Question 1

Brain plasticity is limited in some degree by constraints placed on it by the brain's genetic programming, called critical periods.

Accepted Answer

Brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity, is indeed influenced by critical periods during development, where the brain is particularly sensitive to certain environmental stimuli. These periods are thought to be governed by genetic factors, which can limit the extent and nature of plastic changes that can occur later in life.

Question 2

Only if motor development is substantially delayed beyond the normal range is there cause for concern.

Accepted Answer

Motor development varies among children, and only significant delays beyond typical milestones may indicate underlying issues requiring attention.

Question 3

It appears to be the shared experience of infants rather than unique influences that contribute the most to the environmental portion of temperament.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It appears to be the shared experience...

Question 4

If an infant has a caregiver who provides consistently kind and responsive treatment, he or she may develop a working model that suggests that the world is an unfriendly and noxious place.

Accepted Answer

An infant with a consistently kind and responsive caregiver is likely to develop a working model that views the world as a safe and trustworthy place, reflecting the secure attachment formed through positive interactions.

Question 5

When the mother returns in the strange situation, the insecure-ambivalent infant may rush back to her, but is equally likely to resist her attempts at soothing.

Accepted Answer

Insecure-ambivalent infants show a pattern of seeking closeness to the mother upon her return but also resist her attempts to comfort them, indicating a mix of attachment and resistance.

Question 6

Jean Piaget suggested instead that each infant and child passively assimilates an understanding of the world based on his or her sensory input, but does not do much in the way of actively constructing a model of the world.

Accepted Answer

Jean Piaget proposed that children actively construct their understanding of the world through their experiences, engaging in processes of assimilation and accommodation, rather than passively absorbing information.

Question 7

The preoperational child may also have difficulty performing mental operations requiring an understanding that, for example, an object may retain its identity even if its appearance is changed for some reason.

Accepted Answer

During the preoperational stage, children struggle with understanding that objects can maintain their identity despite changes in appearance, a concept known as conservation. This is due to their focus on perceptual cues rather than logical reasoning.

Question 8

Vygotsky and Piaget both emphasized that cognitive growth in the child is highly variable and dependent on the individual child's social and cultural experiences and the broader sociocultural context as expressed in phenomena such as language.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Vygotsky and Piaget both emphasized that cognitive...

Question 9

The onset of puberty is marked by gonadarche, the maturation of the sexual organs, and the onset of romantic and sexual feelings in adolescence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The onset of puberty is marked by...

Question 10

The quantity of white matter-mylenated axons-increases dramatically during adolescence, while, at the same time, the quantity of gray matter-the slower, unmylenated axons-generally decreases in density.

Accepted Answer

During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant structural changes, including an increase in white matter (myelinated axons) which improves the efficiency of neural transmission. Concurrently, there is a pruning process where the density of gray matter (unmyelinated axons and neuron cell bodies) is reduced, refining neural networks for more efficient processing.

Question 11

Apart from parenting style, parents may have an influence on their children's personality and social development indirectly by influencing the choices the children make regarding peers.

Accepted Answer

Parents influence their children's social environments, including the peers they interact with, which in turn can affect their personality and social development.

Question 12

According to research, as children become adolescent, their friendships become less intimate and supportive, with more emphasis on belonging to a large clique or crowd.

Accepted Answer

As children transition into adolescence, their friendships typically become more intimate and supportive, with an increased emphasis on trust and disclosure rather than belonging to a large clique or crowd.

Question 13

Tests of moral reasoning, like Kohlberg's, do not actually measure or observe moral reasoning in children and adolescents and do not predict moral behavior.

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's tests focus on hypothetical scenarios and reasoning rather than actual behavior, and research has shown that moral reasoning does not always correlate with moral actions.

Question 14

Some cultures have strict rules forbidding women to prepare food when they are menstruating.

Accepted Answer

In some cultures, there are traditional beliefs that consider women impure or contaminated during menstruation, leading to prohibitions against them preparing food during this time.

Question 15

According to Erikson, a strong sense of self does not mean one will find it difficulty to initiate and maintain intimate relationships in adulthood.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Erikson, a strong sense of...

Question 16

Contrary to the stereotypes of grumpy old men and women, older adults tend to report higher levels of positive mood and well-being, at least until extremely advanced age.

Accepted Answer

Research in the field of psychology, particularly studies on aging and emotional well-being, has consistently found that older adults often report higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and emotional well-being compared to younger adults. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the "paradox of aging," suggesting that despite physical decline and other challenges, many older individuals experience improved mood and well-being.

Question 17

Though there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, the causes of the neural plaques are known to be a function of interactions between genes and environmental experience.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Though there is no cure for Alzheimer's...

Question 18

Harmful bacteria, viruses, and substances such as drugs or alcohol can be transferred to the developing fetus and result in ________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Harmful bacteria, viruses, and substances such as...

Question 19

A baby is born with behaviors designed to automatically assist survival the survival of the developing human and so are appropriately known as ________ reflexes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A baby is born with behaviors designed...

Question 20

____________ is a process leading to the reduction in number of seldom-used neurons to allow those that are being used frequently to be maintained efficiently.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________ is a process leading to the...

Quiz 4: Human Lifespan Development