Question 1

Compared with adults,in decision making,adolescents __________.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that adolescents are more likely to be enticed by the possibility of immediate rewards, even if it means taking risks or making impulsive decisions. This is due to the fact that the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making abilities, is not fully developed until adulthood. Therefore, adolescents may have a harder time weighing the potential risks and benefits of a decision and may be more vulnerable to making impulsive choices based on immediate rewards.

Question 2

With respect to propositional thought in an entirely verbal mode,young children have great difficulty reasoning from premises that contradict reality or their own beliefs because they __________.

Accepted Answer

Young children struggle with propositional thought because they do not yet fully understand the logical necessity of propositional reasoning. They have not yet developed the capacity to grasp the abstract principles that underlie logical deduction, leading to difficulty in reasoning from premises that contradict their own beliefs or reality. Option A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the specific reason for young children's difficulty with propositional thought.

Question 3

When faced with a propositional reasoning problem,17-year-old Iris is likely to __________.

Accepted Answer

At the age of 17, individuals are typically in the formal operational stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget's theory. This stage is characterized by the ability to think abstractly and to understand hypothetical reasoning, which allows them to justify their reasoning by explaining the logical rules on which it is based, rather than relying on concrete objects or personal experiences.

Question 4

In an Israeli study of seventh to ninth graders,after controlling for participants' age,researchers found that __________ fully accounted for early adolescent gains in propositional thought.

Accepted Answer

Years of schooling fully accounted for early adolescent gains in propositional thought, as the study controlled for age and found this factor to be the significant contributor.

Question 5

In making decisions,teenagers __________.

Accepted Answer

Teenagers are known to take more risks than adults, including those in their twenties. This is partly due to the ongoing development of the prefrontal cortex, which affects judgment and impulse control, making teenagers more prone to risk-taking behaviors.

Question 6

Sophisticated metacognitive understanding is vital for __________.

Accepted Answer

Sophisticated metacognitive understanding is essential for scientific reasoning, which involves the ability to plan, monitor, evaluate, and revise one's own reasoning processes. The other options listed are more related to basic cognitive processes, such as classification and conservation.

Question 7

In adolescence,__________.

Accepted Answer

Inhibition, or the ability to control one's impulses, improves during adolescence due to continued development of the prefrontal cortex. The other options - attention becoming less selective, strategies becoming less effective, and metacognition narrowing - are not accurate statements about development during adolescence.

Question 8

Fifteen-year-old Mary,who has become critical of her parents and siblings,envisions a world with no injustice or discrimination.This is typical of the __________ that manifests from adolescents' capacity to think about possibilities.

Accepted Answer

Mary's envisioning of a world with no injustice or discrimination is an example of idealism, which is a common manifestation of adolescents' capacity to think about possibilities. Option A, personal fable, refers to an adolescent's belief that they are unique and invincible, while option B, imaginary audience, refers to an adolescent's belief that others are constantly paying attention to them. Option D, egocentrism, refers to an adolescent's difficulty in distinguishing their own perspective from that of others.

Question 9

Which statement is supported by follow-up research on formal operational thought?

Accepted Answer

Follow-up research on formal operational thought supports the statement that school-age children show the glimmerings of hypothetico-deductive reasoning, although they are less competent at it than adolescents. It has been found that adolescents have a more fully developed capacity for hypothetical reasoning and are better able to generate and test hypotheses than school-age children.

Question 10

Scientific reasoning __________.

Accepted Answer

Scientific reasoning is not an innate ability, but rather a skill that develops over time from many specific experiences. It is not an abrupt, stagewise change, nor is it solely influenced by years of schooling.

Question 11

Donette is extremely self-conscious.She believes that she is the focus of everyone else's attention and concern.Donette is experiencing a cognitive distortion known as __________.

Accepted Answer

The imaginary audience is a common cognitive distortion experienced by adolescents, and sometimes adults, where individuals believe that they are always in the spotlight and the focus of everyone else's attention and concern.

Question 12

Fourteen-year-old Myles is certain he will be a professional baseball player.When his mother makes him stay home from practice because he has strep throat,Myles says,"You are ruining my life! You have no idea how hard it is to miss out on something you love to do!" Myles is experiencing a cognitive distortion known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Myles is exhibiting the personal fable, which is the belief that one is unique and invincible and that their experiences and feelings are unlike anyone else's. Myles believes that missing one practice will ruin his entire future as a professional baseball player, which is an example of the personal fable.

Question 13

The imaginary audience is most likely responsible for adolescents' __________.

Accepted Answer

The imaginary audience refers to the belief among adolescents that they are constantly being watched and judged by others, leading to self-consciousness and sensitivity to public criticism.

Question 14

Ms.Diehl notices that her son has difficulty making everyday decisions and is sensitive to public criticism.She can help her son by __________.

Accepted Answer

Offering information about the likelihood of various outcomes can help the son make decisions based on rational thinking rather than solely on emotions. This will also help increase his self-confidence in decision-making. It is important to empower the son to make his own decisions rather than making decisions for him or refraining from making any decisions altogether. Speaking to him honestly both alone and in front of others can also be helpful, but it should be done in a supportive and non-judgmental manner.

Question 15

Which college student is the most likely to show improvements in propositional thought?

Accepted Answer

Propositional thought involves the ability to evaluate the logic of propositions without referring to real-world circumstances. Science courses often emphasize critical thinking, hypothesis testing, and the evaluation of theoretical propositions, which can directly contribute to the development of propositional thought.

Question 16

Differences in __________ skills are believed to be major contributors to a widening gender gap in college enrollments.

Accepted Answer

The question refers to a widening gender gap in college enrollments, which suggests that women may be enrolling in college at lower rates than men. One major factor that has been identified as contributing to this gap is differences in literacy skills. Studies have shown that women tend to have stronger literacy skills than men, and this may help to explain why women are more likely to enroll in and complete college programs. While math, science, and computer skills are also important for success in college, these are not necessarily the primary factors that are driving the gender gap in enrollments.

Question 17

Mr.Vogt is frustrated with his daughter's exaggerated sense of her personal uniqueness.One way he could deal with this is to __________.

Accepted Answer

Encouraging a more balanced perspective by pointing out that he had similar feelings as a teenager would be a constructive and empathetic approach to addressing his daughter's exaggerated sense of personal uniqueness. This can help her understand that her experiences are not unique and that others have gone through similar situations. It can also create a deeper connection between father and daughter, as they share in a common experience. Giving a "reality check" or playing along with her inflated sense of self could be counterproductive and potentially damaging to her self-esteem. Refusing to acknowledge her unique characteristics could harm their relationship and create feelings of invalidation and rejection.

Question 18

In a study of sixth through tenth graders,__________ predicted self-esteem and overall positive adjustment.

Accepted Answer

A sense of omnipotence in adolescents can lead to higher self-esteem and positive adjustment as it fosters a belief in their ability to influence outcomes and manage challenges.

Question 19

With regard to verbal abilities,girls have a biological advantage in earlier development of __________.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that girls tend to have an advantage in language-related tasks and verbal abilities, which are largely associated with the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex. Boys, on the other hand, tend to have an advantage in spatial reasoning tasks, which are largely associated with different brain areas. Therefore, option A is the most appropriate choice.

Question 20

The ability to distinguish theory from evidence and use logical rules to examine their relationship __________.

Accepted Answer

According to research, the ability to distinguish theory from evidence and use logical rules to examine their relationship improves steadily from childhood into adolescence.

Quiz 11: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence