Question 1

Popular children tend to be attractive, mature for their age, and successful in sports or academics.

Accepted Answer

Research in developmental psychology suggests that popular children often possess traits such as physical attractiveness, maturity relative to their age, and success in activities valued by their peers, such as sports or academics. These characteristics can contribute to their social status and popularity among peers.

Question 2

Research on the children of lesbian or transsexual parents has shown their gender preferences for toys, clothing, and friends to be comparable to the gender preferences of children of heterosexual parents.

Accepted Answer

Numerous studies have found that children of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents show no significant differences in their gender preferences for toys, clothing, and friends compared to children of heterosexual parents. These findings suggest that parental sexual orientation does not significantly affect these aspects of child development.

Question 3

Boys are more likely than girls to treat friends as confidants.

Accepted Answer

Girls are generally more likely than boys to treat friends as confidants, often sharing emotions and secrets more openly in their friendships.

Question 4

Conduct disorder typically does not emerge until adolescence.

Accepted Answer

Conduct disorder can emerge in childhood, typically before the age of 10. Adolescence is a period where symptoms of conduct disorder may become more severe or persistent.

Question 5

The best way to treat school phobia is to let the child stay home.

Accepted Answer

Allowing the child to stay home reinforces the fear and only makes it worse. Treatment for school phobia typically involves a combination of therapy, medication (if necessary), and support from teachers and parents to gradually help the child overcome their fear and return to school.

Question 6

Depression in children sometimes has a genetic component.

Accepted Answer

Depression can be influenced by genetic factors, and research has shown that if a child has a family history of depression, they may be at a higher risk of developing depression themselves.

Question 7

A majority of children experience bullying during their school years.

Accepted Answer

Studies and surveys consistently show that a significant number of children experience some form of bullying during their school years, indicating that a majority are affected either directly or indirectly.

Question 8

Children with rejecting and neglecting parents are more likely to have low self-esteem than those with restrictive and involved parents.

Accepted Answer

Children with rejecting and neglecting parents often experience a lack of emotional support and validation, which can lead to low self-esteem. In contrast, restrictive and involved parents, despite potential strictness, typically provide a sense of structure, support, and involvement in their child's life, contributing to higher self-esteem.

Question 9

Children in middle childhood respond best to teaching that is direct, such as lecturing.

Accepted Answer

Children in middle childhood (ages 6-12) are at a stage where they are starting to develop more abstract thinking skills and prefer hands-on and interactive learning experiences rather than just being lectured to. They benefit from a variety of teaching methods including visual aids, group projects, and interactive discussions.

Question 10

After a parental divorce, most children have a 50/50 living relationship between their mothers and fathers.

Accepted Answer

Most children do not have a 50/50 living arrangement after a parental divorce. Typically, children are more likely to live primarily with one parent, often the mother, although joint custody arrangements are becoming more common.

Question 11

The most effective teachers ask questions, give personalized feedback, and provide opportunities for drill and practice.

Accepted Answer

Effective teaching strategies include asking questions to engage students, providing personalized feedback to address individual learning needs, and offering opportunities for drill and practice to reinforce skills and knowledge.

Question 12

Teachers' expectations are rarely related to children's actual school performance.

Accepted Answer

Teachers' expectations can significantly influence children's academic performance, often creating a self-fulfilling prophecy where students achieve at levels consistent with their teachers' expectations.

Question 13

Children of working mothers usually show serious adjustment problems.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Research has shown that there is no significant difference in the adjustment of children whose mothers work outside the home and those whose mothers do not. Factors such as the quality of child care and the support available to both the mother and child can have an impact on the child's adjustment, but the mother's employment status alone is not a determining factor.

Question 14

In middle childhood, peers are rated as a child's best source of emotional support.

Accepted Answer

During middle childhood, parents are typically rated as the best source of emotional support for children, not peers.

Question 15

Depression is rare in children younger than 12 years of age.

Accepted Answer

Depression can occur in children younger than 12 years of age, and while it may present differently than in adults, it is not considered rare. Pediatric depression is recognized and can manifest through symptoms such as irritability, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

Question 16

Girls are most dominant in classroom conversations.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that boys are often more dominant in classroom conversations, frequently taking more turns and speaking for longer periods than girls.

Question 17

Teachers may have lowered expectations of children from low-income families and children who are members of minority groups.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that teachers can have biased expectations based on students' socioeconomic status or racial/ethnic background, which can affect the quality of education and support those students receive.

Question 18

Depression in middle childhood occurs equally among boys and girls.

Accepted Answer

According to research, depression in middle childhood occurs equally among boys and girls. However, symptoms may differ between genders with boys displaying more externalized behaviors such as aggression, while girls may exhibit more internalized behaviors like withdrawal.

Question 19

Self-esteem declines in middle childhood as children compare themselves to other children.

Accepted Answer

During middle childhood, children become more aware of social comparisons, which can lead to a decline in self-esteem as they evaluate their abilities and worth against their peers.

Question 20

Having an internal attribution style is associated with depression in children.

Accepted Answer

Children with an internal attribution style, who blame themselves for negative events, are more likely to experience feelings of helplessness and depression, as they perceive themselves as the cause of their own failures or negative experiences.

Quiz 10: Middle Childhood: Social and Emotional Development