Question 1

Fifteen-year-old Angela's belief that she is, in effect, an actor whose performance is watched constantly by her peers is a phenomenon referred to as

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the question is the imaginary audience, which refers to the belief that one's actions are constantly being watched and judged by others. The personal fable, illusion of invulnerability, and perspective-taking are similar but distinct phenomena in adolescent development.

Question 2

Michael, 15, was just dumped by his girlfriend, Lisa. Michael's dad told him that he knows how he feels, but that in time he will feel better. Michael is convinced that his dad does not know how it feels to be dumped by a girlfriend and that his dad does not know what he is talking about. Which of the following terms best describes Michael's beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Michael's belief that his dad cannot understand his unique feelings and experiences is an example of the personal fable, a concept in adolescent psychology where the individual believes their experiences are unique and not understood by others.

Question 3

Evidence for growing self-awareness between the ages of 18 and 24 months includes the fact that children of this age

Accepted Answer

Evidence suggests that children between the ages of 18 and 24 months sometimes know their own age and gender, indicating some level of self-awareness. They may refer to themselves using personal pronouns like "me" or "mine," further demonstrating self-recognition. However, they may not be able to recognize themselves in a mirror, and they may not yet refer to themselves by name. Research also indicates that children at this age may show more interest in photographs of other children rather than of themselves, but this alone is not a reliable indicator of self-awareness.

Question 4

The attitudes, behaviors, and values that a person believes make him or her a unique individual are referred to as the person's

Accepted Answer

The attitudes, behaviors, and values that make a person believe they are unique are referred to as their self-concept. The other options, like specification, imaginary audience, and personal fable, are related to adolescent development and are not directly related to an individual's self-concept.

Question 5

If you ask Eva, a preschooler, to describe herself she is most likely to say

Accepted Answer

Preschoolers typically describe themselves using concrete, observable characteristics such as physical attributes, rather than abstract traits or achievements.

Question 6

Two-year-old Chris "helps" his dad change the oil in the car and ends up with a black oil streak on his cheek. When they come into the house, his dad takes him into the bathroom to clean up. Based on what you know about self-awareness in 2-year-olds, what would you expect Chris to do when he looks in
The mirror?

Accepted Answer

At around 2 years of age, children typically develop self-awareness and can recognize themselves in a mirror. When Chris looks in the mirror, he is likely to reach up and touch the black spot on his cheek, as he realizes that it is a reflection of himself. This shows that he is becoming aware of his own appearance and can relate it to his own body.

Question 7

Self-awareness is usually well-established by the age of

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that self-awareness is usually well-established by the age of 2 years, as shown by a child's ability to recognize themselves in a mirror and understand that they are separate individuals with their own thoughts and feelings. While some basic level of self-awareness may be present earlier, it typically develops and becomes more sophisticated over time. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Question 8

Rina's self-concept includes mention of emotions, social groups to which she belongs, and comparisons of herself to others. How old is Rina?

Accepted Answer

At 8 years old, children typically begin to include emotions, social groups, and comparisons to others in their self-concept, reflecting a more complex understanding of themselves.

Question 9

Veronica describes herself as an "ambitious, fun-loving Catholic who is going to be a nurse someday." Veronica is probably

Accepted Answer

Veronica's description suggests that she is a self-aware individual with career aspirations, personal interests, and a religious affiliation, which are all more commonly found in adolescents rather than younger children.

Question 10

Teenagers' tendency to believe that their experiences and feelings are unique, and that no one has ever felt or thought as they do is known as

Accepted Answer

The personal fable is the belief that one's experiences, thoughts, and feelings are unique and exclusive to them, and no one else can understand or relate to them. This is a common characteristic of adolescence, as teenagers often feel like they are the center of the world and that their experiences are exceptional. The other options (B, C, and D) refer to related but distinct concepts: the imaginary audience is the belief that others are constantly watching and evaluating one's behavior, the illusion of invulnerability is the belief that one is immune to harm or danger, and hypothetical reasoning refers to the ability to consider possibilities and abstract concepts.

Question 11

Adolescent egocentrism is characterized by

Accepted Answer

Adolescent egocentrism refers to the belief that one's own thoughts, feelings, and experiences are unique and more significant than those of others. This often includes the belief that others are constantly focused on and interested in their thoughts and behaviors. Options A and B are not accurate descriptions of adolescent egocentrism, as adolescents are usually acutely aware of the opinions and perspectives of others. Option D is unrelated to the concept of adolescent egocentrism.

Question 12

The foundation or first step of developing a self-concept occurs when children

Accepted Answer

The foundation or first step of developing a self-concept occurs when children become aware that they exist independently of other people and objects in the environment. This is also known as self-awareness, which is a crucial aspect of developing a self-concept.

Question 13

Chan's self-concept includes statements about his attitudes, personality traits, religious beliefs, and occupational goals. How old is Chan?

Accepted Answer

Chan's self-concept includes statements about his attitudes, personality traits, religious beliefs, and occupational goals, which suggests that he is likely a teenager. Children as young as 3 or 5 may have a basic understanding of their own preferences and abilities, but their self-concept is not likely to include long-term goals or complex beliefs about the world. An 8-year-old may have more developed self-concept, but it is still unlikely to involve career aspirations or complex religious beliefs.

Question 14

Abby is 6 years old while Sheena is 13 years old. Compared to Abby's self-description, Sheena's self-description is likely to be

Accepted Answer

As individuals age, their self-descriptions tend to become more abstract, focusing on personality traits, values, and beliefs. Therefore, compared to a 6-year-old like Abby, a 13-year-old like Sheena is likely to have a more abstract self-description.

Question 15

Sixteen-year-old Ingrid discovered a spot on her blouse after she arrived at school. Ingrid is afraid that everyone will notice the spot and think she is stupid. Which of the following best describes Ingrid's beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Ingrid's belief that everyone will notice the spot on her blouse and think she is stupid is characteristic of the imaginary audience, which is the belief that one is constantly being watched and evaluated by others.

Question 16

As children grow from preschoolers to adolescents, their self-concepts become

Accepted Answer

As children grow from preschoolers to adolescents, their self-concepts become more elaborate and richer. They begin to incorporate social comparisons and feedback from others into their self-concepts, resulting in a more complex understanding of themselves.

Question 17

When describing himself, Kento, a Chinese preschooler, is more likely than David, an American preschooler, to say

Accepted Answer

Kento is more likely to prioritize his social relationships and interactions with others, such as mentioning a specific classmate he plays with.

Answer: B 
 Both Kento and David could mention their possessions, but Kento may place more emphasis on concrete objects and toys as a way to describe himself.

Answer: C 
 It is unlikely that a preschooler would specifically mention their physical characteristics when asked to describe themselves, so this is not the best choice.

Answer: D 
 While both Kento and David may mention their likes and dislikes, this is not as strong of a description of oneself as mentioning social relationships or material possessions.

Question 18

Between the ages of 6 and 8, children's descriptions of themselves are likely to

Accepted Answer

During this age range, children begin to identify with social groups and are more aware of their emotions. Descriptions of themselves are likely to include these aspects of their identity. While personality traits may also be mentioned, they are not the primary focus at this developmental stage. Future-oriented descriptions may start to emerge towards the later end of this range, but are not as prevalent as descriptions of current social and emotional experiences. Descriptions may also vary with the setting, but this is not specific to this age range and occurs throughout development.

Question 19

The self-absorption characteristic of the teenage search for identity is called

Accepted Answer

Adolescent egocentrism refers to the adolescent's belief that their thoughts, feelings, and experiences are unique and that they are the center of other people's attention. This belief contributes to their self-absorption during the search for identity.

Question 20

Jones conducts a study in which he places a red mark on toddlers' noses and then places them in front of a mirror. Dr. Jones appears to be interested in

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jones is likely interested in studying self-awareness, as he is observing how toddlers react to seeing a mark on their own noses in the mirror. This type of mark test is commonly used to assess self-awareness, a key aspect of early childhood development.

Quiz 11: Understanding Self and Others