Deck 3: Developing Through the Life Span

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

continuity and stages.

Question 2

DNA is a complex

A)sex hormone.
B)genome.
C)molecule.
D)epigenetic mark.

Answer 2

molecule.

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

stability and change.

Question 4

Theories of human development have been most likely to be criticized for overemphasizing

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

Question 5

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.

Question 6

The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes are called

A)genes.
B)genomes.
C)epigenetic molecules.
D)neurotransmitters.

Question 7

Depending on environmental conditions,specific genes can be either

A)monozygotic or dizygotic.
B)active or inactive.
C)identical or fraternal.
D)structured or unstructured.

Question 8

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)extraversion and introversion.
C)continuity and stages.
D)nature and nurture.

Question 9

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

A)continuity and stages.
B)egocentrism and conservation.
C)stability and change.
D)object permanence and stranger anxiety.

Question 10

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

A)conception and prenatal development.
B)continuity and stages.
C)maturation and object permanence.
D)conservation and egocentrism.

Question 11

A child's temperament is likely to be

A)difficult to observe.
B)stable over time.
C)a product of parenting style.
D)a reflection of his or her thinking.

Question 12

Chromosomes are threadlike structures made of

A)serotonin molecules.
B)epigenetic molecules.
C)DNA molecules.
D)dizygotic molecules.

Question 13

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 14

A segment of DNA that provides the code for creating protein molecules is called a(n)

A)schema.
B)epigenetic mark.
C)chromosome.
D)gene.

Question 15

Cross-cultural research on human development indicates that

A)person-to-person differences within cultural groups are larger than differences between cultural groups.
B)differences among cultural groups largely reflect genetic differences among racial groups.
C)gender differences in behavior result from differences in biology rather than from differences in life experiences.
D)developmental processes differ greatly among individuals raised in different cultures.

Question 16

Chromosomes are contained within

A)brain cells.
B)sperm cells.
C)blood cells.
D)all of these types of cells.

Question 17

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

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

Question 18

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 19

Human sperm cells ________ than egg cells.

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

Question 20

Will anxious children grow up to be fearful or relaxed adults? This question most directly highlights the issue of

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

Question 21

The biochemical code for eye color is transmitted from parents to offspring by

A)neurotransmitters.
B)the placenta.
C)epigenetic molecules.
D)genes.

Question 22

The genome refers to an organism's complete set of

A)epigenetic marks.
B)genetic material.
C)protein molecules.
D)zygotic cells.

Question 23

The molecules that can block genetic expression are called

A)genomes.
B)chromosomes.
C)stress hormones.
D)epigenetic marks.

Question 24

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 25

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

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

Question 26

During a routine prenatal exam,Janet's obstetrician detected the heartbeat of her future baby.If this was the earliest time the heart began beating,the developing person would be referred to as a(n)

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

Question 27

The study of influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change is called

A)genomics.
B)epigenetics.
C)neurogenesis.
D)social psychology.

Question 28

One of the most consistently damaging teratogens is

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

Question 29

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 30

The placenta develops from many of the outer cells of the

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

Question 31

When the effect of one factor depends on the presence of another factor,outcomes are said to reflect

A)an epigenetic mark.
B)an interaction.
C)natural selection.
D)a syndrome.

Question 32

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 33

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

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

Question 34

Characteristics that are genetically transferred from parents to their offspring are said to be a product of

A)epigenetics.
B)heredity.
C)temperament.
D)teratogens.

Question 35

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

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

Question 36

The impact of our cultural backgrounds on the development of our personal values best illustrates the influence of

A)our shared human genome.
B)epigenetic marks.
C)natural selection.
D)the environment.

Question 37

People have always responded so positively to Alyssa's good looks that she has developed a socially confident and outgoing personality.This best illustrates the

A)principle of conservation.
B)influence of maturation.
C)interaction of nature and nurture.
D)importance of critical periods.

Question 38

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 39

Every nongenetic influence on our development,from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us,is an aspect of our

A)temperament.
B)genome.
C)environment.
D)heredity.

Question 40

The unique genetically influenced traits of children often encourage predictable responses from their caregivers.This best illustrates the ______ of nature and nurture.

A)assimilation
B)interaction
C)epigenetics
D)independence

Question 41

Pat is normally very restless and fidgety;Shelly is usually quiet and easygoing.The two children most clearly differ in

A)maturation.
B)egocentrism.
C)temperament.
D)object permanence.

Question 42

A reflex refers to

A)an emotional tie to another person.
B)an epigenetic effect that is observable at birth.
C)an automatic response to sensory stimulation.
D)the consistency of temperament over time.

Question 43

Compared with identical twins,fraternal twins are ________ similar in their abilities and ________ similar in their interests.

A)more;less
B)less;less
C)more;more
D)less;more

Question 44

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 45

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

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

Question 46

Unlike identical twins,fraternal twins are described as

A)epigenetic.
B)dizygotic.
C)extraverted.
D)monozygotic.

Question 47

Identical twins originate from the fertilization of

A)a single egg by a single sperm cell.
B)two eggs by a single sperm cell.
C)a single egg by two sperm cells.
D)two eggs by two sperm cells.

Question 48

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 49

Who are likely to show the greatest similarity in temperament?

A)Ruth and Ramona,identical twins
B)Philip and Paul,fraternal twins
C)Larry and Laura,brother and sister
D)Vincent Sr.and Vincent Jr. ,father and son

Question 50

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

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

Question 51

The symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome are most likely to include

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

Question 52

People's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity is called their

A)social identity.
B)temperament.
C)maturation level.
D)critical period.

Question 53

Twin and adoption studies have been most helpful for teasing apart the influences of

A)temperament and maturation.
B)outgoingness and agreeableness.
C)genes and protein molecules.
D)heredity and environment.

Question 54

Environmental influences on personality traits are most clearly highlighted by comparing

A)identical twins raised together with fraternal twins raised apart.
B)identical twins raised together with fraternal twins raised together.
C)identical twins raised apart with fraternal twins raised together.
D)identical twins raised together with identical twins raised apart.

Question 55

Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs are called ________ twins.

A)epigenetic
B)monozygotic
C)identical
D)fraternal

Question 56

The personalities of adopted children

A)are very similar to the personalities of the other children in their adoptive families.
B)are very similar to the personalities of their biologically related siblings.
C)are not very similar to the personalities of their adoptive parents.
D)are more similar to the personalities of their caregiving adoptive parents than to the personalities of their biological parents.

Question 57

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 58

Fidgety babies with an intense and very emotionally reactive temperament tend to be

A)intelligent and imaginative.
B)irritable and unpredictable.
C)fearless and assertive.
D)outgoing and cheerful.

Question 59

Identical twins have been shown to have some amazing psychological similarities.But we should be cautious about attributing these similarities to shared genes because

A)the twins may have been raised in completely different environments.
B)genetic factors influence physical,not psychological,characteristics.
C)any two strangers are likely to share many coincidental similarities.
D)many fraternal twins have been shown to be psychologically different from each other.

Question 60

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 61

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 62

Paul and Jeff are biologically related nontwin siblings raised in the same home.Susan and Cathy are biologically unrelated children adopted at birth and raised as siblings in the same home.People are likely to ______ the personality similarities of Paul and Jeff and ______ the personality similarities of Susan and Cathy.

A)overestimate;underestimate
B)underestimate;overestimate
C)underestimate;underestimate
D)overestimate;overestimate

Question 63

Putting babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of a smothering crib death has been associated with a slight delay in children's

A)walking.
B)crawling.
C)bladder control.
D)stranger anxiety.

Question 64

Maturation is to education as ________ is to ________.

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

Question 65

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 66

For children from impoverished environments,stimulating educational experiences during early childhood are most likely to

A)increase the development of epigenetic marks.
B)decrease their emotional attachment to their parents.
C)have no discernible effect on subsequent academic performance.
D)prevent the degeneration of activated connections between neurons.

Question 67

Brain maturation provides us with a wealth of neural connections,some of which are further strengthened by the experience of sights and sounds,touches and movements.This best illustrates that nature and nurture interact to sculpt our

A)schemas.
B)epigenetic marks.
C)synapses.
D)critical periods.

Question 68

Premature infants who are regularly touched and massaged are more likely than their unstimulated counterparts to show signs of

A)object permanence.
B)a fidgety temperament.
C)an epigenetic mark.
D)rapid weight gain.

Question 69

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 70

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 71

Compared with environmentally impoverished rats,those rats housed in enriched environments experienced a dramatic increase in the number of their

A)critical periods.
B)schemas.
C)synapses.
D)epigenetic marks.

Question 72

A critical period is a period of time 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 73

Our earliest conscious memories seldom predate our fourth birthday.This best illustrates

A)egocentrism.
B)role confusion.
C)assimilation.
D)infantile amnesia.

Question 74

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 75

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 76

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)secure attachment.

Question 77

Maturation refers to

A)the development 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 78

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)epigenetic marks.
B)neural networks.
C)object permanence.
D)formal operations.

Question 79

Lacking any exposure to language before adolescence,a person will never master any language because of the ________ of unemployed neural connections.

A)conservation
B)plasticity
C)pruning
D)maturation

Question 80

The concept of maturation is most relevant to understanding the absence of

A)secure attachments among infants.
B)bladder control among 2-year-olds.
C)self-esteem among kindergarten students.
D)moral behavior among adolescents.