Question 1

According to Piaget, the transition from heteronomous to autonomous morality depends on what developmental process?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that the transition from heteronomous to autonomous morality is influenced by both cognitive maturation and social interactions. Cognitive development allows children to understand perspectives other than their own, while social interactions provide the context in which they can apply and refine their understanding of rules and fairness.

Question 2

Which of the following best summarizes the conclusions drawn from recent research regarding sex differences in altruism?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that the likelihood of males or females showing helping behavior varies depending on the situation, suggesting that context plays a significant role in altruistic actions rather than a fixed tendency of one sex to be more altruistic than the other.

Question 3

According to the findings of Whitings's cross-cultural research, what societal characteristics tend to produce children with higher levels of altruistic behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Whiting's cross-cultural research found that societies emphasizing communal, family living tend to produce children with higher levels of altruistic behavior. This is because communal living often involves shared responsibilities and cooperation, which can foster altruistic qualities in children.

Question 4

Which of the following techniques for controlling aggression involves punishing aggressive acts without providing potentially reinforcing attention?

Accepted Answer

Time out is a technique that involves removing an individual from a potentially reinforcing situation following aggressive behavior, thereby not providing attention that could potentially reinforce the aggressive acts. This method does not involve direct attention or interaction with the individual, which distinguishes it from methods like modeling or coaching, empathy training, or incompatible-response techniques that directly engage with the individual to modify behavior.

Question 5

Suppose you are babysitting your friend's child Dionne.Dionne has snuck out of bed and is now watching late-night cartoons, which your friend has said he is not allowed to watch.Based on your knowledge of current research findings, what should you incorporate into your response in order to foster Dionne's ability to resist this same temptation in the future?

Accepted Answer

Explaining why the act is wrong helps Dionne understand the reasoning behind the rule, which can foster internal motivation to resist the temptation in the future. This approach encourages self-regulation and moral development.

Question 6

Which of a child's peers are most often the targets of a habitual bully's aggression?

Accepted Answer

Habitual bullies often target weak, socially isolated children because they perceive them as less likely to defend themselves or retaliate, making them easier targets for bullying behavior.

Question 7

In which country do all children score very high on measures of altruism?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that children in Kenya tend to score higher on measures of altruism compared to children in other countries, possibly due to cultural factors that emphasize community and cooperation.

Question 8

According to the results of Colby and colleagues' 20-year longitudinal study of Kohlberg's original research participants, which level of moral reasoning characterized most of the participants in adulthood?

Accepted Answer

The study by Colby and colleagues found that most adults remained at the conventional level of moral reasoning, which involves conforming to societal norms and expectations.

Question 9

According to Piaget, why might equal-status contact with peers lead to autonomous morality?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that interactions among peers, who are equals, help children understand that rules are not fixed dictates from authority figures but are agreements that can be negotiated and changed. This understanding leads to the development of autonomous morality, where children recognize the flexibility and mutual agreement basis of rules.

Question 10

What is the critical characteristic of a person who commits an act of hostile aggression?

Accepted Answer

Hostile aggression is characterized by the intent to inflict harm for its own sake, rather than as a means to achieve another goal. This distinguishes it from instrumental aggression, where harm is inflicted as a means to an end.

Question 11

Parker is playing on the swings at the playground when Charlotte suddenly pushes him off so she can swing on it.Parker gets up and punches Charlotte.What type of aggression does Parker's behaviour exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Parker's behavior exemplifies hostile aggression, which is motivated by feelings of anger with the intention to cause pain or harm in response to a perceived threat or frustration, in this case, being pushed off the swing by Charlotte.

Question 12

Which of the following strategies is employed by parents whose children show low levels of altruistic behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Providing tangible rewards for sharing or helping is a strategy used to encourage altruistic behavior in children who initially show low levels of such behavior.

Question 13

Which of the following best summarizes the research findings regarding the relationship between formal-operational reasoning and morality?

Accepted Answer

Formal-operational reasoning, as described by Piaget, is considered necessary for postconventional moral reasoning according to Kohlberg's stages of moral development. This level of cognitive ability allows individuals to think abstractly and consider universal ethical principles, which are essential for reaching the postconventional stages. However, it does not guarantee that an individual will progress to the highest stage of moral reasoning, as other factors also play a role.

Question 14

Preschool teachers often believe that they can reduce children's aggression by attempting to "engineer" the environment of their classroom.In general, are these attempts effective?

Accepted Answer

Attempts to engineer the classroom environment by preschool teachers can be effective in reducing the incidence of aggressive acts among children. This approach often involves creating a more structured and engaging environment that can help minimize triggers for aggression.

Question 15

What is the term for a parent-child relationship characterized by shared positive affect?

Accepted Answer

The term "mutually responsive" describes a parent-child relationship characterized by shared positive affect, indicating a reciprocal and emotionally positive interaction between the parent and child.

Question 16

A goal of successful development that is expressed in every culture is that children should acquire the moral rules of that society.In meeting this goal, which of the following is viewed as essential for mature morality?

Accepted Answer

Internalization of moral principles is essential for mature morality because it involves adopting the society's moral values as one's own, leading to behavior that is guided by these principles rather than by external rewards, punishments, or the desire to please others.

Question 17

Based on the data gathered from numerous cross-cultural studies on aggression in males and females, which of the following conclusions has received the most support?

Accepted Answer

Studies consistently show that boys tend to exhibit higher levels of both physical and verbal aggression compared to girls.

Question 18

According to Piaget, at what stage do children judge wrongdoing by considering whether the action was "just an accident" versus "done on purpose"?

Accepted Answer

In Piaget's theory, children in the autonomous morality stage (typically around age 10 and older) begin to understand the intention behind actions and can differentiate between accidents and purposeful wrongdoing.

Question 19

According to research evidence, which of the following techniques is most likely to foster resistance to temptation in the absence of external surveillance?

Accepted Answer

Rationales that explain why committing the forbidden act is wrong are most likely to foster internalization of values and self-regulation, leading to resistance to temptation even when no one is watching. This approach helps individuals understand the moral or ethical reasons behind rules, which can be more effective in guiding behavior than fear of punishment or negative consequences.

Question 20

Suppose you see a child hit another child to take away a ball.What form of aggression have you observed?

Accepted Answer

Proactive aggression is deliberate and goal-oriented, such as hitting another child to take away a ball.

Quiz 15: Moral Development and Aggression