Deck 1: Understanding Human Development

Question 1

Suppose you collect data about child abuse and find that mothers who have their first child before age 18 are more likely to be abusive than mothers who are older. However, you also note that young mothers are also more likely to be poor and have less access to prenatal care. Therefore, you cannot draw conclusions about maternal age and child abuse. The reason you cannot draw this conclusion is because your study involved:

A) a sequential-cohort design
B) a nonrandom sample
C) a nonrepresentative sample
D) confounding

Answer 1

D

Question 2

According to Freud, the part of the human mind that is concerned with following the rules of society and that may experience feelings of guilt when one violates social norms is called the:

A) id
B) ego
C) superego
D) libido

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true regarding the corporal punishment of children?

A) About 80% of parents spank their children at least occasionally.
B) The use of corporal punishment has been banned in all public schools in the U.S., although private schools are allowed to determine their own rules for punishment
C) Except for the U.S., no other industrialized countries have banned corporal punishment in the public schools.
D) All of the three statements provided as answers in this question are true.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Two-year-old Katherine sees a goat for the first time, and calls it a cow because it has four legs and horns. According to Piaget, Katherine's response is best considered an example of:

A) fixation
B) re-classification
C) accommodation
D) assimilation

Question 5

The sequential-cohort design combines the longitudinal and cross-sectional designs by:

A) testing several age groups at several different times
B) testing a single individual in a number of situations
C) matching people of different ages or cohorts on a number of relevant factors
D) testing a different cohort each year of the sequence
Applied questions:

Question 6

Lev Vygotsky's views on human development can be best categorized as belonging to which of the following theoretical perspectives?

A) biological
B) evolutionary
C) psychodynamic
D) social-cognitive

Question 7

Which of the following statements comes closest to describing the principle central to Darwin's idea of natural selection?

A) Individuals within a species vary, and those with the best adapted characteristics survive to reproduce, thereby passing their genes to future generations.
B) Nature selects the particular individuals that have the best characteristics and these individuals are allowed to interbreed with each other, thereby creating the strongest offspring.
C) People prefer to mate with the most attractive members of the opposite sex, selecting their mates according to natural factors related to physical attractiveness.
D) Humans evolved from the apes.

Question 8

A researcher studies a group of 1-year-olds, 4-year-olds, and 7-year-olds for one day, and compares the different age groups in terms of their independence. What research design is the researcher using?

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

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the difference in Freud's and Erikson's views about human development?

A) Erikson emphasized the role of unconscious processes; Freud emphasized conscious processes.
B) Erikson emphasized the role of conditioning and social learning; Freud emphasized unconscious processes.
C) Erikson emphasized the role of conscious processes; Freud emphasized unconscious processes.
D) None of the answers are correct because Freud and Erikson emphasized very similar processes as guiding human development.

Question 10

Which research design tests groups of subjects of different ages, all at the same time?

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

Question 11

Which of the following is the best example of what is meant by the term maturation?

A) a first-grader who is learning to do arithmetic problems
B) an infant who babbles "ga-ga-ga-ga" when she is content
C) a college student who is working hard to learn to speak Spanish
D) a mother who teaches her 2-year-old to control his temper by ignoring him when he has a tantrum

Question 12

If you were to explain a particular behavior as being learned according to Vygotsky's social-cognitive learning theory, you would most likely emphasize which of the following in your explanation of that behavior?

A) how children learn from other people
B) how reinforcement shapes behavior
C) how punishment shapes behavior
D) how toilet training affects later personality development

Question 13

Suppose that Peggy once became ill after eating pizza. Now anytime that she smells pizza she starts to feel queasy. Peggy's situation has most likely developed as the result of:

A) adaptation
B) assimilation
C) classical conditioning
D) operant conditioning

Question 14

A researcher obtains individuals' permission before randomly assigning them to the treatment or the control group. She is complying with the basic ethical principle regarding:

A) freedom from harm
B) informed consent
C) use of deception
D) maintenance of privacy
Applied Questions:

Question 15

Which of the following is of highest value in a collectivist culture?

A) interdependence
B) competition
C) individuality
D) personal achievement

Question 16

A researcher investigating the effect of peer tutoring on reading skills studies two groups of children in remedial reading classes. One group receives peer tutoring three times a week for three months, the other group does not. At the end of the three months, the two groups are tested in reading skills. What is the dependent variable in this experiment?

A) peer tutoring versus no tutoring
B) reading skills level at the beginning of the experiment
C) reading skills level at the end of the experiment
D) the number of children in each group

Question 17

In Dr. Arnold's developmental psychology class, she chooses to organize the course chronologically. This means that:

A) the easiest concepts are presented first, followed by harder concepts
B) students are given as much time as they need to master the basic concepts covered in the course
C) the course begins with prenatal development, then proceeds to cover each age-related developmental period as it unfolds through the lifespan
D) she intends to cover the major topics in development one at a time, for example, brain development, cognitive development, social development, and so forth

Question 18

A "discrete period of the lifespan during which predictable changes occur" is referred to as a:

A) developmental stage
B) transitional phase
C) developmental epoch
D) critical period

Question 19

In contrast to earlier previous times, by the end of the Middle Ages, attitudes about children in Western societies had:

A) changed for the worse - children were viewed primarily as burdens on the family
B) changed for the better - children came to be viewed as experiencing a period of innocence
C) changed for the worse - children were viewed as miniature adults with adult responsibilities
D) changed for the better - children's opinions were given much broader responsibilities and had greater obligations for helping the family

Question 20

According to the text, the decade of the 1990s was labeled by President George H. W. Bush as "the decade of ____________."

A) the genome
B) evolution
C) the brain
D) natural selection

Question 21

Which of the following statements best captures the sense of the term interaction, as it is used in the context of a course focusing on human lifespan development?

A) Genes determine most of the important physical characteristics about an individual.
B) The environment determines to a large degree how children are treated by their parents and genetic forces are seldom involved.
C) Genetic and environmental forces both contribute to how development unfolds and their influences are intertwined.
D) Genetic and environmental forces are both important forces that affect human development.

Question 22

When developmental researchers consider periods of development arranged according to age, they are taking which type of approach?

A) traditional
B) scientific
C) chronological
D) transitional

Question 23

In Dr. Arnold's developmental psychology class, she chooses to organize the course chronologically. This means that:

A) the easiest concepts are presented first, followed by harder concepts
B) students are given as much time as they need to master the basic concepts covered in the course
C) the course begins with prenatal development, then proceeds to cover each age-related developmental period as it unfolds through the lifespan
D) she intends to cover the major topics in development one at a time, for example, brain development, cognitive development, social development, and so forth

Question 24

Which of the following processes is most clearly the result of primarily environmental forces acting on the person?

A) learning
B) growth
C) maturation
D) aging

Question 25

Which of the following is the best example of what is meant by the term maturation?

A) a first-grader who is learning to do arithmetic problems
B) an infant who babbles "ga-ga-ga-ga" when she is content
C) a college student who is working hard to learn to speak Spanish
D) a mother who teachers her 2-year-old to control his temper by ignoring him when he has a tantrum

Question 26

The period of development referred to as infancy refers to which of the following?

A) conception to 12 months
B) birth to 12 months
C) birth to 24 months
D) 12 to 24 months

Question 27

A "discrete period of the lifespan during which predictable changes occur" is referred to as a:

A) developmental stage
B) transitional phase
C) developmental epoch
D) critical period

Question 28

If Jason states that "human development is the result of genetic instructions that influence development in combination with the many environmental experiences an individual has throughout the lifespan," you should conclude that his answer emphasizes the role of which of the following ideas?

A) interaction
B) sociocultural
C) evolution
D) maturation

Question 29

In contrast to earlier times, by the end of the Middle Ages, attitudes about children in Western societies had:

A) changed for the worse - children were viewed primarily as burdens on the family
B) changed for the better - children came to be viewed as experiencing a period of innocence
C) changed for the worse - children were viewed as miniature adults with adult responsibilities
D) changed for the better - children's opinions were given much broader responsibilities and had greater obligations for helping the family

Question 30

The development of breasts and body hair is best considered to be an example of:

A) aging
B) growth
C) maturation
D) readiness

Question 31

According to the text, about what percent of U. S. parents spank their children, at least occasionally:

A) 2-3%
B) 10%
C) 40%
D) 80%

Question 32

Which of the following is the best example of maturation?

A) learning algebra in high school
B) learning to walk in infancy
C) learning to ride a bicycle in middle childhood
D) learning to make a cake in early adulthood

Question 33

A person experiences a traumatic event during childhood. A developmental psychologist would view the traumatic event as an example of which of the following?

A) biological factor
B) random factor
C) representative factor
D) environmental factor

Question 34

If Martha believes that childhood should be considered to be "a time of innocence, during which children should have few responsibilities or chores," she would be describing the view of childhood that was common:

A) in ancient Greece
B) in ancient Rome
C) in modern, industrialized societies like the United States today
C) throughout history in Western societies since about 3,000 B. C.

Question 35

Which of the following refers to the basic developmental process in the individual that changes as a result of experience or practice?

A) maturation
B) growth
C) learning
D) aging

Question 36

Which of the following statements is true regarding the corporal punishment of children?

A) About 80% of parents spank their children at least occasionally.
B) The use of corporal punishment has been banned in all public schools in the U.S., although private schools are allowed to determine their own rules for punishment
C) Except for the U.S., no other industrialized countries have banned corporal punishment in the public schools.
D) All of the three statements provided as answers in this question are true.

Question 37

Which of the following is generally NOT part of the sociocultural context for a given individual?

A) genes
B) culture
C) family
D) peers

Question 38

In the United States today, about what percentage of the states have enacted laws that ban the use of corporal punishment in public schools?

A) 98%
B) 78%
C) 62%
D) 32%

Question 39

Generalizing from the text, you would expect that culture would have the greatest impact on development during which of the following developmental periods?

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

Question 40

A guiding principle of understanding human development is that it is best studied using the methods of:

A) philosophy
B) introspection
C) culture
D) science

Question 41

The term used to describe the entire arrangement of all human genes is:

A) the human genome
B) the chromosome complex
C) the natural selection of genetics
D) the DNA code

Question 42

Gloria plans to spend a semester abroad in Thailand. She looks forward to learning about the culture by reading books, studying about the culture and religions, and interviewing people she meets. Her form of learning is best considered to be an example of:

A) facilitation
B) socialization
C) natural selection
D) interpretation

Question 43

Individuals from collectivist cultures tend to emphasize ______; individuals from individualist cultures tend to emphasize _______.

A) competition; cooperation
B) individuals; groups
C) money; success
D) cooperation; competition

Question 44

Cultures in which individuals are encouraged to put time and energy into projects that will benefit only themselves are best described as:

A) primitive
B) collectivistic
C) individualistic
D) idealistic

Question 45

According to the text, the decade of the 1990s was labeled by President George H. W. Bush as "the decade of ____________."

A) the genome
B) evolution
C) the brain
D) natural selection

Question 46

Andre's teacher organizes activities that are competitive, so that students who are high achievers get most of the rewards. Andre's classroom would be considered to be an example of the philosophy advanced in:

A) classrooms that ban corporal punishment
B) collectivist societies
C) classrooms with female teachers
D) individualistic societies

Question 47

The sociocultural domain is comprised of:

A) ethnocentrism and socialization
B) enculturation and assimilation
C) evolution and accommodation
D) socialization and enculturation

Question 48

This field of study attempts to understand how brain function is related to human development:

A) sociology
B) behaviorism
C) developmental neuroscience
D) evolutionary psychology

Question 49

Ledder conducts research on intelligence and problem-solving skills of fourth-grade children. His research area best fits into which of the following domains of learning?

A) the sociocultural domain
B) the physical domain
C) the cognitive domain
D) the personality domain

Question 50

Manfred has spent a lifetime developing a detailed explanation for why some children have difficulty learning arithmetic. She has written a book on this topic, which presents her ideas, including a set of assumptions about mathematical thinking, a set of predictions about which children will experience the most difficulty, and an overarching explanation for the entire phenomenon. Using the terms of science, we would conclude that Dr. Manfred's work represents what would typically be called a(n):

A) hypothesis
B) theory
C) evolution
D) maturational determination

Question 51

The results of scientific investigation are referred to as:

A) platforms
B) hypotheses
C) data
D) scientific text

Question 52

Walton is interested specifically in how the brain changes during the period of infancy and early childhood. As such, his interest falls most clearly into which of the following domains of human development?

A) the sociocultural domain
B) the physical domain
C) the cognitive domain
D) the personality domain

Question 53

Cultures in which individuals are encouraged to put time and energy into projects that will help large groups of people in their own society are best described as:

A) primitive
B) collectivistic
C) individualistic
D) idealistic

Question 54

Which of the following is the best example of a country that embraces a collectivist culture?

A) the U.S.
B) Japan
C) England
D) Australia

Question 55

"An organized, coherent set of ideas that helps us to understand, to explain, and to make predictions" is known as a:

A) scientific law
B) domain
C) theory
D) phenomenon

Question 56

A researcher who is most interested in understanding how children develop reasoning and problem-solving skills would be described as having a focus on the:

A) physical domain
B) sociocultural domain
C) personality domain
D) cognitive domain

Question 57

Muchmore studies how shy children differ from bold children in their adjustment to kindergarten by investigating how differences in their basic dispositions and temperament shape their later behavior. Her research interest falls most clearly into which of the following domains of human development?

A) the sociocultural domain
B) the physical domain
C) the cognitive domain
D) the personality domain

Question 58

Which of the following is of highest value in a collectivist culture?

A) interdependence
B) competition
C) individuality
D) personal achievement

Question 59

Although no one has ever taught Kenna how to behave in church, when she goes there she seems to understand that it is a place to be quiet, to sit calmly, and to do what other people do. Kenna's church behavior is best thought of as developing through:

A) maturation
B) enculturation
C) socialization
D) individualist cultural immersion

Question 60

Gloria plans to spend a semester abroad in Thailand. She looks forward to learning about the culture by living with a local family. She does not plan to attend any formal classes. Her knowledge of the culture will be gained primarily through which of the following?

A) scheme formation
B) natural selection
C) enculturation
D) accommodation

Question 61

Which of the following best describes the difference in Freud's and Erikson's views about human development?

A) Erikson emphasized the role of unconscious processes; Freud emphasized conscious processes.
B) Erikson emphasized the role of conditioning and social learning; Freud emphasized unconscious processes.
C) Erikson emphasized the role of conscious processes; Freud emphasized unconscious processes.
D) None of the answers are correct because Freud and Erikson emphasized very similar processes as guiding human development.

Question 62

According to Freud, children at this stage of development repress sexual interests and instead focus on developing cognitive and interpersonal skills:

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

Question 63

Sam was going to steal candy from a store but feelings of guilt kept him from doing so. According to Freud, Sam's internalized sense of right and wrong and his feelings of guilt comes from his:

A) id
B) ego
C) superego
D) psychic censor

Question 64

Which of the following theorists placed the greatest emphasis on developmental events that occur early in life, especially during the first five years?

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

Question 65

Freud viewed this part of the mind as the mediator, resolving conflicts between one's impulses and one's ideas about right and wrong.

A) id
B) ego
C) superego
D) mediating region

Question 66

The main ideas that define the evolutionary perspective can be traced most directly to the writings of which of the following people?

A) Charles Darwin
B) Lev Vygotsky c Carl Rogers
D) Urie Bronfenbrenner

Question 67

Freud viewed this part of the mind as involving a person's impulsive tendencies

A) id
B) ego
C) superego
D) pleasure center

Question 68

Emily is 2 years old. In which of Freud's psychosexual stages of development is she most likely immersed?

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

Question 69

Whenever Judy gets nervous, she starts biting her nails. A Freudian psychologist would most likely view Judy's nail biting as an example of:

A) superego stress
B) fixation
C) psychosexual development
D) psychodynamic anxiety

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT a term typically used to describe one of the stages in Freud's psychosexual theory?

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

Question 71

Which of the following statements comes closest to describing the principle central to Darwin's idea of natural selection?

A) Individuals within a species vary, and those with the best adapted characteristics survive to reproduce, thereby passing their genes to future generations.
B) Nature selects the particular individuals that have the best characteristics and these individuals are allowed to interbreed with each other, thereby creating the strongest offspring.
C) People prefer to mate with the most attractive members of the opposite sex, selecting their mates according to natural factors related to physical attractiveness.
D) Humans evolved from the apes.

Question 72

Darwin's idea of "survival of the fittest" is also referred to as the theory of:

A) natural selection
B) social learning
C) social success
D) biological change

Question 73

In order to explain how human ancestors moved from living in trees to walking upright, Mary talks about "the survival of the fittest." Another term of this same idea is:

A) generational drift
B) natural selection
C) neuroscience
D) the origin of species

Question 74

During the phallic stage

A) anus
B) mouth
C) genitals
D) hands

Question 75

According to Freud, the part of the human mind that is concerned with following the rules of society and that may experience feelings of guilt when one violates social norms is called the:

A) id
B) ego
C) superego
D) libido

Question 76

What is the correct developmental sequence of Sigmund Freud's psychosexual stages?

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

Question 77

Freud's genital stage extends from:

A) birth to age 18 months
B) age 3 to 6 years
C) age 6 years to adolescence
D) adolescence through adulthood

Question 78

The research method used most frequently by Sigmund Freud was:

A) the experiment
B) sequential-cohort study
C) cross-sectional study
D) case study

Question 79

Freud's genital stage begins during:

A) infancy
B) childhood
C) adolescence
D) adulthood

Question 80

A high school student who sucks his or her thumb when stressed is an example of:

A) Piaget's notion of accommodation
B) Bandura's notion of social learning
C) Darwin's notion of natural selection
D) Freud's notion of a fixation