Question 1

Baby chicks born on a farm will often follow the human that they first see when they hatch. This is a result of _______, the innate process of learning to recognizing a parent.

Accepted Answer

The process being described is imprinting, which is when a newborn animal (or human) forms a strong bond with the first moving object it sees shortly after birth. This is a form of learning that is innate and helps the animal identify its mother or caregiver. The other answer choices (attachment, stranger anxiety, implicit learning) are not accurate descriptions of this process.

Question 2

What can be concluded from the psychological study of attachment?

Accepted Answer

The psychological study of attachment has consistently shown that it is an emotional bond between a child and their caregiver. This bond is crucial for healthy development and engagement between parents and children. Research has demonstrated that attachment can affect social, emotional, and cognitive development in children as they grow into adulthood, highlighting the importance of stable, loving relationships during early childhood. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. Options B, C, and D are not supported by the psychological study of attachment.

Question 3

Mary Ainsworth found that infants vary in their attachment styles by using an experimental procedure called the

Accepted Answer

Mary Ainsworth developed the strange situation task to measure the attachment styles of infants. This experimental procedure involves separating infants from their caregivers and observing their reactions when reunited. The behavior of the infants during the strange situation task provides insight into their attachment style.

Question 4

A securely attached child is one who

Accepted Answer

A securely attached child is one who displays distress when separated from their primary caregiver, but is able to be comforted when the caregiver returns. Option C is the only choice that describes a child who displays these characteristics.

Question 5

Which child displays the signs of disorganized attachment?

Accepted Answer

James's unpredictable reactions upon his mother's return and lack of a consistent attachment behavior indicate disorganized attachment. The other options all display secure or insecure attachment behaviors.

Question 6

Ashley's mother, Janice, has noticed that her child gets very upset when she leaves her with her caregiver. When Janice returns home from work, Ashley often resists her attempt to hold her. Ashley is displaying

Accepted Answer

Ashley's behavior indicates ambivalent attachment. This type of attachment is characterized by anxiety and distress when the attachment figure (in this case, Janice) is not present or when she leaves, and resistance or anger when the figure returns. It often occurs when the caregiver is inconsistent in responding to the child's needs, sometimes being responsive and sometimes neglectful.

Question 7

Gina is very attached to her father, who is her primary caregiver. She is usually upset when he leaves her with her grandmother to go to work, but Gina is always happy when he returns in the evening. Gina is displaying

Accepted Answer

Gina is displaying secure attachment, which is characterized by distress when separated from caregivers and joy upon their return. This behavior indicates that Gina trusts her caregiver and feels safe and secure in their relationship.

Question 8

A child who regularly displays avoidant attachment will show little or no distress when her mother leaves her with a new caregiver. The next time the caregiver comes, the child will most likely

Accepted Answer

A child with avoidant attachment will tend to suppress their need for attachment and display little or no distress when separated from their caregiver. As a result, upon the next meeting with the caregiver, they will most likely continue to show little or no response to them. This is because they have learned to regulate their emotions and avoid becoming too attached to their caregivers.

Question 9

What can be concluded from developmental studies of children in daycare?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that high-quality daycare can have positive effects on children's cognitive and academic development. Choice A is incorrect because even children in low-quality daycare can develop attachment styles, although these attachments may be less secure. Choice C is incorrect because the question does not specifically ask about children raised by their grandparents, and research on attachment styles in this population is mixed. Choice D is incorrect because there is evidence of a relationship between the quality of daycare and developmental outcomes, although this relationship may be complex and dependent on multiple factors.

Question 10

The landmark in development when an individual becomes capable of reproduction is called

Accepted Answer

Puberty is the time when an individual's body matures sexually and becomes capable of reproduction. Adolescence and adulthood are broader stages of development that include psychological and social changes in addition to physical changes. Menarche is a term specifically referring to a girl's first menstrual period, which is one part of puberty but not the landmark moment of becoming capable of reproduction for males or females.

Question 11

Developmental researchers distinguish puberty from adolescence by characterizing adolescence as a developmental

Accepted Answer

Developmental researchers distinguish puberty from adolescence by characterizing adolescence as a developmental process. Although puberty marks the beginning of adolescence, it is a physiological event, whereas adolescence encompasses significant changes in cognitive, social, and emotional development that occur over time. Therefore, adolescence is best characterized as a process rather than a milestone, landmark, or event.

Question 12

The development of secondary sex characteristics, such as breast development in girls, is driven by

Accepted Answer

The development of secondary sex characteristics is primarily driven by hormones, specifically estrogen for breast development in girls. While neurotransmitters and gene expression may play a role in overall development, they are not the primary drivers of secondary sex characteristic development. Amyloid protein is not associated with this process at all.

Question 13

All of the following are secondary sex characteristics except

Accepted Answer

Secondary sex characteristics are physical features that develop during puberty and differentiate males and females but are not directly related to reproductive organs. Wide hips in females, wide jaws in males, and beard growth in males are all examples of secondary sex characteristics. However, reproductive organs are primary sex characteristics as they directly contribute to the reproductive system.

Question 14

The observation that adolescent brains show thinning in the top region of the cortex is evidence of the neural developmental process called

Accepted Answer

Synapse rearrangement, also known as synaptic pruning, is the process during which the adolescent brain eliminates excess synapses, leading to a more efficient synaptic configuration. This is observed as cortical thinning in brain imaging studies.

Question 15

Though our brains are almost fully developed by the time we reach adolescence, enormous changes continue in the brain region called the _______ lobe.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe controls executive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, and impulse control, which continue to develop during adolescence and early adulthood. While other brain regions also continue to change during this period, the frontal lobe is particularly significant. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Question 16

Which of the following may indicate that someone you know might be considering suicide?

Accepted Answer

Searching online for a handgun could be a red flag for suicidal thoughts, as it suggests an active plan to end one's life. The other options may indicate emotional struggles, but do not necessarily correlate with suicidal ideation. It is important to take any mention of suicide seriously and to seek help from a mental health professional or crisis hotline.

Question 17

Developing a sense of morality is one of the toughest challenges for adolescents because it

Accepted Answer

Developing a moral sense requires the ability to think abstractly and consider multiple perspectives, which is a complex cognitive task. Additionally, adolescents are exposed to conflicting information and values from various sources, making it challenging to form a coherent moral framework.

Question 18

Kohlberg described the type of moral reasoning used by most adults as

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's stages of moral development include preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. The type of moral reasoning used by most adults falls under the conventional stage, which is focused on conforming to societal norms and expectations. Therefore, the correct choice is B (conventional).

Question 19

What was Kohlberg most interested in when examining people's responses to the fictional story of Heinz stealing a drug for his ailing wife?

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg was interested in the nature of respondents' reasoning about their choice, specifically the level of moral development demonstrated by their response.

Question 20

A friend asks you to help him steal a car so he can drive his roommate to a doctor's appointment. You refuse, reasoning that laws and rules are a part of society for a reason and you do not want to disrupt the status quo. According to Kohlberg's theory, you are using _______ reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Your reasoning aligns with Kohlberg's conventional level of moral development, where individuals recognize the importance of societal rules and laws for maintaining order and choose to adhere to them.

Quiz 5: Developmental Psychology