Question 1

Sonya's parents have been encouraging her to walk for several months by standing her up and holding her hands.Paul's parents have let him achieve motor milestones on his own,without encouraging or helping him.The fact that Sonya and Paul both started walking independently at about the same age can be best explained by

Accepted Answer

The concept of maturation refers to the natural growth or development of abilities and capacities as a part of growing up, which occurs in a relatively fixed sequence through the lifespan. The fact that Sonya and Paul both started walking independently at about the same age, despite different approaches from their parents, illustrates that walking is a milestone that is largely determined by the child's innate maturation process rather than external encouragement or training.

Question 2

Dr.Keshari examined newborn baby Arly for the grasping reflex during his first checkup.What behavior was Dr.Keshari looking for?

Accepted Answer

The grasping reflex in newborns is demonstrated when the baby automatically curls their fingers around an object or a finger placed in their palm. This is a primitive reflex that is present at birth and typically fades around 5 to 6 months of age.

Question 3

Kara explains to her roommate why Harry Harlow's experiments were so important to explaining an infant's socio-emotional development.Kara correctly says that Harlow's results demonstrate that

Accepted Answer

Harry Harlow's experiments with rhesus monkeys demonstrated that the need for comfort and tactile stimulation is stronger than the need for food, especially in stressful situations. His work showed that infant monkeys preferred to cling to a soft, comforting "mother" surrogate rather than a wire one that provided food, highlighting the importance of comforting touch in socio-emotional development.

Question 4

Ralph's infant daughter was born with a preventable birth defect because she was exposed to a teratogen.Ralph's daughter may have all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Teratogens are substances that can cause birth defects, and they typically do not lead to high birth weight. Instead, they are more likely to cause issues such as intellectual disabilities, fetal alcohol syndrome, and blindness.

Question 5

Your friend Phia is one month pregnant.You tell her to eliminate any exposure to teratogens right now,because they could harm the embryo.When she asks what they could do to the embryo,you say that,right now,the teratogens could cause problems with

Accepted Answer

During the first month of pregnancy, the embryo is in a critical period of development where the structure of vital organs and systems, including the spine and brain, are being formed. Exposure to teratogens during this time can lead to significant structural abnormalities in these areas.

Question 6

Your best friend had a baby two weeks ago.She is excited because the baby smiled at birth,and she believes that the smiling indicated attachment.You know the truth is that

Accepted Answer

Babies typically do not show social smiles until about four to six weeks of age. Smiles seen at birth or in the first few weeks are usually not due to social interaction or attachment but can be reflexive or due to other reasons.

Question 7

Sharon notices that her baby grasps her finger every time she places it in her infant's palm.Which of the following is an explanation for why her baby shows this reflex?

Accepted Answer

This reflex, known as the palmar grasp reflex, is considered a primitive reflex that is present at birth. It is thought to have survival value, as it enables infants to grasp onto things, which could have helped infants cling to their mothers in our evolutionary past.

Question 8

Rick and Stacy want to get a stimulating mobile for their newborn daughter's crib.If they want the baby to pay attention to the mobile,which of the following sounds should they record to play in the mobile?

Accepted Answer

Newborns are more likely to pay attention to their mother's voice, as they are familiar with it from the womb.

Question 9

Marcia's baby is just starting to eat solid food,and like all babies,he prefers certain tastes.Which of the following mashed foods is the baby most likely to want to eat?

Accepted Answer

Babies generally prefer sweet tastes, and among the options given, bananas are the sweetest. This makes them more likely to be preferred by a baby starting to eat solid foods.

Question 10

Helen keeps her new baby boy well fed and clean.However,she does not want to spoil him,so she does not hold him or touch him too much.After reading about Harry Harlow's research,Helen now knows that

Accepted Answer

Harry Harlow's research with monkeys demonstrated the importance of physical comfort, touch, and emotional care in the development of healthy attachment behaviors. His studies showed that infants need to be touched and held to develop normally, highlighting the critical role of comforting contact in psychological development.

Question 11

Elizabeth is going to decorate her newborn's room and wants the baby to be able to see the decorations.Which of the following should she use to decorate?

Accepted Answer

Newborns can see high-contrast patterns best, such as black-and-white checked fabric, because their vision is not fully developed to see colors and detailed patterns clearly.

Question 12

Immediately after birth,Giada's son Maxwell was able to display the rooting reflex.Which of the following behaviors did Giada observe Maxwell doing?

Accepted Answer

The rooting reflex involves a newborn turning their head toward a touch on the corner of their mouth, searching for food.

Question 13

Nicholas is an infant researcher and wants to use the strange-situation test in his work.Nicholas is most likely interested in seeing

Accepted Answer

The strange-situation test, developed by Mary Ainsworth, is a procedure designed to observe attachment relationships between a caregiver and child, focusing on the child's responses to separation and reunion with their caregiver. This makes option A the correct answer.

Question 14

John and Danielle want to get a stimulating mobile for their newborn son's crib.If they want him to see the objects,what should they attach to the strings?

Accepted Answer

Newborns have limited vision and are best able to see high-contrast patterns, such as black-and-white shapes. These stimulate visual development and are more likely to catch the baby's attention compared to pastel colors, nature pictures, or brightly colored objects, which may not provide enough contrast for a newborn's developing sight.

Question 15

Brian has three children with very different personality traits.Even with such different personality traits,Brian sees strong maturation effects.Which of the following has Brian most likely observed?

Accepted Answer

Maturation refers to the process of development in which an individual matures or reaches full functionality. Brian observing all three children learning to walk at about 12 months of age is a classic example of maturation, as walking is a developmental milestone that children typically reach around this age, regardless of their differing personality traits.

Question 16

Which of the following types of infants seem to show little interest for their caregivers when they leave or return and are somewhat willing to explore an unfamiliar environment?

Accepted Answer

Avoidantly attached infants tend to show little emotional response when their caregiver leaves or returns, indicating a tendency to avoid seeking comfort from them. They are also more willing to explore an unfamiliar environment, often because they have learned to be more self-dependent due to their caregivers' consistent unresponsiveness to their needs.

Question 17

Which style of attachment shown by 60-65 percent of infants indicates that they are readily comforted by the caregiver during times of distress and are comfortable playing in an unfamiliar environment as long as the caregiver is present?

Accepted Answer

Secure attachment is characterized by infants showing distress when their caregiver leaves but are quickly comforted upon their return, indicating trust and comfort in their caregiver's presence. This attachment style allows them to feel safe exploring their environment.

Question 18

While he is in the waiting room at the doctor's office,Arthur tries to classify infants' attachment based on their behavior.He is certain that the baby girl sitting across from him is securely attached because she

Accepted Answer

Securely attached infants feel comfortable exploring their environment as long as their caregiver is present, which indicates they trust the caregiver to be a secure base for exploration.

Question 19

Monique was born with an intellectual disability.Which of the following most likely caused this outcome?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Monique was born with an intellectual disability.Which...

Question 20

Your aunt,who has several bad habits,recently found out she is pregnant.What is the best advice you can give her?

Accepted Answer

Quitting drinking and smoking immediately is the best advice because both activities can harm the developing fetus, leading to complications such as low birth weight, developmental issues, and increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

Quiz 4: Development Across the Life Span