Deck 4: Developing Through the Life Span

Question 1

Samantha has to select a college major.She has always wondered about what makes people who they are and how people change over time.Based on this,she might be interested in

A) clinical psychology.
B) social psychology.
C) nursing.
D) developmental psychology.

Answer 1

developmental psychology.

Question 2

The fact that many happy and well-adjusted adults were once rebellious and unhappy as adolescents is most relevant to the issue of

A) continuity and stages.
B) childhood and life-span development.
C) stability and change.
D) habituation and attention.

Answer 2

stability and change.

Question 3

Mary believes that cognitive development is a matter of gradual and almost imperceptible changes over time.Her viewpoint is most directly relevant to the issue of

A) nature and nurture.
B) genes and environment.
C) continuity and stages.
D) stability and change.

Answer 3

continuity and stages.

Question 4

Who of the following is most likely to be convicted of a violent crime during emerging adulthood?

A) Mary,who was an introvert as a child
B) Brandon,who was an extravert as a child
C) Suan,who has always been a loner
D) Casey,who exhibited conduct problems as a child

Question 5

Dr.Birkin's major research interest is the development of motor skills in children.It is most likely that Dr.Birkin is a ________ psychologist.

A) cognitive
B) developmental
C) biological
D) psychodynamic

Question 6

One of the three major concerns of developmental psychology involves a focus on

A) conception and prenatal development.
B) continuity and stages.
C) embryonic and fetal development.
D) stimulation and habituation.

Question 7

A belief that adult personality is completely determined in early childhood would be most relevant to the issue of

A) stability and change.
B) nature and nurture.
C) cognition and morality.
D) conception and prenatal development.

Question 8

Dr.Smith has devoted his career to investigating the influence of genetic and environmental factors on developmental processes.Which major issue in developmental psychology is he most interested in?

A) nature and nurture
B) continuity and stages
C) predictability and unpredictability
D) stability and change

Question 9

Who of the following is most likely to enjoy an enduring marriage?

A) Zach,who smiled all the time as a child
B) Michael,who was an introvert as a child
C) Casey,who exhibited conduct problems as a teen
D) Christina,who started dating when she was 16 years old

Question 10

In the nature and nurture issue in developmental psychology,which of the following is an example of nature?

A) the school you attended as a child
B) moving to a new city as a child
C) the genetics you inherited from both parents
D) the household in which you grew up

Question 11

Developmental psychologists study physical,cognitive,and ________ changes throughout the human life span.

A) zygotic
B) embryonic
C) genetic
D) social

Question 12

Psychologists who view the developmental process as a sequence of distinct stages generally believe that ________ is (are)the same for everyone.

A) both the order and the timing of the stages
B) the order but not the timing of the stages
C) the timing but not the order of the stages
D) neither the order nor the timing of the stages

Question 13

Developmental psychology is defined as

A) an early school of thought in psychology that used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.
B) the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.
C) the branch of psychology that systematically focuses on the physical,cognitive,and social changes that occur throughout the human life span.
D) the science of behavior and mental processes.

Question 14

Which of the following is the best conclusion regarding the issue of stability and change in development?

A) Stability is more likely to explain development.
B) Change is more likely to explain development.
C) Both stability and change can be used to explain development.
D) Neither stability nor change helps explain development.

Question 15

The understanding that biological,psychological,and social-cultural forces interact in development supports which major issue in developmental psychology?

A) continuity and stages
B) conception and prenatal development
C) stability and change
D) nature and nurture

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a major issue in developmental psychology?

A) nature and nurture
B) continuity and stages
C) predictability and unpredictability
D) stability and change

Question 17

Theories of human development have been most susceptible to criticism for overemphasizing

A) discrete age-linked stages.
B) the interaction of nature and nurture.
C) maturation during adolescent development.
D) cognitive changes during adult development.

Question 18

Questions about whether anxious children will grow up to be fearful or relaxed adults most directly highlight the issue of

A) continuity and stages.
B) stability and change.
C) identity and temperament.
D) nature and nurture.

Question 19

Distinguishing between very gradual and very abrupt developmental changes over the life span is most central to the major issue of

A) prenatal and postnatal development.
B) stability and change.
C) continuity and stages.
D) nature and nurture.

Question 20

Efforts to identify the interactive influences of inherited personality traits and culturally prescribed educational practices on the intellectual development of children is most central to the major issue of

A) stability and change.
B) conception and prenatal development.
C) continuity and stages.
D) nature and nurture.

Question 21

A teratogen is a(n)

A) fertilized egg that undergoes rapid cell division.
B) unborn child with one or more physical defects or abnormalities.
C) chromosomal abnormality.
D) substance that can cross the placental barrier and harm an unborn child.

Question 22

As compared with the production of egg cells,sperm cell production

A) begins later in life.
B) involves a jellylike outer covering.
C) begins earlier in life.
D) occurs at a slower rate.

Question 23

The fetus is the

A) agent that can harm prenatal development.
B) developing organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month.
C) developing organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth.
D) fertilized egg.

Question 24

Stacey has been caught pulling the cat's tail and hitting it on the head.Which of the following is the most likely description of Stacey during adulthood?

A) Stacey is likely to marry in early adulthood.
B) Stacey is likely to experience divorce by the age of 40.
C) Stacey is likely to have difficulty keeping a job.
D) Stacey is likely to be violent as an adult.

Question 25

Human females begin forming all the eggs they will ever have during

A) conception.
B) prenatal development.
C) early childhood.
D) puberty.

Question 26

A preference for our mother's voice over our father's voice has been detected

A) during embryonic development.
B) immediately after birth.
C) one week after birth.
D) one month after birth.

Question 27

Brenda's senior photos show her with a wide smile.When comparing these photos with earlier ones,we see the same wide smile.What may be expected as Brenda moves through life?

A) She is likely to have a long,enduring marriage as an adult.
B) She is likely to be popular at work.
C) She is likely to get along well with both her immediate and extended family.
D) She is likely to marry in her early twenties.

Question 28

The organ that transfers nutrients and oxygen from mother to embryo is called the

A) ovary.
B) zygote.
C) placenta.
D) teratogen.

Question 29

Immediately after birth,newborns prefer their own mother's voice to another woman's voice.This is best explained by the interaction of heredity and environment that takes place inside the

A) mother's egg.
B) placenta.
C) teratogen.
D) uterus.

Question 30

The zygote attaches to the uterine wall of the pregnant mother ________ after conception.

A) 2 days
B) 5 days
C) 10 days
D) 2 months

Question 31

At about 30 hours old,American and Swedish newborns were observed to pause more in their pacifier sucking when listening to

A) familiar vowels from their mother's language.
B) unfamiliar words from their father's language.
C) the voice sounds of a sibling.
D) musical instruments over a radio.

Question 32

Cell division and differentiation begin during the ________ stage of prenatal development.

A) fetal
B) placental
C) zygotic
D) embryonic

Question 33

During a routine prenatal exam,Janet's obstetrician detected the heartbeat of her future baby.The earliest possible period of development medically indicated at this point would be the ________ period.

A) embryonic
B) zygotic
C) fetal
D) epigenetic

Question 34

A zygote is a(n)

A) agent that can harm prenatal development.
B) developing organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month.
C) developing organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth.
D) fertilized egg.

Question 35

Just after birth,the cries of newborns typically bear the intonation of

A) identity.
B) an epigenetic effect.
C) habituation.
D) their mother's native language.

Question 36

Human sperm cells ________ than egg cells.

A) are larger
B) contain more genes
C) are smaller
D) contain fewer genes

Question 37

When a placenta is first developed,it transfers nutrients and oxygen from mother to

A) egg cell.
B) fetus.
C) embryo.
D) zygote.

Question 38

The zygote's inner cells

A) form the placenta.
B) become the embryo.
C) become the heart of the organism.
D) attach to the uterine wall.

Question 39

The placenta develops from many of the outer cells of the

A) ovary.
B) zygote.
C) fetus.
D) embryo.

Question 40

During the course of successful prenatal development,a human organism begins as a(n)

A) zygote and finally develops into an embryo.
B) embryo and finally develops into a fetus.
C) zygote and finally develops into a fetus.
D) fetus and finally develops into an embryo.

Question 41

With repeated presentations of a bright red toy,2-month-old Anita began to respond with less visual attention to the toy.Her decreasing responsiveness best illustrates

A) an epigenetic effect.
B) a reflex.
C) habituation.
D) fetal alcohol syndrome.

Question 42

If a pregnant woman experiences extreme stress,the stress hormones flooding her body may threaten survival of the fetus and trigger a premature birth.In this situation,the mother's stress hormones are most clearly

A) enzymes.
B) neural networks.
C) placentas.
D) teratogens.

Question 43

Madison drank contaminated water,which contained toxic molecules that blocked the expression of some of her genes.As a result,she is now highly allergic to certain foods.This best illustrates the impact of

A) digestive enzymes.
B) stress hormones.
C) epigenetic marks.
D) natural selection.

Question 44

Newborns have been observed to show the greatest visual interest in a

A) rectangular shape.
B) circular shape.
C) bull's-eye pattern.
D) face-like image.

Question 45

Babies are born with several reflexes for getting food.One of these is to

A) withdraw a limb to escape pain.
B) turn the head away from a cloth placed over the face.
C) open the mouth in search of a nipple when touched on the cheek.
D) look longer at face-like images.

Question 46

A reflex refers to

A) decreasing responsiveness to repeated stimulation.
B) an epigenetic effect that is observable at birth.
C) an automatic response to sensory stimulation.
D) the consistency of temperament over time.

Question 47

The symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome are most likely to include

A) visual impairments.
B) mental abnormalities.
C) habituation.
D) hearing problems.

Question 48

Melissa suffered a severe viral infection during her fourth month of pregnancy that caused her baby to be born with an abnormal heart valve.In this instance,the virus was clearly a

A) stress hormone.
B) digestive enzyme.
C) teratogen.
D) zygote.

Question 49

When placed between a gauze pad from their nursing mother's bra and one from another nursing mother,week-old nursing babies are likely to

A) move their eyes in a visual search for their mother.
B) turn their head toward the smell of their mother's pad.
C) open their mouth in a vigorous search for a nipple.
D) habituate more quickly to the smell of the pad taken from another nursing mother.

Question 50

An infant's tendency to automatically grasp objects placed in his or her hands best illustrates

A) object permanence.
B) insecure attachment.
C) a reflex response.
D) basic trust.

Question 51

Habituation refers to the

A) awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived.
B) decreasing responsiveness to a stimulus to which one is repeatedly exposed.
C) adjustment of current thinking to make sense of new information.
D) the tendency to gaze longer at face-like images.

Question 52

Alcohol may cause fetal damage by leaving chemical marks on DNA that switch genes abnormally on or off.This best illustrates

A) habituation.
B) reflexive rooting.
C) an epigenetic effect.
D) neural networking.

Question 53

Mr.Hersch triggered a rooting reflex in his infant son by touching him on the

A) foot.
B) knee.
C) arm.
D) cheek.

Question 54

Infant visual preferences have been discovered by assessing infants'

A) reflexes.
B) habituation.
C) genetic inheritance.
D) stage of development.

Question 55

French toddlers preferred playing with chamomile-scented toys if

A) they had never before smelled chamomile.
B) they had been diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome.
C) their mothers had once used a skin balm with a chamomile scent.
D) their fathers were devoted chamomile tea drinkers.

Question 56

One of the most consistently damaging teratogens is

A) blood.
B) oxygen.
C) testosterone.
D) alcohol.

Question 57

After having been exposed to a vibrating,honking device placed on its mother's abdomen,a fetus demonstrates

A) habituation.
B) a stress response.
C) an epigenetic effect.
D) impulsiveness.

Question 58

Elvira continued to smoke when she was pregnant with Darcy.As an infant,Darcy's ability to handle stress was weakened.This best illustrates the impact of

A) digestive enzymes.
B) stress hormones.
C) epigenetic marks.
D) natural selection.

Question 59

While holding her friend's newborn,Brenda caresses the baby's cheek.The baby turns her head toward the touch and opens her mouth.The baby will next

A) suck on Brenda's hand.
B) extend his or her arms and legs.
C) cry.
D) root for a nipple.

Question 60

When pregnant rats drink alcohol,their young offspring later display a(n)

A) immunity to fetal alcohol syndrome.
B) aversion to the taste of alcohol.
C) unusually rapid development of bladder control.
D) liking for the taste and odor of alcohol.

Question 61

Maturation is to education as ________ is to ________.

A) accommodation;assimilation
B) nature;nurture
C) conservation;object permanence
D) environment;learning

Question 62

Maturation refers to

A) the acquisition of socially acceptable behaviors.
B) biological growth processes that are relatively uninfluenced by experience.
C) any learned behavior patterns that accompany personal growth and development.
D) the physical and sexual development of childhood.

Question 63

The brain's development of increasingly complex neural networks during infancy is made possible by the formation of billions of new

A) schemas.
B) secure attachments.
C) synapses.
D) epigenetic marks.

Question 64

Dr.Wong believes that children who are not visually stimulated during the first four months of their infancy will never develop normal visual perception skills.Obviously,Dr.Wong believes that this phase of development is a(n)

A) epigenetic mark.
B) critical period.
C) cognitive schema.
D) teratogen.

Question 65

Compared with environmentally impoverished rats,those rats housed in enriched environments developed

A) expanded schemas.
B) more secure attachments.
C) significantly more cerebral cortex.
D) epigenetic marks.

Question 66

Miguel,the youngest child of a high school athletic director,was able to roll over at 3 months,crawl at 6 months,and walk at 12 months.This ordered sequence of motor development was largely due to

A) the baby's temperament.
B) maturation.
C) responsive parenting.
D) imprinting.

Question 67

A critical period is an optimal period during which

A) children frequently disobey and resist their parents.
B) children become able to think hypothetically and reason abstractly.
C) parents frequently show impatience with a child's slowness in becoming toilet trained.
D) exposure to certain experiences is needed for normal development.

Question 68

Shelly's baby is 12 months old and is not walking yet.What should you say to her parents?

A) "Ninety percent of babies walk by the time they are 12 months old.Perhaps you should have the pediatrician check on her motor-skill development."
B) "Perhaps her fine motor skills are behind schedule."
C) "This is perfectly normal.While 50 percent of babies walk shortly after they are 12 months old,many don't walk until they are 15 months old."
D) "Don't worry about it! Only 25 percent of babies walk by the time they are 12 months old."

Question 69

The brain's development of new neural connections in response to experience is said to demonstrate what is known as

A) assimilation.
B) imprinting.
C) conservation.
D) plasticity.

Question 70

From ages 3 to 6,your ability to control your attention and make plans developed rapidly thanks to rapid brain growth in the

A) temporal lobes.
B) frontal lobes.
C) occipital lobes.
D) parietal lobes.

Question 71

The parts of the brain linked to thinking,memory,and language,which are the last to fully develop,are known as the

A) reticular formation.
B) limbic system.
C) association areas.
D) somatosensory cortex.

Question 72

Infant motor development is typically characterized by individual differences in ________ of the major developmental milestones.

A) both the sequence and the age-related timing
B) the sequence but not the age-related timing
C) the age-related timing but not the sequence
D) neither the sequence nor the age-related timing

Question 73

When 10-year-old children repeatedly practice the precise motor skills involved in texting,the cortical areas directly controlling these motor skills are likely to develop more complex

A) imprinting.
B) neural networks.
C) object permanence.
D) formal operations.

Question 74

The human tendency to use nouns before they use adjectives is an illustration of

A) maturation.
B) change.
C) stability.
D) nurture.

Question 75

A failure to practice important motor skills can result in a loss of agility because unused neural connections

A) become insecurely attached.
B) assimilate.
C) accommodate.
D) are pruned.

Question 76

From ages 3 to 6,the brain's neural networks are sprouting most rapidly in the

A) frontal lobes.
B) hypothalamus.
C) cerebellum.
D) brainstem.

Question 77

Steven was born with cataracts.As a child,his vision was so bad that he was considered legally blind.As an adult,he had a surgical procedure to remove the cataracts.However,the physicians have explained to Steven that he will never achieve normal vision.This demonstrates

A) the maturation of vision.
B) the process of visual development.
C) how cognition is related to visual perception.
D) a critical period for vision.

Question 78

Premature infants who are regularly touched or massaged are more likely to show signs of

A) reduced brain plasticity.
B) an uninhibited temperament.
C) an epigenetic effect.
D) rapid weight gain.

Question 79

The human tendency to stand before walking is an illustration of

A) maturation.
B) change.
C) stability.
D) nurture.

Question 80

The association areas are the last cortical areas to fully develop their

A) schemas.
B) theory of mind.
C) neural networks.
D) object permanence.