Question 1

This person was the first American psychologist to systematically study the role of nature in behavior. He recognized that environmental extremes can alter behavior, but noted that many areas of behavior like motor skills develop in a fixed, stage-like sequence across all kids.

Accepted Answer

Arnold Gesell was the first American psychologist to systematically study the role of nature in behavior, emphasizing the biological maturation process in child development.

Question 2

The main focus of developmental psychology is the study of

Accepted Answer

The main focus of developmental psychology is to understand how individuals change across their lifespan. This includes physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Nurture and nature both contribute to development, but the study of developmental psychology seeks to understand the complexities of these interactions rather than simply identifying which one is more influential. While developmental psychology does acknowledge certain stages of development (such as Erikson's psychosocial stages), it also recognizes individuals' unique journeys within and across these stages. Additionally, maturation is a critical aspect of development that is studied within the field of developmental psychology, but it is not the sole focus.

Question 3

Nellie has just discovered that she is pregnant. She is a smoker and knows she should quit because nicotine is especially harmful to the fetus during the __________ stage of development and leads to __________.

Accepted Answer

Nicotine is particularly harmful during the embryonic stage, leading to issues such as prematurity and low birth weight.

Question 4

Which individual advanced the idea that children are born as a blank slate, or a tabula rasa , and develop solely based on what they are taught?

Accepted Answer

John Locke advanced the idea of tabula rasa, suggesting that children are born without built-in mental content and that all knowledge comes from experience and perception.

Question 5

Developmental psychology is best defined as the study of

Accepted Answer

Developmental psychology is the study of how people grow and change throughout their life span, encompassing social, emotional, moral, and intellectual development.

Question 6

Ephraim is a bully on the third-grade playground. After he pushed little Gideon around, Gideon says to Ephraim, "Something must have happened to you as a baby that caused you to be such a jerk. Maybe you were dropped on your head." Ephraim replies, "Shut up, wimp! I was born to rule." Ephraim and Gideon are engaged in a debate that reflects the issue of

Accepted Answer

The debate between Ephraim and Gideon about whether Ephraim's behavior is a result of nature (his inborn personality traits) or nurture (his environmental influences and experiences) reflects the issue of nature and nurture.

Question 7

Katerina has great athletic ability, winning many high school trophies. Her sister, Janet, is an average high school student but doesn't have Katerina's athleticism. Janet makes friends who are also average, and her parents don't encourage Janet to become a better student. Katerina makes friends who are also athletes, and because she wins often, she gets attention and encouragement from her parents. The sisters' different experiences illustrate how

Accepted Answer

The sisters' different experiences, where Katerina's athletic ability leads to her receiving more attention and encouragement (nurture) and Janet's lack of athleticism leads to a different social circle and level of parental encouragement, illustrate how inherent qualities (nature) can influence the environment and support (nurture) a person receives.

Question 8

Tosha is going to have a baby, but she smokes, takes cough syrup, and drinks wine with dinner each night. This behavior is very likely to endanger her baby's development, especially in the embryonic stage because that is a ________ period for development.

Accepted Answer

The embryonic stage is a critical period for development because it is when the major organs and structures of the baby are forming. Harmful substances like alcohol and tobacco can cause significant developmental issues during this time.

Question 9

Tyra is pregnant. Her doctor tells her that at this stage of the baby's development, it can kick, can turn its head, can open its eyes, and already has taste buds. Tyra's baby is in the __________ stage of prenatal development.

Accepted Answer

The fetal stage of prenatal development is characterized by the growth and development of body systems and organs, and begins around week 8 of pregnancy and lasts until birth. The fetus can move and respond to stimuli, such as sound and light. Additionally, the development of taste buds occurs during this stage.

Question 10

Agatha is a graduate student studying behavioral genetics. In other words, she is most likely learning about

Accepted Answer

Agatha's field of study, behavioral genetics, focuses on understanding how both genetic factors and the environment contribute to individual differences in behavior and development. This includes studying how genes and environmental factors interact to influence various aspects of an individual's development and behavior.

Question 11

Which of the following statements concerning consumption of alcohol by women during pregnancy is true?

Accepted Answer

Any amount of alcohol is potentially harmful to the developing child, as there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Question 12

Lilianna's pregnancy is in the fetal stage. All of the fetus's organs have developed and are functional, but they are immature. The fetus can also respond to light and touch. What month of pregnancy is Lilianna in?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lilianna's pregnancy is in the fetal stage....

Question 13

A psychologist is interested in examining how children think and how those thought processes change as they move to adolescence and adulthood. This person is probably a(an)________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Developmental psychologists study the changes in thinking, behavior, and emotions that occur throughout a person's lifespan, including the transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood.

Question 14

You are an organism at some point during your prenatal development. Just seconds ago, your complete set of DNA was assembled for the first time after a sperm cell fertilized an ovum. Right now, you are a(n)

Accepted Answer

A zygote is the initial cell formed when a sperm cell fertilizes an ovum, marking the beginning of prenatal development.

Question 15

Margarite is going to have a baby. Dr. Cortez tells her that there is a critical period in which her baby's organs and limbs must grow or else they never will. Which stage of prenatal development is Dr. Cortez describing?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Cortez is describing the embryonic stage of prenatal development, which occurs from fertilization to about 8 weeks. During this period, the baby's major organs and body systems are formed, making it a critical time for proper development.

Question 16

The process by which a cell duplicates to make a copy of itself is called ________, while a different kind of cell division called ________ occurs only in sperm or egg cells.

Accepted Answer

Mitosis is the process by which a cell duplicates to make a copy of itself, resulting in two identical daughter cells. Meiosis is a different kind of cell division that occurs only in sperm or egg cells, leading to four genetically diverse daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes.

Question 17

Ursula develops the German measles during the 3rd week of pregnancy, a condition that is also called ________. As a result, her child is at risk for blindness, deafness, intellectual disability, and other symptoms.

Accepted Answer

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a viral infection that can cause serious birth defects if a woman contracts it during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.

Question 18

Unlike John Locke, French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that children were able to discover how the world operates and how they should behave __________ from adults.

Accepted Answer

Rousseau believed in the concept of "natural education," where children were allowed to learn and discover on their own without the influence of adult instruction or supervision. He believed that children were naturally good and would develop into virtuous individuals if left to discover the world on their own.

Question 19

Serena is pregnant and has just been informed by her doctor that her baby's heart, eyes, hands, and feet are beginning to develop. Therefore, Serena is careful to avoid __________ during this __________ stage of development.

Accepted Answer

During the embryonic stage, which is the first eight weeks of development, the baby's major organs and structures are formed, making it the most vulnerable stage for exposure to teratogens (substances that can cause birth defects). Alcohol and smoke are common teratogens that should be avoided during this stage.

Question 20

Julio makes a bet with his brother regarding which music their baby sister will prefer. He will probably win the bet if he picks what type of music?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that infants often show a preference for female vocalists, possibly due to the higher pitch and soothing nature of female voices, which are similar to the sounds they hear in the womb.

Quiz 9: Human Development