Deck 9: Personality Across the Lifespan

Question 1

Professor Grant is interested in studying how a sense of humor changes over time. She collects data from separate groups of 6-year-olds, 16-year-olds, 26-year-olds, and 46-year-olds. What type of research design is Professor Grant using?

A) retrospective
B) longitudinal
C) experimental
D) cross-sectional

Answer 1

cross-sectional

Question 2

Which outcome is a disadvantage of a cross-sectional design?

A) Individuals of different ages and different experiences are being compared to one another.
B) Participants may drop out due to moving, loss of interest, or death.
C) It takes a longer amount of time than a longitudinal study.
D) It is expensive to collect data.

Answer 2

Individuals of different ages and different experiences are being compared to one another.

Question 3

An investigation of 3-year-old children who were characterized as "overcontrolled" found that these children were more likely to __________ as young adults.

A) have conservative political views
B) have liberal political views
C) be uncontrollable
D) be impulsive

Answer 3

have conservative political views

Question 4

Both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies find that boys' and girls' openness to experience __________ between age 11 and age 18.

A) increases
B) decreases
C) fluctuates
D) remains unchanged

Question 5

Which outcome is a disadvantage of a longitudinal research design?

A) Individuals of different ages are being compared to one another.
B) Longitudinal samples cannot be representative of the overall population.
C) Longitudinal studies fail to track changes over time.
D) Research participants may drop out due to moving, loss of interest, or death.

Question 6

Self-esteem is __________ during elementary school, dips during the early teen years, and then __________ during high school and young adulthood.

A) minimal; decreases
B) minimal; increases
C) moderate; increases
D) moderate; decreases

Question 7

What does temperament eventually develop into?

A) personality
B) learned behavior
C) conscience
D) sensitivity

Question 8

Assuming that Becky is typical of most children her age, how did Becky's shyness likely change from when she was 18 months old to when she was 8 years old?

A) It decreased.
B) It remained the same.
C) It increased.
D) It fluctuated.

Question 9

Which Big Five personality traits overlap the most with temperament?

A) extraversion, agreeableness, openness to experience
B) agreeableness, neuroticism, openness to experience
C) conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness
D) extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness

Question 10

Dawn is a graduate student investigating the development of social skills. She selects one group of 3-year-old children and assesses their social skills every 6 months over a 2-year period. In this example, Dawn is using a(n) __________ research design.

A) cross-sectional
B) sequential
C) longitudinal
D) cohort

Question 11

Connie is 12 years old. What stage of the lifespan is she in?

A) school age
B) early adolescence
C) middle adolescence
D) late adolescence

Question 12

As children grow from 18 months to 9 years, emotionality __________.

A) remains the same
B) increases
C) fluctuates
D) declines

Question 13

In a __________research design, one group of participants is followed and assessed as the group ages.

A) cohort
B) longitudinal
C) cross-sequential
D) cross-sectional

Question 14

In a __________ study, data collected at one time is used to compare people of different ages.

A) longitudinal
B) retrospective cohort
C) cross-sectional
D) prospective cohort

Question 15

A researcher decides to study cognitive changes in children by simultaneously studying groups of 3-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 9-year-olds, and 12-year-olds. What kind of research design is this person using?

A) cross-sectional
B) cross-sequential
C) time-lagged
D) longitudinal

Question 16

__________ studies are typically used to describe age differences in personality.

A) Cross-sectional
B) Retrospective cohort
C) Prospective cohort
D) Longitudinal

Question 17

A psychologist believes that increased TV watching by young children is responsible for increased neuroticism when these children enter elementary school. To explore her hypothesis, she records the TV viewing habits of toddlers in a suburban community. She examines these habits again when the children enter kindergarten and again every year until the children enter the sixth grade. Which research strategy is the investigator using?

A) retrospective
B) longitudinal
C) experimental
D) cross-sectional

Question 18

A study of 3-year-old children in New Zealand who were characterized as "undercontrolled" found that these children were more likely to __________ as young adults.

A) have liberal political views
B) be uncontrollable
C) be impulsive
D) have conservative political views

Question 19

As children grow from 18 months to 9 years, activity __________.

A) declines
B) increases
C) fluctuates
D) remains unchanged

Question 20

Genetically based behavior tendencies that are evident at an early age are known as __________.

A) conditioning
B) temperament
C) conscience
D) control

Question 21

__________ proposes that personalities mature as people enter important adult social roles.

A) Attachment theory
B) Social learning theory
C) Humanism
D) Social investment theory

Question 22

How do only children differ from children with siblings on measures of leadership, cooperativeness, and extraversion?

A) Only children are higher on leadership and cooperativeness, but lower on extraversion, compared to children with siblings.
B) Only children tend to score lower on all of these dimensions compared to children with siblings.
C) Children with siblings tend to score higher on leadership, lower on cooperativeness, and higher on extraversion, compared to only children.
D) There are no differences between only children and children with siblings on any of these dimensions.

Question 23

One out of __________ students decrease in neuroticism from their first year to their last year of college.

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

Question 24

Shifts in a population's average scores that occur with age are known as __________.

A) rank-order consistency
B) mean-level changes
C) quantum changes
D) temperament fluctuations

Question 25

Based on cross-sectional data, how does a typical 65-year-old compare to a typical early adolescent in self-discipline?

A) The adult is about 55% more disciplined than the adolescent.
B) The adult is about 85% more disciplined than the adolescent.
C) The adolescent is about 95% more disciplined than the adult.
D) The adolescent is about 10% more disciplined than the adult.

Question 26

Conscientiousness tends to increase over time, showing its highest levels between the ages of __________.

A) 25 and 35
B) 30 and 40
C) 40 and 50
D) 65 and 75

Question 27

Which birth order finding shows a reasonable amount of consistency across research studies?

A) Firstborn children are lower in conscientiousness compared to their siblings.
B) Middleborn children are higher in dominance than firstborn children.
C) Only children show poorer self-control compared to children with siblings.
D) Lastborn children tend to be higher in agreeableness compared to their siblings.

Question 28

Hypersensitive narcissism, a feeling of entitlement and resentment of criticism, tends to decline significantly between the ages of __________.

A) 5 and 15
B) 16 and 32
C) 25 and 35
D) 38 and 58

Question 29

Two studies found that by their fourth year after high school, people generally are __________ in agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness and __________ in neuroticism, while extraversion remained unchanged.

A) lower; lower
B) higher; higher
C) lower; higher
D) higher; lower

Question 30

Several studies across cultures indicate that people who began working in their 20s rather than attending college tended to be __________.

A) lower in extraversion
B) higher in neuroticism
C) higher in conscientiousness
D) lower in agreeableness

Question 31

Openness to experience increases between the ages of __________ and declines between the ages of __________.

A) 4 and 8; 60 and 70
B) 12 and 16; 40 and 50
C) 16 and 20; 35 and 65
D) 18 and 22; 60 and 70

Question 32

Between the teen years and age 40, many people __________ in assertiveness.

A) experience no change
B) fluctuate
C) increase
D) decrease

Question 33

Studies have found that much of the change that takes place in adult personality is complete by age __________.

A) 18
B) 25
C) 30
D) 40

Question 34

Which developmental period has been proposed between adolescence and adulthood?

A) senescence
B) emerging adulthood
C) exploratory maturation
D) extended adolescence

Question 35

Most studies suggest that self-esteem __________ as people age from their 20s to their 60s and __________ after that.

A) slightly increases; skyrockets
B) slightly increases; decreases
C) slightly decreases; increases
D) significantly decreases; increases

Question 36

What does rank-order consistency involve?

A) identifying a shift in average scores across population groups on a personality trait
B) establishing the criteria needed to confirm the replication of a research result
C) comparing someone to the average person of her or his own age
D) estimating the amount of variability of a given trait within a person over time

Question 37

Which trait is consistent with the maturation of personality?

A) higher neuroticism
B) lower neuroticism
C) lower conscientiousness
D) lower agreeableness

Question 38

A longitudinal study of German young adults found that those who had settled into a stable romantic relationship __________ in conscientiousness and __________ in neuroticism.

A) decreased; increased
B) increased; decreased
C) increased; increased
D) decreased; decreased

Question 39

About how much of the variance in Big Five personality traits is explained by birth order?

A) 4%
B) 9%
C) 25%
D) 40%

Question 40

Which event represents a quantum change in personality?

A) Ronald, who wants to lose weight, commits to a diet plan and sticks to it.
B) Vernon, unhappy in his job, decides to enroll in continuing education courses.
C) Emily, a lifelong drug abuser, finally decides to get sober at age 52.
D) Zelda, who is an undeclared major, takes courses in sociology to explore her interests.

Question 41

According to Erik Erikson, __________ is the life stage that deals with intimacy versus isolation.

A) older adulthood
B) early childhood
C) adolescence
D) young adulthood

Question 42

Which factor is the best predictor of succeeding at work?

A) socioeconomic status (SES)
B) intelligence (IQ)
C) personality
D) birth order

Question 43

During the middle adulthood stage, what is the central conflict that people face?

A) generativity versus stagnation
B) intimacy versus isolation
C) ego integrity versus despair
D) industry versus inferiority

Question 44

Rudolph just celebrated his 85th birthday. According to Erikson's life stages, what main personality development will he face?

A) feeling competent about his skills
B) nurturing his children and grandchildren
C) contributing to society
D) preserving his identity as his roles change

Question 45

A Finnish study examined personality traits in people who either became or did not become parents over a 9-year period. What conclusion was reached?

A) People low in agreeableness were more likely to become parents than those higher in agreeableness.
B) Those who were low in openness to experience were unlikely to have children.
C) Neurotic people who had two or more children became more neurotic.
D) Conscientiousness was the best predictor of who became parents and who did not.

Question 46

Tina was an "easy" child who was nice to others and was able to manage her emotions as a child. Based on what you know about agreeableness and conscientiousness, Tina likely __________.

A) started a successful nonprofit agency
B) began using drugs during adolescence
C) graduated from college
D) was arrested later in life

Question 47

Lacey is 13 years old. According to Erikson's life stages, what main personality development will she face?

A) learning who she is and forming her own identity
B) feeling competent about her abilities
C) learning independence
D) developing trust in her caregivers

Question 48

Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that __________ does not change significantly over the course of a person's pre-parent to parent status.

A) conscientiousness
B) agreeableness
C) extraversion
D) social dominance

Question 49

According to Erik Erikson, __________ is the period during which people confront the conflict of autonomy versus shame.

A) school age
B) early childhood
C) adolescence
D) middle adulthood

Question 50

Erikson's young adulthood stage occurs between the ages of __________.

A) 15 and 30
B) 18 and 40
C) 25 and 45
D) 30 and 60

Question 51

People affected by natural disasters tend to experience an increase in which Big Five personality trait?

A) extraversion
B) openness to experience
C) neuroticism
D) conscientiousness

Question 52

Taking the available evidence into account, what is the causal direction linking life events and personality traits?

A) Traits predict experiences and experiences predict changes in traits.
B) Changes in traits predict experiences.
C) Changes in experiences predict traits.
D) Changes in experiences and changes in traits are unrelated to one another.

Question 53

Helga is in the older adulthood life stage. What is likely to be the main conflict she is experiencing?

A) generativity versus stagnation
B) ego integrity versus despair
C) intimacy versus isolation
D) ego identity versus role confusion

Question 54

Studies have found that long-term unemployment consistently leads to decreases in __________ in women and decreases in __________ in men.

A) neuroticism; openness to experience
B) agreeableness; conscientiousness
C) agreeableness; neuroticism
D) conscientiousness; extraversion

Question 55

Which theorist proposed that every individual must pass through eight interrelated stages over the entire life cycle?

A) Sigmund Freud
B) B. F. Skinner
C) Erik Erikson
D) Albert Bandura

Question 56

The correlation between personality traits and important life outcomes usually is no greater than __________.

A) r = .10
B) r = .15
C) r = .25
D) r = .70

Question 57

Which of Erikson's life stages occurs from 0 to 1½ years old?

A) early childhood
B) infancy
C) preschool
D) school age

Question 58

A longitudinal study of middle-aged men who married or remarried found that they __________ in neuroticism __________ than those who did not get married during that same period.

A) declined; faster
B) increased; faster
C) declined; slower
D) increased; slower

Question 59

Among the Big Five traits, __________ is the best predictor of health, long life, and school and work performance.

A) high conscientiousness
B) low openness to experience
C) high neuroticism
D) low agreeableness

Question 60

The preschool life stage deals with the conflict of __________.

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

Question 61

When does personality change the most?

Question 62

What does the term "maturation of personality" mean?

Question 63

You and your partner have a 1-year-old daughter. Based on her temperament, what can you expect her personality to be like in young adulthood?

Question 64

Zhenya is an only child. People often tell her parents that if they do not give Zhenya a sibling, she will grow up to be selfish, poorly adjusted, and somehow deficient in stable personality characteristics. Based on what you know about birth order and personality, is this likely to be true?

Question 65

Ella and Sandra are debating whether personality predicts experiences or vice versa. Ella thinks that personality predicts experiences. What evidence is there for her point of view?

Question 66

How does self-esteem change across the lifespan?

Question 67

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a cross-sectional study compared to a longitudinal study?

Question 68

Lucas scores high on measures of conscientiousness. What does research evidence indicate about conscientiousness and personality in general as a predictor of important life events?

Question 69

What is rank-order consistency?

Question 70

Liam is getting older. How might his personality change into adulthood?

Question 71

How does social investment theory relate to personality?

Question 72

What is a quantum change?

Question 73

How does birth order affect personality?

Question 74

How do the benefits and costs of narcissism change from one developmental period to another?

Question 75

How does puberty affect personality?

Question 76

Does temperament predict personality?

Question 77

How does a typical child's personality change during childhood?

Question 78

How does a longitudinal research design compare to a cross-sectional research design?

Question 79

Juanita is currently in high school. How has her self-esteem likely changed during elementary, middle, and high school?

Question 80

Isabella and Bradley are in love. How might falling in love and starting a serious relationship affect their personalities?