Question 1

Several studies have found that girls raised in homes in which the biological father is absent tend to experience puberty earlier than girls raised in homes with intact families.

Accepted Answer

Several studies have indeed found a correlation between father absence and earlier puberty in girls. One possible explanation for this is that the absence of a father figure may lead to greater stress and insecurity for the girl, which can trigger the release of hormones associated with puberty. However, more research is needed to fully understand this relationship.

Question 2

Generally, well-nourished and healthy children begin puberty later than children who have experienced serious health problems or inadequate nutrition.

Accepted Answer

Well-nourished and healthy children typically begin puberty earlier than those who have experienced serious health problems or inadequate nutrition.

Question 3

Early maturation tends to produce a variety of psychological and health advantages for girls.

Accepted Answer

Early maturation in girls has been linked to an increased risk for a variety of psychological and health problems, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse, and cardiovascular disease. Girls who mature early may also experience social difficulties and stigmatization, as they often stand out from their peers. Therefore, early maturation is generally seen as a risk factor, rather than an advantage, for girls.

Question 4

Between the ages of 15 and 20 there is a surge of cortical gray matter production as the adolescent brain reaches full maturity.

Accepted Answer

While there is a surge of cortical gray matter production during adolescence, it is not accurate to say that the brain reaches full maturity between the ages of 15 and 20. The development of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functioning and decision-making, continues into a person's mid-20s or even early 30s.

Question 5

Girls who are very thin or who are involved in physically demanding sports can experience a delay of up to two years in menarche beyond the average age.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Girls who are underweight or participate in intensive physical activity may experience a delay in menarche due to a lower percentage of body fat, which plays a role in the onset of menstruation.

Question 6

According to psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, each stage of the lifespan is marked by a particular conflict that can be resolvedin either a psychologically positive or negative way.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, which posits that each stage is characterized by a particular crisis or challenge that must be resolved in order to develop a healthy sense of self and identity.

Question 7

In the mid-1800s in the United States, the average age of menarche was 17.

Accepted Answer

The average age of menarche in the mid-1800s in the United States was indeed around 17 years old, as historical data suggests that the age of menarche has decreased over time due to factors like improved nutrition and health.

Question 8

By the age of 15, about 50 percent of adolescents in the United States report having had a "special romantic relationship."

Accepted Answer

This statistic comes from a study conducted by the Child Trends Databank in 2018.

Question 9

The brain maturation that takes place during adolescence islargely the result of a sharp increase in the number of newneurons, which continues until early adulthood.

Accepted Answer

The brain maturation during adolescence is largely the result of increased myelination and synaptic pruning, not a sharp increase in the number of new neurons. While some new neurons can still be generated during adolescence, neurogenesis is more prominent during fetal development and early childhood.

Question 10

According to Erik Erikson, intimacy versus isolation is a key psychosocial task that must be resolved during adolescence.

Accepted Answer

Intimacy versus isolation is a key psychosocial task that Erikson believed must be resolved during young adulthood, not adolescence.

Question 11

According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, adolescents can achieve an integrated, stable,and relatively permanent sense of personal identity during a stage called the identity versus role confusion stage.

Accepted Answer

Erik Erikson's theory states that during the identity versus role confusion stage, adolescents can form a strong and coherent sense of self, leading to a stable personal identity.

Question 12

The last areas of the brain to mature are the parietal lobes,which are involved in language, reasoning, and motivation.

Accepted Answer

The statement is false. The parietal lobes are involved in sensory processing and spatial awareness, not language or motivation. The frontal lobes are typically associated with reasoning and executive function.

Question 13

Peer relationships during adolescence tend to reinforce thetraits and goals that parents fostered during childhood.

Accepted Answer

Peer relationships during adolescence often build upon the foundational traits and goals instilled by parents, as adolescents seek out peers with similar values and interests.

Question 14

Stressful family environments can activate some of the same hormones that are involved in activating puberty, leading to earlier maturation in some adolescents.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that stressful family environments, such as conflict or parental absence, can lead to earlier puberty in some adolescents. This is likely due to the activation of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can in turn activate reproductive hormones.

Question 15

Susceptibility to peer influence peaks during early adolescence.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that susceptibility to peer influence is highest during early adolescence, around ages 12-14, and tends to decrease as individuals move into late adolescence and early adulthood.

Question 16

On the average, the human brain doesn't reach full maturity until age 25.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision making, planning, and impulse control, continues to develop until around age 25.

Question 17

Brain-imaging studies have shown that there are three main spurts of brain development, and they occur at roughly six-year intervals, most commonly at ages 8, 14, and 20.

Accepted Answer

Brain development occurs continuously, but significant spurts are often noted in early childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, not strictly at six-year intervals.

Question 18

The beginning of dating coincides more strongly with an adolescent's degree of physical maturation than with cultural and social expectations and norms.

Accepted Answer

Cultural and social expectations and norms often play a significant role in determining when adolescents begin dating, sometimes even more so than physical maturation.

Question 19

Psychologists and neuroscientists have successfully identified the hormonal peaks and surges that are now known to be responsible for the mood swings, impulsiveness, and risk-taking behaviors that are common among adolescents.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Psychologists and neuroscientists have successfully identified the...

Question 20

Menarche is a female's first menstrual period, which occurs during puberty.

Accepted Answer

Menarche is indeed a female's first menstrual period which typically occurs during puberty around the age of 12-13 years old.

Quiz 9: Lifespan Development