Question 1

In the Victor Hugo story Les Misérables, a character named Jean Valjean steals a loaf of bread to feed a starving child. How would psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg describe this act?

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning suggests that the morality of an act depends on the intention behind it, rather than the act itself. Valjean's act of stealing bread to feed a starving child could be seen as morally justified, given the circumstances. Kohlberg would argue that the reason behind the theft is what determines its moral value.

Question 2

Heuristics tend to be very

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are cognitive shortcuts used for quick decision making, which prioritizes speed over accuracy. They are not necessarily sophisticated or analytical, but rather focused on finding a solution or answer quickly.

Question 3

Fourteen-year-old Siay, an avid video game player, reads a flawed study showing that video game players are smarter than most people. Then he reads a second study with similar flaws proposing that video game players are poor leaders. What would you predict will happen?

Accepted Answer

Siay is an avid video game player and has a vested interest in believing that video game players are smarter than most people. Additionally, he has already read and believed a flawed study supporting this idea. Therefore, he is likely to overlook the flaws in the first study and dismiss the findings of the second study, which contradict his initial beliefs. This is a common cognitive bias known as confirmation bias.

Question 4

What would you predict would happen when Alan, a white teen who is a racist, reads a scientific study indicating that black people are more intelligent than white people?

Accepted Answer

It is unlikely that a person who holds strong racist beliefs would be swayed by a single scientific study that contradicts those beliefs. Instead, they may dismiss the study as being flawed or biased in some way. It is also possible that they may even double down on their racist beliefs in response to the perceived threat to their worldview.

Question 5

According to Kohlberg's original theory, there are ____ levels of moral reasoning, each containing ____ stages.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Kohlberg's original theory, there are...

Question 6

As a typical young teen, Mpho would be best at detecting ____ flaws in arguments.

Accepted Answer

Young teens are developing their logical reasoning skills, making them better at detecting logical flaws in arguments.

Question 7

Adolescents develop ____ reasoning, which allows them to find weaknesses in arguments.

Accepted Answer

Adolescents develop logical reasoning, which allows them to identify flaws in arguments and form conclusions based on evidence and analysis. This skill enables them to engage in critical thinking and make sound decisions. Heuristic reasoning involves using shortcuts or rules of thumb to make judgments, egocentric reasoning is characterized by a self-centered perspective, and there is no such term as "inflative" reasoning.

Question 8

The illusion of invulnerability is best demonstrated by

Accepted Answer

The illusion of invulnerability refers to the belief that bad things can't happen to oneself, leading to risky behaviors such as unprotected sex by teens. Choices A, C, and D are not related to the concept of invulnerability.

Question 9

Which concept describes the development of processing speed between ages 8 and 18?

Accepted Answer

The concept that describes the development of processing speed between ages 8 and 18 is option B. The time needed to respond decreases for the first years and then levels off as individuals reach adulthood. This leveling off is likely due to the brain reaching its maximum processing capacity.

Question 10

What basic moral question underlies the Heinz dilemma?

Accepted Answer

The Heinz dilemma is centered around the moral question of whether stealing can be justified, as Heinz is faced with the choice of whether to steal a drug to save his wife's life, despite not being able to afford it. This raises the ethical question of whether there are circumstances in which breaking the law can be morally justifiable.

Question 11

The illusion of invulnerability is best defined by the phrase

Accepted Answer

The illusion of invulnerability is the belief that one is immune to harm, danger, or negative outcomes. The phrase "it won't happen to me" is a perfect example of this illusion, as it suggests a sense of superiority and exemption from bad luck or unfortunate events.

Question 12

Which concept is best associated with increased content knowledge?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which concept is best associated with increased...

Question 13

What technique did Kohlberg use to assess moral thinking?

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg used moral dilemmas to assess an individual's moral reasoning. He presented participants with hypothetical situations that presented a moral dilemma and then asked them questions to determine the basis of their decision making.

Question 14

In ____ reasoning, adolescents recognise the hazards in making generalisations from extremely small samples.

Accepted Answer

Scientific reasoning involves understanding the importance of empirical evidence, including the importance of a representative sample size. Adolescents who have developed scientific reasoning skills would recognise that generalisations made from extremely small samples can be unreliable or inaccurate. Heuristic reasoning involves using shortcuts or rules of thumb to make decisions, which is not relevant to this question. Logical reasoning involves making deductions based on established principles, which is also not relevant to this question. Formal operations refer to the cognitive stage of development involving abstract and hypothetical thinking, which is related to but not specifically about reasoning with small samples.

Question 15

Chris is 17 and his brother Tendai is 10. When trying to pick the winner of a violent competition

Accepted Answer

Chris, being older and having more life experience, is more likely to use analytic thinking when trying to pick the winner of the competition. Tendai, on the other hand, may not have the same level of cognitive development and may rely on heuristics, or mental shortcuts, to make his decision.

Question 16

According to Kohlberg

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg believed that the reason underlying a moral decision, or the level of moral reasoning, is more important than the specific action taken. He also believed that there were multiple correct responses to moral dilemmas, based on the level of moral reasoning one was at. Kohlberg's theory suggests that moral reasoning can be assessed, although it may be complex. He did not give preference to religious arguments over other forms of moral reasoning.

Question 17

Which statement best describes the neurological explanation for risk-taking behaviour in teens?

Accepted Answer

The neurological explanation for risk-taking behavior in teens is that the pleasure areas of the brain, such as the nucleus accumbens, develop prior to the prefrontal cortex, which controls decision-making and impulse control. This leads to heightened sensitivity to pleasure and sensation-seeking behavior, while decision-making abilities are not fully developed.

Question 18

Which statement concerning cognitive development in adolescence is true?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement concerning cognitive development in adolescence...

Question 19

While spending a day at a local swimming pool with their family, Paballo (age 5) and her sister Karabo (age 15) met one of the lifeguards, who gave them both a hug and waited patiently for both girls to take selfies with him. When drawing conclusions about lifeguards:

Accepted Answer

Paballo, being younger, is more likely to generalize from a single positive experience, while Karabo, being older, may be more cautious and understand that one experience doesn't represent all lifeguards.

Question 20

Typical teenagers tend to

Accepted Answer

The answer of Typical teenagers tend to
...

Quiz 8: Rites of Passage: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence