Question 1

What type of theorist would most likely describe human cognitive development using the analogy of "mental software?"
A) An information-processing theorist
B) An Eriksonian
C) An operant conditioning theorist
D) A social learning theorist

Accepted Answer

An information-processing theorist is most likely to describe human cognitive development using the analogy of "mental software." According to this theory, the brain processes information in a similar way to how a computer processes data, with input, processing, and output stages. This analogy highlights the underlying cognitive processes involved in learning, memory, and problem-solving. Erikson's theory focuses on psychosocial development, while operant conditioning and social learning theories emphasize the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior.

Question 2

Who would have the least amount of interest in children's thinking?
A) An information-processing theorist
B) A Skinnerian theorist
C) A Vygotskian theorist
D) A Piagetian theorist

Accepted Answer

Skinnerian theorists focus on observable behavior and stimuli-response relationships, and are less concerned with internal cognitive processes such as children's thinking. Therefore, they would likely have the least amount of interest in children's thinking.

Question 3

Louis discovers that the experiences he has in his developmental psychology class help him to deal with the children he works with at a daycare center. This relationship is best described by Bronfenbrenner's notion of
A) mesosystem.
B) exosystem.
C) macrosystem.
D) microsystem.

Accepted Answer

The mesosystem refers to the interconnections between different microsystems, such as the relationship between Louis's experiences in his class and his work at the daycare center.

Question 4

Marcia is 80 years old and is learning how to speak French and play the guitar for the first time. This new skill development is a good example of
A) multiple causation.
B) historical context.
C) plasticity.
D) multidirectionality.

Accepted Answer

Plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt at any age, allowing individuals to learn new skills, form new memories, and recover from injury or illness. Marcia's ability to learn how to speak French and play the guitar at the age of 80 demonstrates her brain's plasticity.

Question 5

Jackson's knowledge of economics has grown over the years, while at the same time his ability to play hockey has deteriorated. Jackson's experience best exemplifies
A) multiple causation.
B) historical context.
C) plasticity.
D) multidirectionality.

Accepted Answer

Multidirectionality refers to the concept that development can have multiple paths, and that growth and decline can occur simultaneously in different areas of life. In Jackson's case, his knowledge of economics has grown, while his ability to play hockey has declined, demonstrating multidirectionality.

Question 6

The AIDS epidemic has dramatically influenced dating behavior in the 2000s. From an ecological perspective, this influence is best thought of as part of the culture's
A) mesosystem.
B) exosystem.
C) macrosystem.
D) microsystem.

Accepted Answer

The AIDS epidemic is a societal issue that has affected dating behavior on a large scale. As such, it is best classified as part of the macrosystem, which includes cultural values, laws, customs, and resources that influence people's lives. The other options (mesosystem, exosystem, and microsystem) are more relevant for describing individual or small group interactions and do not capture the broad societal impact of the AIDS epidemic on dating behavior.

Question 7

A researcher who wants to study how state welfare programs influence parenting behaviors would be primarily studying
A) microsystems.
B) exosystems.
C) mesosystems.
D) operant conditioning.

Accepted Answer

Exosystems involve the larger social systems that do not directly contain the individual but nonetheless affect their experiences and development. State welfare programs are part of these larger social systems that influence parenting behaviors indirectly, fitting the definition of exosystems.

Question 8

Whose theory is best associated with a life-span perspective emphasizing research on adult development?
A) Bandura
B) Baltes
C) Bronfenbrenner
D) Piaget

Accepted Answer

Baltes is best associated with a life-span perspective emphasizing research on adult development. He proposed the concept of "life-span development" which emphasizes that development occurs throughout the entire lifespan and that aging individuals have the capacity for growth and adaptation. His theory emphasizes the importance of studying development across multiple domains, including physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional, and how these domains intersect over time.

Question 9

The biggest difference between Vygotsky's approach to development and that of Piaget and the information-processing approach is that Vygotsky placed more emphasis on
A) the impact of culture.
B) stages of development.
C) thinking.
D) unconscious thoughts.

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky believed that the cultural and social context plays a significant role in cognitive development, whereas Piaget focused more on individual cognitive processes and stages of development. The information-processing approach focuses on the mechanisms involved in cognitive processing, but does not emphasize culture to the same extent as Vygotsky.

Question 10

When describing the development of his son Pitt, Brad says, "The best way to describe it is in terms of a slow computer with a small memory getting faster processor and more storage space." This type of description would suggest that Brad adheres to a(n) _______ approach to development.
A) operant conditioning
B) ecological theory
C) Piagetian
D) information-processing

Accepted Answer

The comparison to a computer and its processing power and storage space suggests an information-processing approach to development. This approach views children as actively processing information like a computer does, and as they develop they improve their processing speed, storage capacity, and efficiency.

Question 11

Rutger believes that, rather than progressing through a sequence of stages, mental processes gradually get more complex and efficient. Rutger is most likely a proponent of
A) Piaget's theory.
B) Kohlberg's theory.
C) information-processing theory.
D) Erikson's theory.

Accepted Answer

Rutger's belief that mental processes gradually become more complex and efficient is most aligned with the information-processing theory, which views cognitive development as a gradual increase in the ability to process and manipulate information. Piaget's theory involves distinct stages of development, Kohlberg's theory focuses on moral reasoning, and Erikson's theory emphasizes psychosocial development across the lifespan.

Question 12

Which theorist is best associated with an ecological approach to human development?
A) Freud
B) Piaget
C) Erikson
D) Bronfenbrenner

Accepted Answer

Bronfenbrenner is best associated with an ecological approach to human development. He proposed the Ecological Systems Theory, which emphasizes the interaction between the individual and their environment, including the microsystem (immediate environment), mesosystem (connections between microsystems), exosystem (indirect environment), and macrosystem (cultural values and beliefs).

Question 13

When Dr. Bentley is asked to explain troubled adolescents, she says, "The only way to explain the problems of adolescents is to study them in relation to their parents and the culture that surrounds them." Dr. Bentley is most likely a proponent of ____ theory.
A) Psychodynamic
B) cognitive developmental
C) ecological
D) social cognitive

Accepted Answer

The ecological theory, also known as the systems theory, views development as a dynamic process that is influenced by an individual's environment and social context, including family, culture, and community. Dr. Bentley's statement suggests that she believes that understanding troubled adolescents requires an examination of their larger social ecosystem, which aligns with the ecological theory.

Question 14

According to ecological theorydevelopmentalists, the people closest to a developing child represent their
A) microsystem.
B) macrosystem.
C) macrosystem .
D) exosystem.

Accepted Answer

According to ecological theory, the microsystem refers to the immediate environment that a child directly interacts with, such as family, peers, and school. The people closest to a child, such as parents, siblings, and teachers, are part of their microsystem. Therefore, the best answer is A) microsystem.

Question 15

Multidirectionality, plasticity, historical context, and multiple causation are all key features of the ________ perspective.
A) life-span
B) cognitive-developmental
C) psychosocial
D) Ecological

Accepted Answer

The life-span perspective emphasizes multidirectionality, plasticity, historical context, and multiple causation as key features in understanding human development throughout the entire life span.

Question 16

Dr. Strauss is a developmental psychologist who is interested in Vygotsky's theory. What sort of forces are probably of most interest to Dr. Strauss?
A) Biological
B) Psychological
C) Life cycle
D) Sociocultural

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky's theory emphasizes the importance of sociocultural factors in development, so it is likely that Dr. Strauss is most interested in sociocultural forces.

Question 17

Matti finds himself unable to adjust to college because he doesn't seem to have the study skills necessary to earn passing grades. Matti's predicament would probably best be explained by
A) psychosocial theory.
B) Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory.
C) the competence-environmental press theory.
D) Kohlberg's theory of moral development.

Accepted Answer

The competence-environmental press theory emphasizes the interaction between an individual's competency level and the demands or expectations of their environment. In Matti's case, he may not have the necessary study skills (competency level) to meet the demands of college (environmental press). This can lead to difficulty adjusting to college and earning passing grades.

Question 18

When Tina was given a huge salary increase, she was able to get things for her children that they had always needed and move into a nicer home. Bronfenbrenner would state that this increase in the mother's salary is an example of the impact of the children's
A) exosystem.
B) mesosystem.
C) macrosystem.
D) microsystem.

Accepted Answer

The exosystem refers to the social settings that indirectly affect the child's development, such as parents' work environment and policies. In this scenario, the increase in the mother's salary affected the family's financial situation, which is part of the exosystem impacting the children's development.

Question 19

Who is most likely to support a life-span perspective?
A) Corynne, who believes that childhood is the most important stage of development
B) Claire, who thinks that to understand adults you must consider prior development
C) Simone, who agrees with Piaget
D) Danielle, who agrees with Vygotsky

Accepted Answer

The life-span perspective recognizes that development is continuous across the entire span of life, and that each stage of development builds upon previous stages. Claire's belief that to understand adults, you must consider prior development is consistent with this perspective. The other choices do not reflect a life-span perspective.

Question 20

Mary has only one child, one-year-old Shelly, and has stayed home for most of Shelly's life. From an ecological perspective, Mary is best thought of as part of Shelly's
A) mesosystem.
B) exosystem.
C) macrosystem.
D) microsystem.

Accepted Answer

Mary is part of Shelly's microsystem, which includes the immediate environment in which Shelly directly interacts with, such as family, friends, and caregivers.

Quiz 1: The Study of Human Development

What type of theorist would most likely describe human cognitive development using the analogy of "mental software?"

Who would have the least amount of interest in children's thinking?

Louis discovers that the experiences he has in his developmental psychology class help him to deal with the children he works with at a daycare center. This relationship is best described by Bronfenbrenner's notion of

Marcia is 80 years old and is learning how to speak French and play the guitar for the first time. This new skill development is a good example of

Jackson's knowledge of economics has grown over the years, while at the same time his ability to play hockey has deteriorated. Jackson's experience best exemplifies

The AIDS epidemic has dramatically influenced dating behavior in the 2000s. From an ecological perspective, this influence is best thought of as part of the culture's

A researcher who wants to study how state welfare programs influence parenting behaviors would be primarily studying

Whose theory is best associated with a life-span perspective emphasizing research on adult development?

The biggest difference between Vygotsky's approach to development and that of Piaget and the information-processing approach is that Vygotsky placed more emphasis on

When describing the development of his son Pitt, Brad says, "The best way to describe it is in terms of a slow computer with a small memory getting faster processor and more storage space." This type of description would suggest that Brad adheres to a(n) _______ approach to development.

Rutger believes that, rather than progressing through a sequence of stages, mental processes gradually get more complex and efficient. Rutger is most likely a proponent of

Which theorist is best associated with an ecological approach to human development?

When Dr. Bentley is asked to explain troubled adolescents, she says, "The only way to explain the problems of adolescents is to study them in relation to their parents and the culture that surrounds them." Dr. Bentley is most likely a proponent of ____ theory.

According to ecological theorydevelopmentalists, the people closest to a developing child represent their

Multidirectionality, plasticity, historical context, and multiple causation are all key features of the ________ perspective.

Dr. Strauss is a developmental psychologist who is interested in Vygotsky's theory. What sort of forces are probably of most interest to Dr. Strauss?

Matti finds himself unable to adjust to college because he doesn't seem to have the study skills necessary to earn passing grades. Matti's predicament would probably best be explained by

When Tina was given a huge salary increase, she was able to get things for her children that they had always needed and move into a nicer home. Bronfenbrenner would state that this increase in the mother's salary is an example of the impact of the children's

Who is most likely to support a life-span perspective?

Mary has only one child, one-year-old Shelly, and has stayed home for most of Shelly's life. From an ecological perspective, Mary is best thought of as part of Shelly's