Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Social investment theory proposes that as people enter important adult social roles, such as marriage and parenthood, they become more responsible, reliable, and conscientious. This leads to an increase in maturity and stability in their personality.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Research generally shows that there are no significant differences between only children and children with siblings in terms of leadership, cooperativeness, and extraversion.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of One out of __________ students decrease in...

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Mean-level changes refer to shifts in the average level of a trait or characteristic in a population over time, such as changes in average scores that occur with age. Rank-order consistency refers to the maintenance of an individual's relative position within a group over time, quantum changes and temperament fluctuations are not terms commonly used in developmental psychology.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that self-discipline tends to increase with age, and adults, including those around 65 years old, generally exhibit higher levels of self-discipline compared to adolescents.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Conscientiousness tends to increase over time, showing...

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

The finding that lastborn children tend to be higher in agreeableness compared to their siblings shows a reasonable amount of consistency across research studies. This has been found in several studies, although there may be some variation in the degree of difference between lastborn and other siblings, and there are some exceptions to this trend.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hypersensitive narcissism, a feeling of entitlement and...

Question 9

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.

Accepted Answer

The statement indicates that people generally become lower in neuroticism, while extraversion remains unchanged. However, they become higher in agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness. Therefore, option D, which states that people become higher in agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness, while becoming lower in neuroticism, is the best choice.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Several studies have found that people who begin working in their 20s tend to be higher in conscientiousness, which is a personality trait associated with being reliable, responsible, and organized. This may be because individuals who choose to start working early may value practical experience and personal responsibility over academic pursuit.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Openness to experience typically increases during late adolescence and early adulthood (ages 18 to 22) as individuals explore their identities and the world around them. It tends to decline later in life, from around the ages of 60 to 70, as people become more settled in their ways and perspectives.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Between the teen years and age 40, many people increase in assertiveness. This is often due to gaining more life experience, confidence, and responsibilities that naturally encourage more assertive behavior.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that significant changes in adult personality tend to stabilize by age 30, with most personality traits becoming more consistent and less likely to change significantly after this age.

Question 14

Which developmental period has been proposed between adolescence and adulthood?

Accepted Answer

The developmental period proposed between adolescence and adulthood is known as emerging adulthood. This period typically occurs between the ages of 18-25 and is characterized by exploration and experimentation in various domains such as education, work, and relationships. It is a time of increased independence and self-exploration before committing to adult roles and responsibilities. The other options (senescence, exploratory maturation, and extended adolescence) do not accurately describe this developmental period.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Most studies suggest that self-esteem slightly increases as people age from their 20s to their 60s, which is likely due to increased life experience and accomplishment. However, self-esteem may start to decrease after the age of 60 due to physical and cognitive decline, retirement, and social isolation.

Question 16

What does rank-order consistency involve?

Accepted Answer

Rank-order consistency involves comparing someone to the average person of their own age, assessing how an individual's position or rank within a distribution of scores on a particular trait (e.g., extraversion) compares to others in the same age group over time.

Question 17

Which trait is consistent with the maturation of personality?

Accepted Answer

Higher neuroticism, lower conscientiousness, and lower agreeableness are not consistent with maturation of personality. In contrast, lower neuroticism is a trait that is often associated with greater emotional stability and more positive adjustment, which are indicative of maturation.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

The sentence states that those who had settled into a stable romantic relationship had increased in conscientiousness and decreased in neuroticism. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

According to a meta-analysis conducted by Rohrer, Egloff, and Schmukle (2015), birth order explains only about 4% of the variance in Big Five personality traits. Other factors, such as genetics and environment, have a much greater impact on personality development.

Question 20

Which event represents a quantum change in personality?

Accepted Answer

Emily's decision to get sober represents a significant quantum change in personality as it involves overcoming a long-standing and deeply ingrained pattern of behavior. This decision requires a shift in mindset, values, and priorities, and can have a profound impact on the individual's social and emotional relationships. Conversely, Options A, B, and D involve relatively minor adjustments to behavior or decision-making and do not necessarily entail a fundamental shift in personality.

Quiz 9: Personality Across the Lifespan