Question 1

Dean realizes that rules are agreements that may be changed if necessary. He is in which of Piaget's stages of moral reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's moral relativism stage involves understanding that rules are flexible and can be changed if necessary, and that there may be exceptions to rules based on the situation. This aligns with Dean's understanding that rules are agreements that can change.

Question 2

Which of the following most accurately expresses the relative emphasis given to moral attitudes versus moral behavior in Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development?

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's theory primarily emphasizes the development of moral reasoning and attitudes, rather than directly explaining moral behavior. It outlines stages of moral development based on how individuals reason about ethical dilemmas, rather than how they act.

Question 3

The major difference between the terms self-concept and self-esteem is that self-esteem includes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Self-concept refers to an individual's overall knowledge and understanding of themselves, including their beliefs, values, personality traits, and experiences. Self-esteem, on the other hand, specifically refers to an individual's evaluation of their self-worth or value. Therefore, self-esteem includes a sense of how good (or bad) one perceives themselves to be, which is not included in the definition of self-concept.

Question 4

If you know that Bob is a highly resilient child, even though he has grown up under stressful circumstances, your best guess is that his early life was characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Resilience refers to an individual's ability to overcome adversity and bounce back from difficult experiences. A child with an easy temperament would more likely be able to adapt to and cope with stressors in their environment, which may have contributed to Bob's resilience despite growing up under stressful circumstances. Insecure attachment is associated with negative outcomes and may have made it more difficult for Bob to develop resilience. A difficult temperament could also contribute to negative outcomes, although it is not the best choice given that Bob is highly resilient.

Question 5

According to the text, when does ethnic awareness begin to develop?

Accepted Answer

The text states that ethnic awareness begins to develop in early childhood.

Question 6

George and Ramona want to help their son develop self-regulated behavior. They will be most successful if they:

Accepted Answer

Gradually increasing the child's involvement in family decisions helps him learn to regulate his behavior by understanding the consequences and responsibilities of his choices, fostering self-regulation.

Question 7

What component of social cognition refers to the customs and conventions used in a social setting or group?

Accepted Answer

Social regulations refer to the customs and conventions used in a social setting or group, such as norms for behavior, communication, and interaction. Social inference, on the other hand, refers to the process of understanding and interpreting social information, while social relationships refer to the connections and interactions between individuals. Social realism is not a term commonly used in social cognition.

Question 8

Erik Erikson defined the period of middle childhood as revolving around which of the following developmental crises?

Accepted Answer

Erik Erikson defined the period of middle childhood (ages 6-11) as revolving around the developmental crisis of industry versus inferiority. During this stage, children are eager to learn and engage in productive activities, but if they do not receive positive feedback and recognition for their efforts, they may develop feelings of inferiority and incompetence. Therefore, the main task of this stage is to develop a sense of competence and mastery in various areas of life, such as academic and social skills.

Question 9

In 1948, about ___ percent of mothers of school-aged children worked outside the home; today about ___ percent of these mothers work.

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1948, about 26% of mothers of school-aged children worked outside the home. Today, as of 2019, about 77% of these mothers work. Therefore, the best choice is C with the percentage increase depicted in the options.

Question 10

Some critics suggest that teachers who provide too much praise create children:

Accepted Answer

When teachers provide excessive praise, it can lead to a distorted sense of reality for children, causing them to overestimate their abilities and feel entitled to success. This can result in a lack of awareness of their own shortcomings, which can hinder their personal and academic growth.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the relationship between age and a child's likelihood of having friends from a different racial or ethnic group?

Accepted Answer

Younger children are generally more open and less influenced by societal biases, making them more likely to form friendships across racial and ethnic lines compared to older children.

Question 12

Selman's view of how friendships develop in middle childhood would be most consistent with which of the following theoretical perspectives?

Accepted Answer

Selman's theory of friendship development is based on the cognitive development of children, emphasizing how their thinking about friendships evolves with age. This aligns with the cognitive perspective, which focuses on mental processes like thinking, problem-solving, and understanding.

Question 13

Children who are able to overcome difficult environments and lead socially competent lives are described by psychologists with which of the following terms?

Accepted Answer

Children who are able to bounce back from difficult environments and lead socially competent lives are described as resilient. A is incorrect because self-regulation refers to a person's ability to manage their behavior, emotions, and thoughts in the face of challenges. B is incorrect because coregulation refers to the dynamic process of two or more people working together to effectively manage their behavior and emotions, such as a parent and child. D is incorrect because self-monitoring refers to the process of observing and evaluating one's own behavior and making appropriate adjustments.

Question 14

Melanie is always commenting on how she is not as smart as other people and how she is not good at anything in particular. Melanie likely suffers from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Melanie's comments suggest that she has low self-esteem and a negative self-image, leading her to believe that she is not as smart or talented as others.

Question 15

Lorraine says, "I don't like those people because they are different from me and my friends." Using psychological terminology, Lorraine's comment has identified the people she doesn't like as:

Accepted Answer

Lorraine's comment suggests that she sees the other people as belonging to an "out-group" because they are different from her and her friends. In-group refers to a group to which an individual belongs and with which they share certain commonalities, while an out-group is a group to which an individual does not belong and may be perceived as different or "other." Side-group and dumped group are not recognized psychological terms.

Question 16

When Jeremy learns to direct his own behavior, rather than behave in strict accordance with the directions of his parents and teachers

Accepted Answer

Self-regulated behavior involves an individual's ability to direct and control their own behavior, thoughts, and emotions. It goes beyond simply following directions and involves actively managing one's own behavior.

Question 17

As children move from early to middle childhood, their peer groups generally become:

Accepted Answer

As children move from early to middle childhood, peer groups tend to become more conformist, with stricter expectations about behavior, as children become more aware of social norms and the importance of fitting in with their peers.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is most likely to have been made by a boy, rather than a girl?

Accepted Answer

Boys are often socialized to value rules and justice, which aligns with the statement about breaking rules and deserving punishment.

Question 19

According to Selman, the primary force behind developmental changes in children's friendships is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

According to Selman's theory of friendship, the primary force behind developmental changes in children's friendships is their ability to take another person's perspective, also known as perspective-taking. As children age and develop cognitively, they become increasingly able to understand and take into account their friends' thoughts, feelings, and perspectives, which leads to more complex and satisfying friendships. Age, intelligence, and moral reasoning may also play a role in shaping children's friendships, but perspective-taking is thought to be the most fundamental factor driving changes in this area.

Question 20

Today, in comparison with women who do not have children, women with school-age children are:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that mothers with school-age children today are more likely to work outside the home than those in previous generations, and are more likely to work than women without children. This is due to a variety of factors, including changing cultural norms, increased access to childcare, and economic pressures.

Quiz 9: Middle Childhood: Personality and Sociocultural Development