Children are no longer taught cursive writing in schools.
D) Children no longer regularly play outside.

Question 58

Erikson labeled the developmental task of middle childhood "industry versus inferiority" because at this age children first:

A) need to work to be successful.
B) get to know about different industries.
C) fully relate to peers.
D) go out in the world.

Question 59

As a preschooler, Juan demonstrated what his parents thought were superior motor skills. He was great at kicking, hitting, and throwing balls. Which of the following is likely?

A) Juan is less likely to be physically active during middle childhood.
B) Juan is more likely to be physically active during middle childhood.
C) Juan is less likely to be physically active during early childhood.
D) Juan is more likely to be physically active during early childhood.

Question 60

Jalili, age 4, is in preschool. According to Erikson, her MAIN challenge is to:

A) test her skills in the wider world.
B) inhibit her behavior.
C) work for what she wants.
D) form letters.

Question 61

In order, which are examples of studying by using (1) rehearsal, (2) selective attention, and (3) inhibition?

A) (1) repeating the chapter definitions; (2) focusing only on material that needs to be known; (3) deciding to keep studying even though there is a party to go to
B) (1) focusing only on the material that needs to be known; (2) repeating the chapter definitions to oneself; (3) deciding to keep studying rather than going to a party
C) (1) deciding to keep studying even though there is a party to go to; (2) repeating the chapter definitions to oneself; (3) focusing only on the material that needs to be known
D) (1) focusing only on the material that needs to be known; (2) deciding to keep studying even though there is a party to go to; (3) repeating the chapter definitions to oneself

Question 62

Which of the following is TRUE of working memory?

A) has an infinite capacity
B) where cognitive action takes place
C) consists of unlimited capacity holding bins
D) is fully developed by preschool

Question 63

Based on the text's information-processing section, parents can help children "remember" by doing which of the following?

A) encouraging rote memorization of facts and information
B) understanding that simultaneously completing different tasks will be especially difficult
C) testing children under distraction environments
D) using power assertion

Question 64

In the information-processing framework on memory, the executive processor:

A) transforms items in working memory bins into material to be remembered later.
B) keeps people's working memory bins intact.
C) enables people to hear information more clearly.
D) teaches people to think more deeply about life.

Question 65

During dinner, a father, who is a psychologist, tells his 4- and 8-year-old sons, "Only pay attention to what I say," then later tests how much each boy remembers of his own and everyone else's conversation. Based on the selective-attention research, which are the MOST likely test results?

A) The 8-year-old will do better at remembering his father's conversation, but each boy will remember everyone else's conversation equally well.
B) The 8-year-old will do better at remembering both his father's and everyone else's conversations.
C) Both boys will remember all conversations equally well.
D) The 4-year-old will do better at remembering all conversations.

Question 66

A mother confides to her 12-year-old and 5-year-old children that she is planning a surprise for Grandma's birthday, and swears the siblings to secrecy. Who will MOST likely keep the secret?

A) both siblings
B) the 5-year-old
C) the 12-year-old
D) neither sibling

Question 67

Sara's son has just been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A developmentalist can predict which of the following of Sara's son?

A) He is in high school.
B) He focuses his attention easily.
C) He has trouble getting ready for school.
D) He has received a low intelligence test score.

Question 68

In the information-processing framework, _____ memory is the name for the process of transforming material into information that can later be remembered.

A) sensory
B) working
C) long-term
D) short-term

Question 69

Which is the BEST example of information that is currently in working memory?

A) Seki keeps the number of her classroom in her mind as she walks to class.
B) Sadiq writes down the number of his classroom so he won't forget it.
C) Susan memorizes the number of her classroom so she can easily find it.
D) Seth forgets the number of his classroom.

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT an ability that involves executive functions?

A) inhibiting a child's responses
B) planning and organizing a child's behavior
C) selectively attending to what a child needs to learn
D) freely expressing a child's emotions

Question 71

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is MOST often diagnosed among:

A) preschool boys.
B) elementary school girls.
C) elementary school boys.
D) preschool girls.

Question 72

Working memory-bin space enlarges most dramatically during _____.

A) infancy
B) early elementary school
C) adolescence
D) midlife

Question 73

When her brother gets up and starts to leave the room, Shara can't follow the instructions to sit still and listen to her mother. Shara is having trouble with:

A) inhibition and selective attention.
B) long-term memory and selective attention.
C) rehearsal and selective attention.
D) inhibition and long-term memory.

Question 74

Which is the BEST example of inhibition?

A) Ida stops herself from checking social media sites during class.
B) Ifede takes notes on what the teacher says.
C) Alana focuses on what the teacher says.
D) Adam writes a comment and posts it on-line during class.

Question 75

In what grade do children FIRST use rehearsal effectively when studying for tests?

A) kindergarten
B) first grade
C) fifth grade
D) senior year of high school

Question 76

Which of the following is a core symptom of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

A) difficulties with selective attention
B) sleeping difficulties
C) increased anxiety
D) serious depression

Question 77

Goran can't resist racing around the classroom while he is supposed to sit still and listen to his teacher. Goran is having trouble with which two executive functions?

A) selective attention and rehearsal
B) rehearsal and inhibition
C) inhibition and selective attention
D) working memory and sensory memory

Question 78

Dr. Smart is giving a talk on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She would most likely make which of the following statements?

A) "There is no known cause for ADHD."
B) "This condition only occurs during elementary school."
C) "Lower than normal output of the neurotransmitter serotonin may be the cause of this condition."
D) "This condition involves deficits with executive functions."

Question 79

Which is the BEST example of selective attention?

A) Kanesha highlights material she needs to know for a test and studies that information.
B) Tania keeps going over the information she needs to know for a test.
C) Tara decides not to go to a party, and instead stays at home to study for a test.
D) Keith decides that he is going to fail an upcoming test.

Question 80

Pree's son has just been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and she needs advice. A developmentalist can tell her which of the following?

A) "This condition is typically diagnosed in elementary school."
B) "There is only one clear cause for this condition."
C) "Providing strict rules can help to improve this condition."
D) "This condition can be cured."