Deck 13: Adulthood: Psychosocial Development

Question 1

Statistically, who is likely to have the MOST stable personality?

A) a 5-year-old boy
B) a 14-year-old girl
C) a 23-year-old man
D) a 35-year-old woman

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Research has shown that the _____ -- a period of unusual anxiety, reexamination, and transformation during middle adulthood proposed by Levinson -- has more to do with historical circumstances than actual age.

A) cohort bridge
B) ecological niche
C) gender trajectory
D) midlife crisis

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A person who has many of the personality traits associated with extroversion would be described as:

A) depressed and anxious.
B) active and outgoing.
C) open and receptive.
D) creative and intelligent.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Davetta is very organized and self-disciplined. She conforms easily to standards set for her performance at work. She is high on which of the Big Five traits?

A) agreeableness
B) openness
C) conscientiousness
D) extroversion

Question 5

People in Maslow's third level on the hierarchy of needs seek:

A) self-actualization.
B) safety.
C) generativity.
D) love and belonging.

Question 6

Although Erikson's stages of psychosocial development are sequential, the search for identity that begins in the stage of identity versus role diffusion:

A) is ongoing throughout adulthood.
B) ends with the stage of intimacy versus isolation.
C) ends with the stage of generativity versus stagnation.
D) comes to fruition only after the stage of integrity versus despair.

Question 7

The theorist who first proposed the idea that individuals continue to develop well into adulthood was:

A) Freud.
B) Erikson.
C) Skinner.
D) Vygotsky.

Question 8

Ronald seems to thrive on changing jobs, is artistic, and likes to try new things. He would be rated high on the personality dimension called:

A) extroversion.
B) openness.
C) neuroticism.
D) sociability.

Question 9

Which statement about middle age is true?

A) It is a time of severe emotional crisis.
B) There are very few changes at midlife.
C) Changes do not necessarily cluster around age 40.
D) It always begins at age 40.

Question 10

Susan's grandmother, at age 80, is in Erikson's final stage of adulthood, which is called:

A) identity versus role confusion.
B) industry versus inferiority.
C) generativity versus stagnation.
D) integrity versus despair.

Question 11

The Big Five personality traits:

A) are present in highly-varying degrees throughout much of adulthood.
B) apply only to people living in North America.
C) first become obvious in preschool children.
D) were created by grouping of hundreds of traits.

Question 12

Samuel is moody, anxious, and self-punishing. Samuel is high in:

A) openness.
B) extroversion.
C) conscientiousness.
D) neuroticism.

Question 13

Those who know her describe Matilda as a kind, helpful, and easygoing person. She is high on which of the Big Five traits?

A) agreeableness
B) neuroticism
C) openness
D) conscientiousness

Question 14

Which is NOT one of the Big Five personality traits?

A) selflessness
B) openness
C) extraversion
D) agreeableness

Question 15

Most developmental theorists today believe that:

A) stages of adult development are not orderly and predictable.
B) adulthood is divided into a specific sequence of stages.
C) intimacy always precedes generativity.
D) generativity is rare before the age of 40.

Question 16

An individual's _____ provides an example of developmental continuity.

A) career
B) personality
C) life experience
D) family relationships

Question 17

According to the text, middle age, if it exists:

A) is a time of crisis.
B) occurs around age 40.
C) could begin at 35 or 50 or anywhere between.
D) is a more negative stage for men than women.

Question 18

How many stages of development did Abraham Maslow describe?

A) 3
B) 5
C) 7
D) 10

Question 19

People choose a particular lifestyle and social context, or _____, because it is compatible with their personality traits.

A) ecological niche
B) environmental fit
C) adult community
D) adaptable environment

Question 20

What is one of Erikson's stages of adulthood?

A) trust versus mistrust
B) initiative versus guilt
C) generativity versus stagnation
D) industry versus inferiority

Question 21

The group of people that moves through life with an individual while providing both protection and encouragement is called a:

A) familial collection.
B) social convoy.
C) fictive kin.
D) support network.

Question 22

As people age, their friendships tend to:

A) dissipate.
B) fade.
C) stagnate.
D) improve.

Question 23

The Big Five personality traits were identified more than 30 years ago; now a proposed sixth trait, called _____, has been observed.

A) dependence on others
B) introversion
C) trustworthiness
D) sense of responsibility

Question 24

Adults choose their _____ by selecting neighborhoods, mates, hobbies, and careers at least in part based on their personality traits.

A) ecological niche
B) kinkeeper
C) Big 5
D) social convoy

Question 25

Chris is high in extroversion and therefore will probably:

A) be likely to get a divorce.
B) have a life that is in constant flux.
C) become a librarian or a safety inspector.
D) have a busy social life.

Question 26

With increasing age, the trait of extroversion tends to:

A) transform into neuroticism.
B) increase markedly.
C) decrease slightly.
D) remain stable.

Question 27

An international study found the highest rates of amicability between adults and their aging parents in which country?

A) Spain
B) the United States
C) England
D) Germany

Question 28

How does the relationship between siblings typically change from adolescence to adulthood?

A) It improves if the siblings are of the same gender.
B) It improves for brothers but not for sisters.
C) Most siblings grow apart as they age.
D) It improves to the point where they are often best friends.

Question 29

When Rob graduated from college, he found a good job, a nice apartment, and made new friends. Now, three years later, he has been laid off from his work and he has moved back into his parents' home. Typically, their relationship will:

A) remain as it always has.
B) become less affectionate than it was before.
C) result in tension and physical violence.
D) become less critical and more nurturing.

Question 30

Randy moved across the country to advance his career. Though he moved alone, he soon developed a group of coworkers and friends who became like a family to him. They served as his:

A) kinkeeper.
B) fictive kin.
C) social convoy.
D) clique.

Question 31

A man who changes jobs frequently, moves often, and always seems happier because of such changes is likely to be high in:

A) conscientiousness.
B) openness.
C) neuroticism.
D) extroversion.

Question 32

How has the Internet impacted friendships and relationships with consequential strangers?

A) It has strengthened close friendships and decreased the number of consequential strangers.
B) It has weakened friendships and decreased the number of consequential strangers.
C) It has weakened friendships and increased the number of consequential strangers.
D) It has strengthened friendships and increased the number of consequential strangers.

Question 33

Getting married, having children, and living in separate residences increases the likelihood of _____ sibling relationships in adulthood.

A) improving
B) straining
C) ambivalent
D) ending

Question 34

Genes do not exert the only influence on personality. Therefore,:

A) personality tends to remain the same over the course of the lifespan.
B) genes determine how people will respond to their life experiences.
C) it is still possible for adult personality to change if the context shifts.
D) culture and adult experiences add little to the personality in adulthood.

Question 35

How do consequential strangers differ from friends?

A) They include people from a wider variety of faiths, ethnic groups, ages, and political opinions.
B) They include only people of the same religion, ethnic group, age, or political opinion.
C) They do not play a role in a person's daily life activities.
D) Unlike a friend, consequential strangers know nothing about a person.

Question 36

A decade-long study of Finns found that those high in extroversion were likely to move from isolated areas to more urban environments, suggesting that:

A) environment shapes personality.
B) personality influences choices.
C) personality determines genes.
D) people really don't choose where they live; environment is inborn.

Question 37

Openness is not seen as a particularly positive personality trait in:

A) Italy.
B) the United States.
C) China.
D) Australia.

Question 38

Which personality trait tends to increase with age?

A) extroversion
B) openness
C) agreeableness
D) neuroticism

Question 39

An acquaintance who is not a friend but still has an impact on an adult's life is called a(n):

A) social convoy.
B) kinkeeper.
C) consequential stranger.
D) fictive kin.

Question 40

People who are not in a person's closest convoy but who still have an effect on the person's life by providing information, support, or new ideas are known as:

A) intimate strangers.
B) intimate friends.
C) consequential strangers.
D) consequential friends.

Question 41

Of adults born before 1940, what percentage got married?

A) 10
B) 33
C) 50
D) 96

Question 42

What proportion of all first marriages end in divorce?

A) one-eighth
B) one-third
C) two-thirds
D) three-quarters

Question 43

All of Paulo and Geneva's children have moved out, started families, and are working on their careers. According to the text, Paulo and Geneva's home is now a(n):

A) haven of quiet.
B) empty nest.
C) lonely cavern.
D) house of mirrors.

Question 44

One of the MOST influential factors in divorce is:

A) the years of education completed by each spouse.
B) whether the couple owns a home.
C) whether it is a first or subsequent marriage.
D) whether the couple has children.

Question 45

Which factor has the GREATEST long-term effect on a marriage's quality?

A) not living together before marriage
B) the partners' level of education
C) the partners' personalities
D) the number of times the partners change jobs

Question 46

There was a 31 percent increase in the number of same-sex couples in the United States between 2000 and 2006, probably because:

A) the definitions used in the census documents changed.
B) same-sex marriage became legal throughout in the United States.
C) an effort was made to encourage same-sex couples to fill out the census.
D) people are now willing to state that they are gay or lesbian.

Question 47

According to the text, the most current U.S. census _____ the number of U.S. households headed by a same-sex couples.

A) did not report
B) underreported
C) overreported
D) accurately stated

Question 48

Adults now marry later in life, which is most often the result of:

A) a rejection of partnership.
B) heterosexuality.
C) advanced education.
D) the scars left by so previous divorce.

Question 49

Manuel and Rosa have been married for nearly 30 years. Their youngest child left home six months ago. If they are typical, the quality of their marriage should:

A) remain constant, no different than earlier years.
B) worsen since there are no children to act as buffers.
C) be tumultuous since they had grown apart over the years.
D) improve since they have more time to spend together.

Question 50

After the children are grown, most married couples:

A) spend longer hours at work.
B) dislike being "empty-nesters."
C) have adequate time for their relationship.
D) see little of each other.

Question 51

Couples who cohabit due to convenience are:

A) as happy as couples who cohabit with the intent to marry.
B) happier than couples who marry.
C) said to be "living apart together."
D) less likely to have a happy marriage.

Question 52

Jeremy was reared in several foster homes and never knew his parents. When he started working with Kent, he became close to Kent's family to the point where they fondly referred to him as "our newfound son." The family has "adopted" Jeremy as:

A) surrogate sibling.
B) foster son.
C) kindred brother.
D) fictive kin.

Question 53

After children have grown, MOST couples find that:

A) their financial strains are overwhelming.
B) their happiness increases.
C) there are more fights over equity in domestic work.
D) less time is spent in shared activities.

Question 54

When a U.S. couple has an empty nest, typical partners will feel:

A) empty.
B) distraught.
C) happier.
D) angry.

Question 55

Hal and Darcy endured many stressful years, but over time, their marriage rebounded and improved. Research indicates that:

A) once both spouses realize they would be alone without each other, marriages improve.
B) stress may motivate couples to work together.
C) divorce is probably unavoidable for them in the future.
D) learning to understand and forgive each other promotes happiness.

Question 56

Current objective research data from a large, randomly selected sample of same-sex partners is:

A) not yet available.
B) available for specific areas in the United States.
C) inconclusive about trends.
D) available for indicators dealing with income and career status only.

Question 57

In which country did an international study find the highest rates of conflict between adults and their aging parents?

A) Germany
B) Spain
C) England
D) the United States

Question 58

Individuals who are accepted into a family that is not their legal or biological family are called:

A) fictive kin.
B) kinkeepers.
C) social convoys.
D) generative allies.

Question 59

What percentage of contemporary U.S. adults will never make a marriage-like commitment?

A) about 5
B) less than 10
C) about 30
D) about 40

Question 60

Committed partners who maintain separate homes but function as a committed couple are said to be:

A) living apart together.
B) residing in an empty nest.
C) avoiding marriage.
D) consequential strangers.

Question 61

According to Erikson, the developmental crisis that occurs after intimacy versus isolation is:

A) initiative versus guilt.
B) identity versus role confusion.
C) generativity versus stagnation.
D) integrity versus despair.

Question 62

Which factor does NOT make divorce more likely?

A) a large age difference between spouses
B) financial challenges
C) strong religious views
D) a high divorce rate in the couple's cohort

Question 63

Half of cohabitation relationships end:

A) within the first year.
B) within 2 years.
C) after 5 years.
D) after 8 years.

Question 64

Mel is a retired stockbroker who enjoys tutoring children at the local YMCA after school. He is demonstrating the psychosocial stage of:

A) generativity versus stagnation.
B) integrity versus despair.
C) identity versus role confusion.
D) industry versus inferiority.

Question 65

According to Erikson, an adult's failure to achieve generativity results in:

A) intermittent feelings of loneliness.
B) stagnation and personal dissatisfaction.
C) childlessness and depression.
D) difficulties in mate selection or friendship.

Question 66

Approximately what proportion of divorces terminates an abusive or destructive relationship?

A) one-quarter
B) one-third
C) one-half
D) three-quarters

Question 67

Rates of remarriage are highest for those who:

A) have infants.
B) have teenager children.
C) are of the lowest SES.
D) have the most education.

Question 68

Worldwide, problems and stress tend to _____ as family size _____.

A) increase; increases
B) increase; decreases
C) decrease; increases
D) remains constant; decreases

Question 69

At least initially, remarriage brings which conditions?

A) poorer health
B) financial insecurity
C) better health
D) the same level of happiness as in the first marriage

Question 70

The primary form that generativity takes is:

A) being guided by the younger generation.
B) parenting or guiding a younger generation.
C) belonging to a religious organization.
D) volunteering in the community.

Question 71

According to Erikson, when individuals are productive in an unselfish and caring way, they are demonstrating:

A) autonomy.
B) generativity.
C) diffusion.
D) altruism.

Question 72

Research finds that women typically suffer from divorce more than men do, but that many divorced men experience:

A) difficulty meeting new women.
B) increased loneliness.
C) unresolved anger over the breakup.
D) increased financial challenges.

Question 73

Divorce is MOST likely to occur within the first ______ years of a wedding.

A) 1
B) 2
C) 5
D) 10

Question 74

The youngest of Zach and Tuila's three children has just started kindergarten. They have had to change their morning and bedtime routines, child care arrangements, discipline practices, and the family's income has suffered as a result of this shift. These changes reflect the fact that:

A) Zach and Tuila do not know enough about parenting.
B) their children must be especially difficult.
C) Zach and Tuila are trying too hard to please their children.
D) parenting is a dynamic process.

Question 75

Evelyn, a 36-year-old mother of two, has been divorced for six years and would like to remarry. It is MOST likely that she will marry a man who:

A) has children from a previous marriage.
B) has no children.
C) has never been married.
D) is a widower.

Question 76

Lena and Gregory are both 30 years old and hold graduate degrees. They are about to get married; this will be the first marriage for both of them. Statistically, their marriage MOST likely will:

A) end in a divorce.
B) never experience any dips in satisfaction.
C) lead to greater financial insecurity than if had they remained single.
D) last until one of them dies.

Question 77

Which statement about remarriage in the United States is true?

A) Most people remarry within two years of a divorce.
B) Remarriage is more likely after 40.
C) About 25 percent of marriages are remarriages for one partner.
D) Men are more likely than women to remarry.

Question 78

Research indicates that remarried people:

A) are unlikely to divorce.
B) report more happiness than do people in first marriages.
C) have a greater chance of divorce than do people in first marriages.
D) are worse off financially than when they lived alone.

Question 79

Which is NOT a long-term impact of divorce?

A) an increase in income
B) challenges for relationships with children
C) severed friendships
D) decreased self-esteem

Question 80

Common ways to be generative include caregiving, employment that allows for personal growth, and:

A) goal-setting exercises.
B) financial security.
C) creativity.
D) travel.