Deck 13: Relationships Across the Lifespan

Question 1

The false belief test is used to determine whether children have:

A) false beliefs about their parentsÕ relationship.
B) false beliefs about their own popularity.
C) the ability to distinguish between the emotional tone of a conflict and whether the conflict was resolved.
D) theories of mind.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Eight-year-old Bianca is playing in her room when she hears her parentsÕ raised voices. She stops playing, creeps to her door, and listens carefully. Bianca hears that her parents are arguing again about what to cook for supper. She knows she is such a picky eater, so she decides that this argument must be her fault and vows not to complain about whatever is for supper that night. Bianca has just engaged in:

A) primary appraisal.
B) secondary appraisal.
C) desensitization.
D) sensitization.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Carlos and Angela have a 6-year-old child named Rosita. They occasionally fight with each other in front of Rosita. Given what you know about children as witnesses of their parentsÕ relationship, what is true?

A) Rosita is still too young to understand or to be affected by the conflict between her parents.
B) Rosita can recognize whether Carlos and Angela resolve their conflicts, even if her parents try to mask the conflict with positive affect.
C) Carlos and Angela can protect Rosita by maintaining a positive emotional tone during their conflicts.
D) The more Rosita is exposed to conflicts between Carlos and Angela, the less she will be affected by them.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In sociometric testing, children who are neither liked nor disliked by their peers are labeled as:

A) rejected.
B) controversial.
C) neglected.
D) withdrawn.

Question 5

Secondary appraisal involves:

A) noticing a conflict.
B) noticing a conflict and evaluating whether it represents a threat.
C) trying to understand why a conflict is happening.
D) trying to understand why a conflict is happening and deciding what to do about it.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT true about the development of childrenÕs theories of mind?

A) Developing theories of mind is a prerequisite for communicating with other people.
B) Children generally do not develop theories of mind until they are 6 years old.
C) Children with siblings develop theories of mind more quickly than children without siblings.
D) Sibling conflict is positively associated with childrenÕs ability to adopt another personÕs perspective.

Question 7

Brehnan and Saeth have spent the afternoon on the beach building a fort out of driftwood and pretending they were knights on a mission to rescue a princess (SaethÕs 6-month-old sister). Brehnan and Saeth have been engaged in:

A) shared imaginative play.
B) behavioral reciprocity.
C) hierarchical play.
D) attachment behavior.

Question 8

The textbook describes a study where 2-year-olds played in a room and were exposed either once or twice to research assistants having an argument. A control group of children did not witness the research assistants arguing. The researchers then assessed the childrenÕs aggressive behaviors when they were alone. The main finding of the study was that children ________. The children who heard the research assistants arguing twice were ________ aggressive themselves than the children who heard the research assistants arguing only once.

A) become less reactive the more they are exposed to conflict; less
B) become increasingly reactive the more they are exposed to conflict; more
C) become desensitized to hearing adults arguing; less
D) become desensitized to hearing adults arguing; more

Question 9

Which of the following is a defining feature of friendships?

A) equal status
B) reciprocity
C) friendships are voluntary
D) all of the above

Question 10

Which of the following statements about research on differential parental treatment is accurate?

A) Differential parental treatment is associated with problems between siblings.
B) Differential parental treatment is associated with problems only when it is perceived by all siblings.
C) Very young children donÕt seem to be sensitive to differential parental treatment.
D) Differential parental treatment is associated with problems only when it is perceived as unfair.

Question 11

Primary appraisal involves:

A) noticing a conflict.
B) noticing a conflict and evaluating whether it represents a threat.
C) trying to understand why a conflict is happening.
D) trying to understand why a conflict is happening and deciding what to do about it.

Question 12

ÒSibling rivalry is the result of competition for parental resources.Ó With which theory is this statement most consistent?

A) evolutionary theory
B) theory of mind
C) attachment theory
D) social learning theory

Question 13

Anand witnesses a particularly bad argument between his parents. Among other things, his parents are arguing about whether his mother was too harsh in her punishment of Anand when he would not share a cookie with his sister. Anand thinks to himself, ÒItÕs my fault my parents are fighting! If I had been better behaved, my parents would be happy.Ó AnandÕs thoughts are best described as an example of:

A) primary appraisal.
B) secondary appraisal.
C) self-blame.
D) sensitization.

Question 14

When elementary schoolchildren are asked to describe the different relationships in their lives, they describe the most conflict in their relationships with:

A) parents.
B) siblings.
C) friends.
D) teachers.

Question 15

Primary appraisal is to ________ as secondary appraisal is to ________.

A) evaluation and understanding; awareness and action
B) understanding and action; awareness and evaluation
C) awareness and evaluation; understanding and action
D) awareness and understanding; evaluation and action

Question 16

A(n) ________ is often the developing childÕs first relationship with someone who is not a relative or caregiver.

A) friendship
B) sibling relationship
C) intimate relationship
D) attachment

Question 17

Children exposed to discord between their parents are more likely than children whose parents have a more harmonious relationship to experience:

A) depression.
B) behavioral problems in school.
C) difficulties in their relationships with peers.
D) all of the above.

Question 18

Eight-year-old Bianca is playing in her room when she hears her parentsÕ raised voices. She stops playing, creeps to her door, and listens carefully. When she hears that her parents are arguing about whether the plot of the movie they watched last night makes sense, she shrugs her shoulders and goes back to playing. Bianca has just engaged in:

A) primary appraisal.
B) secondary appraisal.
C) desensitization.
D) sensitization.

Question 19

Habituation is to ________ as reactivity is to ________.

A) sensitization; desensitization
B) primary appraisal; secondary appraisal
C) desensitization; sensitization
D) secondary appraisal; primary appraisal

Question 20

Research on how adultsÕ relationships affect children shows that:

A) children cannot appreciate the complexity of interactions between adults.
B) young children have trouble recognizing whether a conflict has been resolved successfully, but older children do not.
C) the effects of being exposed to parental conflict disappear when the quality of parent-child interactions is taken into account.
D) childrenÕs models of intimacy develop through observing adult relationships around them.

Question 21

As an infant, Clarisse participated in a study where she was observed interacting with her mother. Researchers coded her motherÕs behavior during these interactions as involved and supportive. Now 16 years old, Clarisse has a boyfriend named Iain. Based on research about adolescentsÕ intimate relationships discussed in the text, what would you expect about ClarisseÕs relationship with Iain?

A) Clarisse is likely to have a supportive and satisfying relationship with Iain.
B) If Iain breaks up with her, Clarisse will experience her first onset of major depression.
C) Clarisse is likely to experience aggression in her relationship with Iain.
D) If Iain isnÕt as supportive as her mother used to be, Clarisse will be unhappy in her relationship.

Question 22

Which of the following statements about adolescentsÕ beliefs about intimate relationships is FALSE?

A) On surveys, adolescents report having relatively conservative views about sex, with the majority believing that sex should only occur within a serious romantic relationship.
B) Adolescents believe that everyone should have an intimate relationship, and boys generally express the same desires for relationships as do girls.
C) Culture plays a powerful role in shaping beliefs about and experiences in intimate relationships.
D) There appears to be more variability in adolescentsÕ ideas about intimate relationships than in their desire for them.

Question 23

Which of the following statements about cohabitation is FALSE?

A) Most couples who live together do not go on to marry.
B) Most couples who cohabit consider living together a substitute for marriage.
C) More than half of all married couples in the United States lived together before marriage.
D) Couples who cohabit before marriage are at higher risk for divorce than those who do not.

Question 24

The transition to parenthood is associated with:

A) a return to a more egalitarian lifestyle for most couples.
B) a decline in marital satisfaction similar to the decline experienced by childless couples.
C) a decline in marital satisfaction that is steeper than the decline experienced by childless couples.
D) an increased risk for divorce.

Question 25

According to the World Health Organization, adolescence is the period between the ages of:

A) 9 and 18.
B) 10 and 19.
C) 13 and 19.
D) 13 and 24.

Question 26

Cohabitation refers to:

A) two unrelated people sharing a household.
B) two unmarried people sharing a household.
C) two unmarried partners sharing a household.
D) multiple couples sharing a household.

Question 27

Couples who cohabit before marriage report lower marital satisfaction and a higher risk of divorce than those who get married without living together first. This is partly due to a:

A) cohabitation effect: couples who live together before getting married have more barriers to ending the relationship, so some couples end up marrying who otherwise would have broken up.
B) time effect: couples who live together before getting married have more problems communicating.
C) selection effect: couples who live together before getting married tend to be less traditional and more accepting of divorce.
D) momentum effect: couples who live together first have been together longer before marriage so they are further along on the dissatisfaction Òslide.Ó

Question 28

The Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children has followed 267 first-time mothers and their babies from 1975 to the present. The child participants have been observed interacting with their mothers, childhood friends, and boyfriends or girlfriends. What conclusion can we draw from this research?

A) There is considerable continuity in individualsÕ relationships from infancy through childhood and into adolescence.
B) Adolescence is a period of change, when existing models of relationships can be reshaped by new experiences.
C) There is continuity and change in the way young people approach their closest relationships through adolescence.
D) Adolescents in committed intimate relationships are more likely to use contraceptives.

Question 29

Compared to noncohabiting couples, couples who cohabit:

A) tend to be less traditional.
B) experience higher relationship quality.
C) are less likely to get divorced when they later marry.
D) may be partly responsible for the high divorce rate in Western countries.

Question 30

When asked to describe what qualities he would value in an intimate partner, Jamil mentions support and companionship. Jamil is most likely ________ years old.

A) 13
B) 15
C) 17
D) 19

Question 31

ShawnÕs class at school recently completed sociometric testing. Shawn was rated as being liked by many of his classmates because of his high social skills but was also rated as being not liked by many of his classmates because of his aggressive behavior. Shawn was categorized as:

A) rejected.
B) controversial.
C) neglected.
D) withdrawn.

Question 32

AdolescentsÕ intimate relationships differ from adultsÕ intimate relationships. In contrast to adultsÕ intimate relationships, adolescentsÕ intimate relationships are:

A) more emotionally intense.
B) exclusively about emotional connection.
C) more fragile.
D) all of the above.

Question 33

With respect to childrenÕs friendships:

A) longitudinal research shows that children classified as popular derive only benefits from their popularity.
B) hostility between childhood friends predicts hostile romantic relationships in young adulthood, but this effect disappears when parent-child hostility is controlled.
C) without shared imaginative play, children are unlikely to develop empathy.
D) a strong bond with a friend can make up for a weak sibling relationship, but strong sibling relationships cannot make up for the lack of a good friend.

Question 34

MadisonÕs class at school recently completed sociometric testing. Madison was rarely mentioned by her classmates as being liked or as being not liked. Madison was categorized as:

A) rejected.
B) controversial.
C) neglected.
D) withdrawn.

Question 35

Alexandre and Dale have been married 8 years and, like other married couples, report that the positive elements of their relationship have declined over time. What would psychologists Arthur and Elaine Aron suggest that Alexandre and Dale do to boost their relationship?

A) bake chocolate chip cookies together because they will associate the wonderful aroma with each other
B) engage in more intimacy-promoting behaviors
C) find novel and exciting activities to do together
D) all of the above

Question 36

How is gender related to childrenÕs friendships?

A) When situational context is taken into account, gender differences in social behavior are reduced, especially in young children.
B) Behavioral differences between boys and girls are strongest when boys and girls are in each otherÕs presence and diminish little when boys and girls are observed alone.
C) There is little overlap in the types of friendship behaviors reported by both genders.
D) Only about 10 percent of childrenÕs friendships are with opposite-sex friends.

Question 37

KaboreÕs class at school recently completed sociometric testing. Kabore was rated as being liked by few of his classmates and was rated as being not liked by most of his classmates because of his aggressive behavior. Kabore was categorized as:

A) rejected.
B) controversial.
C) neglected.
D) withdrawn.

Question 38

Which of the following best characterizes change in intimate relationships during adulthood?

A) Negativity in marriage increases over time.
B) Frequency of sexual intercourse declines over time.
C) Positivity in marriage decreases over time.
D) All of the above statements are true.

Question 39

MilenaÕs class at school recently completed sociometric testing. Milena was rated as being liked by many of her classmates because of her high social skills and was rated as being not liked by very few of her classmates. Milena was categorized as:

A) friendly.
B) conventional.
C) outgoing.
D) popular.

Question 40

Which of the following accurately describes how adolescents think about intimate relationships?

A) Children as young as 9 years old can clearly distinguish between intimate relationships and cross-sex friendships.
B) AdolescentsÕ ability to recognize different types of close relationships does not vary much by age.
C) AdolescentsÕ understanding of intimacy grows more sophisticated as they get older.
D) All of the above are accurate statements.

Question 41

Amato and Previti (2003) found that divorced individuals described a number of reasons their marriages ended. What was NOT one of those reasons?

A) infidelity
B) boredom
C) lack of communication
D) growing apart

Question 42

What percentage of first marriages in the United States is expected to end in divorce or permanent separation?

A) 35 percent
B) 45 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 55 percent

Question 43

Which of the following statements about losing a spouse or partner in later life is FALSE?

A) For couples who have spent most of their lives together, the death of one partner does predict an increased risk that the other partner will die also in the next few months.
B) Adjusting to the loss is easier when the relationship was satisfying than when the relationship was unsatisfying.
C) Losing a partner in later life is a significant risk for depression.
D) Adjusting to the loss is easier when the death was expected compared to when the death came suddenly.

Question 44

What does research show about variability in the relationships of older adults?

A) Rates of marriage differ between men and women; women are more likely to remarry after losing a spouse through death or divorce.
B) People who have spent more time married tend to be healthier and wealthier than those who have spent less time married.
C) Older adults continue to seek intimacy, and those who find a new romantic partner are more likely to cohabit than to marry.
D) All of the above statements are true.

Question 45

6.You are conducting research on the nature of childrenÕs friendships and decide to use sociometric testing. Describe what you will do, and explain how you will categorize children based on this technique.

Question 46

Tara and Aidan recently divorced after 9 years of marriage. What reason are they most likely to give for the divorce?

A) infidelity
B) boredom
C) lack of communication
D) growing apart

Question 47

What does research show about sexuality in older adults?

A) Sexual desire fades to insignificance in the later years of life.
B) The proportion of sexually active adults declines with age.
C) Women are less likely to be sexually active than men, even when comparing only those men and women who remain in intimate relationships.
D) The majority of older men and women who are sexually active report having sex three or four times a month.

Question 48

3.Susan is studying childrenÕs development in college and is eager to try out with her own children, Mac and Ceilidh, what she is learning. Two-and-a half-year-old Mac listens intently as his mother tells a story about Joe and Sam. Joe has a toy truck, which he puts into a box and leaves the room. While he is gone, Sam takes the truck out of JoeÕs box and puts it into his own pail. Susan asks Mac, ÒWhen Joe comes back into the room, where will he look for his truck?Ó Mac replies, ÒIn SamÕs pail.Ó Six-year-old Ceilidh is listening and says, ÒDonÕt be silly! Joe will look for the truck in the box.Ó Explain why MacÕs and CeilidhÕs answers to their motherÕs question differ.

Question 49

7.The size of a childÕs friendship network has what effect on the childÕs later intimate relationships?

Question 50

9.Explain the transition from same-sex friendships during childhood to romantic relationships in adolescence.

Question 51

What does research show about retirement?

A) When partners retire at different times, the time shortly after the first partner retires is associated with decreased conflict and higher satisfaction in the relationship.
B) After a husband retires, the division of labor within married-couple households generally changes.
C) No matter how satisfying their jobs, most people look forward to retirement.
D) Retirement affects different couples differently, with happy couples feeling happier and distressed couples feeling more distress.

Question 52

10.Describe four distinct groups of cohabiting couples.

Question 53

1.You have been asked to take part in a radio program about how parental relationships affect children. One of the other participants claims, ÒWhen parents argue, it doesnÕt matter whether they hide it from their children or not. Kids donÕt understand the complexity of adultsÕ emotions anyway.Ó How do you respond?

Question 54

Although intimate relationships have existed over the past 10,000 years, their meaning and structure have developed and changed over time. What best characterizes the nature of intimate relationships throughout most of human history?

A) Marriage often served to organize property and allegiances.
B) Romantic attraction played a secondary role in peopleÕs experience of relationships.
C) Relationships between adults were closely linked to social institutions.
D) All of the above are true statements.

Question 55

Research supports the idea that older couples become emotional ÒexpertsÓ who are able to choose strategies that promote positive feelings in their relationships, ________ when they are talking about difficult problems. In that situation, older couples approach the discussions ________ younger couples do.

A) except; in much the same way as
B) except; with less positivity than
C) even; in much the same way as
D) even; with more positivity than

Question 56

Socioemotional selectivity theory suggests that older adults:

A) seek out circumstances and relationships that promote positive emotions and actively avoid circumstances and relationships that lead to negative emotions.
B) become less sensitive to their emotional experiences over time.
C) experience physiological responses that are more intense than those of younger people when thinking about emotionally charged times in their lives.
D) become less sensitive to the highs and lows in their relationships.

Question 57

5.Explain how shared imaginative play in childrenÕs friendships is linked to the development of empathy.

Question 58

4.Describe the defining features of friendships.

Question 59

8.You are out to lunch with some friends, and the conversation turns to the topic of sexual activity in adolescence. Your friends bemoan the Òanything goesÓ attitude toward sex that teenagers in high school seem to have these days. Having taken this course, how do you respond?

Question 60

2.Aurelia and Lorenzo have a 7-year-old child named Elianna. They occasionally fight with each other in front of Elianna. What two-step process would Elianna use to make sense of such potentially distressing events?

Question 61

12.Nearly 80 percent of people who have been divorced remarry, generally fairly quickly. Explain why remarriages are significantly more likely to dissolve than are first marriages.

Question 62

14.You are conducting a study comparing communication among older and younger married couples. Milos and Anna are the least satisfied of the older couples participating in your study. Based on socioemotional selectivity theory, how would you expect their discussion of a problem in their relationship to differ from the discussions of younger couples in your study?

Question 63

11.You attend your partnerÕs family reunion, where you meet a branch of the family for the first time. Zuzana and Eric have been living together 29 years (they never married) and have two children, ages 28 and 23. Their older daughter, Rosalind, and her fiancŽ recently moved in together and plan to get married in the next couple of years. Their younger daughter, Fiamma, moved in with her boyfriend last weekÑthey thought it was silly to pay rent in two places when they spend most of their time together anyway. In terms of the groups of cohabiting couples described in your textbook, what types are Zuzana and Eric, Rosalind and her fiancŽ, and Fiamma and her boyfriend?

Question 64

15.Describe three ways in which the early twenty-first century differs from the late nineteenth century regarding intimate relationships.

Question 65

13.Explain why researchers did not study later-life intimate relationships until recently.