Question 1

One of the most troublesome changes that occur in middle adulthood (at least in the United States) is
A) The lack of adequately funded retirement
B) The changes in physical appearance
C) The empty nest syndrome
D) Age discrimination

Accepted Answer

Changes in physical appearance, such as graying hair, wrinkles, and weight gain, are often considered troublesome as they can affect self-esteem and societal perceptions.

Question 2

Feminists and conflict theorists make which of the following arguments about the source of the double standard in aging in the United States:
A) Biological differences explain the preferences of men and women
B) Sociological constructs explain the preferences for older men over older women
C) Family structures change as men and women reach middle adulthood resulting in dynamics that favor women over men
D) Patriarchal society perpetuates this type of discrimination because men have power over media and other sources that put out messages about what is attractive and desirable

Accepted Answer

Feminists and conflict theorists argue that the double standard in aging is perpetuated by a patriarchal society that gives men power over media and other sources that put out messages about what is attractive and desirable. Therefore, option D is the best choice. Options A, B, and C are not supported by feminists and conflict theorists.

Question 3

With regard to cognitive capacity in middle adulthood, all of the following are true EXCEPT:
A) People in middle adulthood tend to be at their best creatively
B) People in middle adulthood are often better problem solvers than young adults
C) People in middle adulthood experience a decrease in problem solving skills
D) People in middle adulthood are better at integrating new knowledge with what they already know because their rich experiences have created many neuronal connections

Accepted Answer

People in middle adulthood do not experience a decrease in problem solving skills, rather they tend to use their prior experiences and knowledge to effectively solve problems. Options A, B, and D are all true statements about cognitive capacity in middle adulthood.

Question 4

Adults in middle adulthood who cannot look beyond their own emotional needs may be facing Erikson's conflicts?
A) Stagnation
B) Generativity
C) Identity
D) Industry

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development identifies the conflict for middle adulthood as being between stagnation and generativity. Stagnation occurs when adults become self-absorbed and unable to look beyond their own emotional needs, while generativity involves adults finding meaning in their lives by contributing to the development and well-being of others. Therefore, A) Stagnation is the best choice for adults in middle adulthood who cannot look beyond their own emotional needs according to Erikson's theory.

Question 5

According to Levinson's theory of adult development, life structures
A) Are set when an individual is a child and rarely change
B) May shift and adjust as people gain new experiences
C) Are patterns of critical thinking
D) Exclude the environment

Accepted Answer

According to Levinson's theory of adult development, life structures may shift and adjust as people gain new experiences. Life structures refer to the patterns of roles and relationships that individuals develop over time, and they are not set in stone. Levinson's theory emphasizes the importance of transitions and challenges in prompting individuals to reassess and potentially modify their life structures.

Question 6

Levinson's theory recognizes that women's development tends to differ from men's in that women:
A) Make the adult transition earlier than men
B) Do not make the middle adult transition until their 60's
C) Are much less likely to have a mentor than men and their "dream" tends to be more focused on the needs of others
D) Are more focused on personal goals and career attainment than men

Accepted Answer

Levinson's theory suggests that women's development tends to differ from men's in that they are less likely to have a mentor than men and their "dream" tends to be more focused on the needs of others. Additionally, women often experience a conflict between their desire for personal achievement and their societal role as caretakers. Women also tend to make the middle adult transition later in life, often in their 60's, as they may shift their focus to retirement or other interests after their children have grown.

Question 7

A social worker might employ Motivational Interviewing with a client who is considering life style changes after receiving a medical diagnosis of diabetes through:
A) An exploration of the client's family health history
B) An exploration of the pros and cons of making changes in eating and exercise habits
C) Educating the client about the risks and long-term health impacts of diabetes
D) Advocating for lifestyle changes that would immediately impact the client's risky lifestyle

Accepted Answer

Motivational Interviewing involves exploring the client's ambivalence towards behavior change and helping the client identify and resolve any barriers to change. By exploring the pros and cons of making changes in eating and exercise habits, the social worker helps the client develop intrinsic motivation and identify personal reasons for change. This approach is more empowering and client-centered than educating the client about the risks or advocating for immediate lifestyle changes.

Question 8

With regard to menopause, most women experience
A) Anxiety
B) Depression
C) A welcomed relief
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Menopause can be associated with a range of emotional responses, including anxiety, depression, and for some, a sense of relief from the worry of pregnancy or menstrual discomforts. Each woman's experience is unique, and thus, all of the mentioned responses can occur.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a cultural response to menopause that differs from the medical model perspective which views menopause as having symptoms that need to be "cured":
A) menopause is a hurdle to overcome in the life course
B) menopause is an unnatural event in the course of life to be avoided
C) menopause has symptoms mastered much as they mastered other events and circumstances in their lives
D) menopause has positive impacts on family structure and should be encouraged earlier in life through medications

Accepted Answer

Option C presents a cultural response that differs from the medical model perspective's view of menopause as a set of symptoms that require medical attention. The cultural response presented in Option C sees menopause symptoms as challenges that women learn to manage in much the same way they have learned to overcome other challenges in their lives. Options A and B are not culturally responsive, as they both view menopause negatively, either as a hurdle to overcome or as an unnatural event. Option D suggests the use of medications to encourage menopause earlier in life, which is not a culturally responsive perspective either.

Question 10

The male climacteric refers to a period when many men
A) Reevaluate their careers & relationships
B) Tend to be cautious about taking new risks
C) Realize they are no longer young and stop trying
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of The male climacteric refers to a period...

Question 11

The psychological process associated with the male climacteric is referred to as:
A) Depression
B) The midlife crisis
C) Youth-seeking behavior
D) Life structures

Accepted Answer

The male climacteric is often associated with the midlife crisis, a period of psychological and emotional changes that can result in anxiety, depression, or a desire to make significant life changes. This stage is characterized by a re-evaluation of one's life goals and accomplishments, as well as changes in self-image and relationships.

Question 12

A 55-year-old man who taking a community college course on using social networks to improve his company's marketing plan may be making which of Peck's middle adulthood adjustments?
A) Socializing vs sexualizing
B) Mental flexibility versus mental rigidity
C) Emotional flexibility versus emotional rigidity
D) Valuing wisdom over physical powers

Accepted Answer

Peck's middle adulthood adjustment of mental flexibility versus mental rigidity refers to the ability to adapt to new ideas and situations versus being set in one's ways. Taking a community college course on using social networks shows a willingness to learn and adapt, indicating mental flexibility. The other options do not fit the scenario as well.

Question 13

All the following are diseases that commonly occur in middle adulthood EXCEPT:
A) Diabetes
B) Hypertension
C) Heart disease
D) Whooping Cough

Accepted Answer

Whooping cough is a disease that primarily affects infants, children, and occasionally adolescents, but is not common in middle adulthood. The other options (diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease) are commonly associated with middle-aged individuals.

Question 14

Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic blacks have ______ prevalence rates of diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites.
A) Double
B) Comparable
C) Inconsequential
D) Research into this issue is inconclusive

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic blacks have higher prevalence rates of diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites. In fact, Mexican Americans are almost twice as likely to develop diabetes as non-Hispanic whites.

Question 15

All of the following are possible causes for health disparities in minority communities EXCEPT:
A) Poverty
B) Access to free health clinics
C) History of oppression
D) Stress

Accepted Answer

Access to free health clinics would not be a cause for health disparities in minority communities because it would actually improve access to healthcare for those who may not have the means to afford it otherwise. The other options listed, poverty, history of oppression, and stress, have all been shown to contribute to health disparities in minority communities.

Question 16

Many critics argue the leading reason for divorce is:
A) The notion of "romantic love"
B) Conflict over finances
C) Marrying too young
D) Having too many children

Accepted Answer

The notion of "romantic love" is often cited as a leading reason for divorce. This is because romantic love is often based on unrealistic expectations and can lead to disappointment and conflict when those expectations are not met.

Question 17

In Sternberg's theory of love, commitment refers to the type of love in which
A) There are no elements of closeness
B) There is a combination of all the elements of love
C) There is a lack of all the elements of love
D) The couple genuinely likes each other

Accepted Answer

Commitment, in Sternberg's theory of love, refers to the decision to love someone and maintain that love, even in the absence of feelings of intimacy or passion. It does not necessarily involve closeness (intimacy) or physical attraction (passion) but is rather a decision or promise to be with someone.

Question 18

Although divorce does not carry the stigma that it once did,
A) Women generally are the ones who suffer the most financially
B) Divorced men exhibit higher rates of suicide
C) Divorced men have shorter life spans
D) All the above

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that women generally suffer more financially after a divorce, and both divorced men and women have higher rates of depression and shorter life spans compared to their married counterparts. Additionally, studies have also shown that divorced men exhibit higher rates of suicide. Therefore, all of the options listed are true statements.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a predictor of divorce?
A) criticism
B) defensiveness
C) commitment
D) stonewalling

Accepted Answer

Criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling are all considered predictors of divorce based on research, but commitment is not. In fact, high levels of commitment have been found to be a protective factor against divorce.

Question 20

Divorce during the middle adult years can have a number of negative outcomes. Which of the following is NOT a negative outcome mentioned in the textbook?
A) divorce may result in too many supportive relationships at work and cause work slowdowns
B) divorced people have shorter life spans than married people, and divorced men exhibit higher suicide rates than married men
C) couples may find themselves socially, emotionally, and financially tied to the relationship.
D) some long-time couples may have trouble dividing possessions, property, and finances such as retirement accounts

Accepted Answer

The negative outcomes mentioned in the textbook include shorter life spans, higher suicide rates, social, emotional, and financial ties to the relationship, and trouble dividing possessions and finances. However, there is no mention of divorce resulting in too many supportive relationships at work and causing work slowdowns.

Quiz 11: Development in Middle Adulthood

One of the most troublesome changes that occur in middle adulthood (at least in the United States) is

Feminists and conflict theorists make which of the following arguments about the source of the double standard in aging in the United States:

With regard to cognitive capacity in middle adulthood, all of the following are true EXCEPT:

Adults in middle adulthood who cannot look beyond their own emotional needs may be facing Erikson's conflicts?

According to Levinson's theory of adult development, life structures

Levinson's theory recognizes that women's development tends to differ from men's in that women:

A social worker might employ Motivational Interviewing with a client who is considering life style changes after receiving a medical diagnosis of diabetes through:

With regard to menopause, most women experience

Which of the following is an example of a cultural response to menopause that differs from the medical model perspective which views menopause as having symptoms that need to be "cured":

The male climacteric refers to a period when many men

The psychological process associated with the male climacteric is referred to as:

A 55-year-old man who taking a community college course on using social networks to improve his company's marketing plan may be making which of Peck's middle adulthood adjustments?

All the following are diseases that commonly occur in middle adulthood EXCEPT:

Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic blacks have ______ prevalence rates of diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites.

All of the following are possible causes for health disparities in minority communities EXCEPT:

Many critics argue the leading reason for divorce is:

In Sternberg's theory of love, commitment refers to the type of love in which

Although divorce does not carry the stigma that it once did,

Which of the following is NOT a predictor of divorce?

Divorce during the middle adult years can have a number of negative outcomes. Which of the following is NOT a negative outcome mentioned in the textbook?