Deck 1: History, Theory, and Applied Directions

Question 1

The field of child development

A) is devoted to understanding human constancy and change throughout the lifespan.
B) is part of a larger, interdisciplinary field known as developmental science.
C) focuses primarily on children's physical and emotional development.
D) focuses primarily on infants' and children's social and cognitive development.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

During adolescence,

A) thought and language expand at an astounding rate.
B) young people begin to master academic knowledge and skills.
C) young people fully assume adult roles.
D) thought becomes abstract and idealistic.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Theories differ from mere opinion and belief in that

A) they provide the ultimate truth.
B) they are usually too abstract to be used as a basis for practical action.
C) they cannot be tested in a research setting.
D) their continued existence depends on scientific verification.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true about child development theories?

A) They guide and give meaning to our observations and help us understand development.
B) They are defined as mere opinions or beliefs.
C) They provide ultimate truths about children and adolescents.
D) They are difficult to verify, even with contemporary research methods.

Question 5

Charlotte is long and lean. She engages in make-believe play and has a blossoming sense of morality. Charlotte is probably in which period of human development?

A) the prenatal period
B) infancy and toddlerhood
C) early childhood
D) middle childhood

Question 6

The continuous development view holds that

A) infants and preschoolers respond to the world in much the same way as adults do.
B) children's thoughts, emotions, and behavior differ considerably from those of adults.
C) development takes place in stages.
D) development is much like climbing a staircase.

Question 7

Eight-month-old Annabelle is not yet able to organize objects or remember and interpret experiences as an adult does because her development is

A) continuous.
B) discontinuous.
C) stable.
D) plastic.

Question 8

The common goal of investigators who study child development is to

A) understand how physical growth and nutrition contribute to health and well-being throughout the lifespan.
B) understand more about personality and social development.
C) analyze child-rearing practices and experiences that promote children's well-being.
D) describe and identify those factors that influence the consistencies and changes in young people during the first two decades of life.

Question 9

Dr. Zettler compares children growing up in non-Western village societies with those growing up in large Western cities. Dr. Zettler likely emphasizes __________ in her research.

A) the nature-nurture controversy
B) the effects of distinct contexts on development
C) the concept of step-by-step learning
D) continuous development

Question 10

During which period of development do children form their first intimate ties to others?

A) the prenatal period
B) infancy and toddlerhood
C) early childhood
D) middle childhood

Question 11

The domains of development

A) combine in an integrated, holistic fashion.
B) are not influenced by each other.
C) operate independently of one another.
D) are distinct and unrelated.

Question 12

Pete participates in soccer and is beginning to master fundamental reading and math skills. Pete is probably in which period of human development?

A) adolescence
B) middle childhood
C) early childhood
D) infancy and toddlerhood

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true about the field of child development?

A) Scientific curiosity is the prevailing factor that led to the study of children, and current researchers primarily answer questions of scientific interest.
B) The field of child development is considered interdisciplinary because it has grown through the combined efforts of people from many fields.
C) Child development is the area of study devoted to understanding constancy and change throughout the lifespan.
D) Most of what we know about child development comes from psychologists and medical professionals.

Question 14

What period of human development brings the most rapid time of change?

A) the prenatal period
B) infancy and toddlerhood
C) early childhood
D) adolescence

Question 15

Which of the following factors have contributed to the period of development called emerging adulthood?

A) Teenagers from large families assume adult roles upon entering adolescence.
B) The transition to adult roles has become increasingly prolonged.
C) Schooling is increasingly directed toward preparation for the world of work.
D) Young people make enduring commitments soon after high school graduation.

Question 16

Which of the following factors contributed to the study of child development in the twentieth century?

A) The beginning of public education led to a demand for knowledge about what and how to teach children of different ages.
B) Parents were having more children and researchers became interested in the effects of family size on children's well-being.
C) Pediatricians were pressured by insurance companies to improve children's health, which inspired nutritional research.
D) High rates of childhood depression inspired new areas of research into children's anxieties and behavior problems.

Question 17

The concept of __________ is characteristic of __________ theories.

A) nurture; continuous
B) context; nature
C) change; heredity
D) stages; discontinuous

Question 18

The stage concept assumes that children

A) gradually add more of the same types of skills that were there to begin with.
B) undergo a slow transformation as they step up from one stage to the next.
C) make fairly sudden and distinct changes as they grow.
D) think just as logically as adults do.

Question 19

Development is often divided into which of the following three broad domains?

A) infancy, childhood, and adolescence
B) social, cultural, and historical
C) physical, cognitive, and emotional and social
D) biological, social, and intellectual

Question 20

A good theory

A) provides an ultimate truth.
B) cannot be scientifically verified.
C) describes, explains, and predicts behavior.
D) is not influenced by the cultural values or beliefs of its time.

Question 21

Ms. Xavier opposes physical punishment in schools. She believes that such punishment makes children fear teachers. Ms. Xavier is most aligned with which historical prospective?

A) medieval times
B) the Reformation
C) the Enlightenment
D) the Puritans, after they emigrated to the New World

Question 22

Rousseau regarded development as __________ and largely influenced by __________.

A) continuous; nature
B) continuous; nurture
C) discontinuous; nature
D) discontinuous; nurture

Question 23

The most consistent asset of resilient children is

A) a strong bond with a competent, caring adult.
B) high academic performance in elementary school.
C) musical ability.
D) athletic competence.

Question 24

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution emphasizes __________ and __________.

A) stage; maturation
B) natural selection; stage
C) maturation; survival of the fittest
D) natural selection; survival of the fittest

Question 25

During medieval times,

A) children were treated as adults once they were old enough to perform daily routines.
B) clear awareness existed of children as vulnerable beings.
C) children were viewed as blank slates.
D) harsh, restrictive child-rearing practices were recommended to tame depraved children.

Question 26

In contrast to Locke, Rousseau

A) viewed development as a continuous process.
B) believed that children's moral sense is learned through religious training.
C) regarded children as empty containers to be filled by adult instruction.
D) believed that children's unique ways of thinking would only be harmed by adult training.

Question 27

Professor Cortez believes that development is largely due to nature. Professor Cortez would argue that

A) early intervention is of supreme importance for economically at-risk children.
B) environmental factors have a greater impact on development than genetic factors.
C) offering high-quality stimulation in infancy and toddlerhood is vital for favorable development.
D) providing experiences aimed at promoting change is of little value.

Question 28

Dr. Hoo believes that children who are high in verbal ability, anxiety, or sociability will remain so at later ages. Dr. Hoo likely emphasizes the role of __________ in her research.

A) plasticity
B) stability
C) discontinuity
D) context

Question 29

__________ is generally regarded as the founder of the child-study movement.

A) Charles Darwin
B) John Locke
C) G. Stanley Hall
D) Benjamin Spock

Question 30

Rousseau's philosophy included which of the following two influential concepts?

A) stage and maturation
B) evolution and stage
C) natural selection and survival of the fittest
D) maturation and natural selection

Question 31

Locke regarded development as __________ and largely influenced by __________.

A) continuous; nature
B) continuous; nurture
C) discontinuous; nature
D) discontinuous; nurture

Question 32

Dr. Shepherd studies individual differences in intelligence, personality, and social skills of identical twins raised in different families. Dr. Shepherd likely emphasizes the role of __________ in his research.

A) heredity
B) plasticity
C) early experiences
D) stability

Question 33

During the Reformation, the Puritans

A) characterized children as innocent and close to angels.
B) regarded children as fully mature by the time they were 7 or 8 years old.
C) suggested that parents reward children with praise and approval.
D) believed that children were born evil and stubborn and had to be civilized.

Question 34

Theorists who emphasize __________ in explaining individual differences typically stress the importance of __________.

A) early experiences; discontinuity
B) stability; nurture
C) the environment; early experiences
D) context; continuity

Question 35

Which of the following factors fosters resilience?

A) an inability to inhibit impulses
B) having more than two siblings
C) social support outside the immediate family
D) an emotionally reactive personality

Question 36

The Enlightenment period brought new philosophies that

A) emphasized ideals of human dignity and respect.
B) emphasized original sin.
C) regarded children as noble savages.
D) recognized the need to protect children from people who might mistreat them.

Question 37

G. Stanley Hall and his student, Arnold Gesell,

A) developed the first intelligence test.
B) regarded child development as a maturational process.
C) argued that children actively revise their ways of thinking, but also learn through habit.
D) were the first researchers to implement behavior modification techniques.

Question 38

According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view, the child is

A) tainted by original sin.
B) a tabula rasa.
C) a noble savage.
D) an active, purposeful being.

Question 39

British philosopher John Locke viewed the child as

A) tainted by original sin.
B) a tabula rasa.
C) a noble savage.
D) an active, purposeful being.

Question 40

In the sixteenth century, __________ prevented most Puritan parents from using extremely repressive child-rearing measures.

A) the belief that children are vulnerable
B) religious prohibitions against harsh punishment
C) love and affection for their children
D) the belief that children are close to angels

Question 41

James Mark Baldwin

A) created one of the earliest intelligence tests used in American schools.
B) argued that intelligence is best understood in terms of reaction time to physical and social stimuli.
C) believed that children's unique ways of thinking and feeling could be harmed by adult interference.
D) believed that children's understanding of their physical and social worlds develops through a sequence of stages.

Question 42

According to __________, children move through a series of stages in which they confront conflicts between biological drives and social expectations.

A) ecological systems theory
B) the psychoanalytic perspective
C) the behaviorist perspective
D) social learning theory

Question 43

In contrast to Freud, Erikson

A) viewed children as taking a more active role in their own development.
B) focused on the impact of early experiences on later behavior.
C) minimized the role of culture in individual development.
D) recognized the lifespan nature of development.

Question 44

Which of the following is a major criticism of Freud's theory?

A) It was based on the problems of sexually repressed, well-to-do adults, not on direct study of children.
B) It does not acknowledge the individual's unique life history as worthy of study and understanding.
C) It ignores the value of the clinical, or case study, method.
D) It mostly ignores milestones of infant and toddler development.

Question 45

Sigmund Freud constructed his psychosexual theory

A) by examining the unconscious motivations of his patients.
B) by documenting the dreams of emotionally troubled adults.
C) by observing his own children.
D) on the basis of interviews with institutionalized children and adolescents.

Question 46

Gesell's child-rearing advice to parents recommended

A) harsh, restrictive punishment.
B) the use of money or sweets for rewards.
C) home remedies for common childhood illnesses.
D) sensitivity to children's cues.

Question 47

During the oral psychosexual stage, if oral needs are not met appropriately, an individual may develop such habits as

A) extreme messiness and disorder.
B) hostility toward the same-sex parent.
C) sexual promiscuity.
D) fingernail biting and overeating.

Question 48

Dr. Adolph takes measures of behavior on large numbers of individuals and computes age-related averages to represent typical development. Dr. Adolph uses

A) the normative approach.
B) behaviorism.
C) intelligence testing.
D) psychoanalysis.

Question 49

According to Erikson, children gain insight into the person they can become through make-believe play during the __________ stage.

A) basic trust versus mistrust
B) autonomy versus shame and doubt
C) initiative versus guilt
D) industry versus inferiority

Question 50

Martin is striving to establish a personal identity by exploring his values and vocational goals. Martin is in Erikson's __________ stage.

A) initiative versus guilt
B) intimacy versus isolation
C) identity versus role confusion
D) integrity versus despair

Question 51

According to Freud, the superego strengthens during the __________ stage.

A) oral
B) anal
C) phallic
D) latency

Question 52

Psychoanalytic theorists were strongly committed to

A) the experimental method.
B) correlational studies of preschool children.
C) systematic observation.
D) in-depth study of individual children.

Question 53

In his psychosocial theory, Erik Erikson emphasized that

A) conflicts about anal control may appear if parents toilet train before children are ready.
B) in addition to mediating between id impulses and superego demands, the ego makes a positive contribution to development.
C) children feel a sexual desire for the other-sex parent.
D) directly observable events-stimuli and responses-are the appropriate focus of study.

Question 54

Freud's psychosexual theory was the first to stress the influence of

A) the early parent-child relationship on development.
B) society's values and beliefs on parent's disciplinary techniques.
C) older siblings on newborns.
D) the academic environment on young children.

Question 55

Binet defined intelligence as

A) recall, reflection, and communication.
B) reaction time and sensitivity to physical stimuli.
C) good judgment, planning, and critical reflection.
D) emotional, social, and cognitive awareness.

Question 56

Although he was long overlooked in the history of child development, Baldwin

A) adapted Binet's intelligence test for use with English-speaking children.
B) granted nature and nurture equal importance.
C) viewed development as a continuous process.
D) was among the first to make developmental research relevant to parents.

Question 57

According to Freud, the __________ works to reconcile the demands of the __________ and the __________.

A) id; ego; superego
B) superego; id; ego
C) ego; id; superego
D) id; conscience; subconscious

Question 58

A special strength of the psychoanalytic perspective is its

A) global application to most cultures.
B) emphasis on the individual's unique life history as worthy of study and understanding.
C) emphasis on empirical research.
D) effectiveness in dealing with everyday difficulties.

Question 59

Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon's intelligence test was originally constructed to

A) measure individual differences among children with the same IQ.
B) document developmental improvements in children's intellectual functioning.
C) identify gifted and talented children who required educational enrichment.
D) identify children with learning problems who needed to be placed in special classes.

Question 60

Which of the following is a contribution of psychoanalytic theory?

A) It inspired a wealth of research on many aspects of emotional and social development.
B) It emphasized a wide range of research methods to study child development.
C) It provided a rich source of testable hypotheses about personality development.
D) It remains in the mainstream of child development research.

Question 61

According to Piaget's theory, thought becomes abstract in the __________ stage.

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

Question 62

Marcus, age 12, wears the same clothes and hairstyle as his best friends at school. According to Albert Bandura, Marcus is displaying

A) operant conditioning.
B) behavior modification.
C) classical conditioning.
D) observational learning.

Question 63

Five-year-old Stefan uses symbols to represent sensorimotor discoveries. However, his thinking lacks logic. Stefan is in Piaget's __________ stage of development.

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

Question 64

The most recent revision of Bandura's theory places such strong emphasis on how children think about themselves and other people that he calls it a __________ approach.

A) social learning
B) social-cognitive
C) behavior modification
D) psychosocial

Question 65

Sydney views herself as hardworking and high-achieving. She believes that she will succeed if she relies on her abilities. Sydney has developed a sense of

A) generativity.
B) industry.
C) self-efficacy.
D) equilibrium.

Question 66

According to Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory,

A) children's understanding is different from adults'.
B) development must be understood in relation to each child's culture.
C) children gradually develop adaptive behaviors.
D) rapid development occurs during a sensitive period.

Question 67

To study childhood and adolescent thought, Piaget

A) used psychoanalysis.
B) conducted open-ended clinical interviews.
C) observed young people from diverse cultures.
D) relied on classical and operant conditioning.

Question 68

Accordingly to Jean Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory, children

A) actively construct knowledge as they manipulate and explore their world.
B) acquire new social values as sexual instincts die down.
C) gradually become more selective in what they imitate.
D) develop within a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment.

Question 69

According to B. F. Skinner's operant conditioning theory,

A) modeling is the most powerful source of development.
B) the frequency of behavior can be increased by following it with reinforcers.
C) development is a discontinuous process.
D) children actively construct knowledge as they manipulate and explore the world.

Question 70

__________ has been used to relieve a wide range of serious developmental problems, such as persistent aggression and extreme fears.

A) Modeling
B) Observational learning
C) Behavior modification
D) Social-cognitive theory

Question 71

Today, Bandura's theory stresses the importance of

A) cognition.
B) punishment.
C) heredity.
D) classical conditioning.

Question 72

In Piaget's concrete operational stage, children

A) consider all possible outcomes in a scientific problem.
B) develop the capacity for abstract thinking.
C) reason with symbols that do not refer to real-world objects.
D) transform cognition into logical reasoning.

Question 73

One important criticism of Piaget's theory is that

A) he overestimated the competencies of infants and young children.
B) his stagewise account pays insufficient attention to social and cultural influences.
C) he overemphasized discovery learning and direct contact with the environment.
D) children's performance on Piagetian tasks cannot be improved with training.

Question 74

Which of the following is an important criticism of behaviorism?

A) It overemphasizes genetic influences.
B) It underestimates children's contributions to their own development.
C) It cannot be effectively applied to toddlers or preschool children.
D) It only works in controlled settings, not in children's everyday lives.

Question 75

If one individual has influenced the contemporary field of child development more than any other, it is

A) Sigmund Freud.
B) Erik Erikson.
C) B. F. Skinner.
D) Jean Piaget.

Question 76

Early in his career, Piaget derived his ideas about cognitive changes during the first two years by

A) conducting clinical interviews.
B) engaging in rigorous experiments.
C) observing his own three children.
D) summarizing baby biographies.

Question 77

According to Piaget's theory, cognitive development begins in the __________ stage.

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

Question 78

In her research, Dr. Esse uses procedures that combine conditioning and modeling to eliminate undesirable behaviors and increase desirable responses. Dr. Esse relies on

A) observational learning.
B) behavior modification.
C) classical conditioning.
D) psychosocial learning.

Question 79

Central to Piaget's view of development is the concept of

A) modeling.
B) reinforcement.
C) adaptation.
D) cultural identity.

Question 80

Traditional behaviorists like John Watson believed that __________ is the supreme force in development.

A) environment
B) heredity
C) sexuality
D) early experience