Question 1

Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory would suggest that the best way to help toddlers develop a sense of autonomy would be to
A) be patient and allow the child to do things on her own, even if she struggles a bit.
B) allow the child to make his own decisions about what he wants to eat and when he wants to eat it.
C) let the child learn by watching other children of her own age, rather than getting help from an adult.
D) hold very high standards for the child and be critical of the child's performance when the child doesn't meet your expectations.

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory emphasizes the importance of toddlers developing a sense of autonomy, or the ability to do things on their own. By allowing the child to struggle a bit and do things independently, parents can help them develop this sense of autonomy and feel more confident in their abilities. Choices B and C do not necessarily relate to autonomy, and choice D goes against Erikson's theory by suggesting that criticism and high standards would be beneficial for a child's development.

Question 2

In Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the basic drives, such as sex and hunger, are contained in the
A) id.
B) ego.
C) unconscious.
D) superego.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the id represents the primitive and instinctual part of the personality, responsible for the basic drives such as sex and hunger. It operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification without concern for morality or reality.

Question 3

In Erikson's psychosocial theory, the developmental challenge of infancy is the issue of
A) initiative versus guilt.
B) trust versus mistrust.
C) autonomy versus shame.
D) intimacy versus isolation.

Accepted Answer

Erikson's psychosocial theory states that the first developmental challenge that infants face is trust versus mistrust. This refers to the degree to which infants can rely on the consistency, reliability, and availability of their caregivers. Infants who develop a sense of trust are able to feel safe and secure in the world, while those who develop mistrust may struggle with anxiety and suspicion.

Question 4

Psychoanalytic theory focuses on the internal process of the mind, but learning theories focus on
A) conscious motivation.
B) adaptive biological mechanisms.
C) biological maturation.
D) observable behavior.

Accepted Answer

Learning theories focus on observable behavior, the external and measurable aspects of human experience, and the ways in which individuals respond to stimuli in their environment. This is in contrast to psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes the internal mental processes and unconscious motivations that shape behavior. Biological mechanisms and maturation may be relevant to both psychoanalytic and learning theories, but they are not the primary focus.

Question 5

In the process of classical conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that
A) naturally evokes an unconditioned response.
B) provokes a conditioned response.
C) that has no meaning before the process begins.
D) is quickly extinguished once the conditioning stops.

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that naturally evokes an unconditioned response. It is called "unconditioned" because it does not require any learning or conditioning to evoke the response.

Question 6

Freud would say that an adult who smokes heavily or one who constantly bites her nails
A) is trying to repress her aggressive urges.
B) is fixated at the oral stages because these needs were not met in infancy.
C) has not resolved his or her issues with the same-sex parent.
D) is stuck in the latency stage of development.

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that humans go through psychosexual stages of development, with the oral stage being the first. If a child did not have their oral needs met during this stage, such as being breastfed, they could become fixated and develop habits such as nail-biting or smoking as a way to fulfill those needs.

Question 7

When we look at developmental theories in historical perspective, we find that
A) theories do not develop in a vacuum because each draws upon earlier ideas or concepts.
B) over time theories have given more and more weight to the influence of early experiences on development.
C) all of our current best ideas are really just old ideas that have been recycled.
D) the oldest theories, such as psychoanalysis and classical conditioning, are really still the best ones.

Accepted Answer

Developmental theories are built upon previous concepts and ideas, which means that they are not developed in isolation. As our understanding of human development progresses, new theories emerge that incorporate or build upon earlier ideas. This is why it is important to consider developmental theories in a historical context. Choices B, C, and D are not accurate because they oversimplify the complexity of developmental theories and do not reflect the nuanced ways in which they have evolved over time.

Question 8

The psychoanalytic technique of free association is intended to
A) uncover thoughts that are in the unconscious mind.
B) repress thoughts that create anxiety and stress for the person.
C) engage the reality principle so people can deal with their problems.
D) move people through the psychosexual stages of development.

Accepted Answer

Free association is used to access and bring repressed thoughts and memories from the unconscious mind to the conscious awareness. By doing so, individuals can gain insight into their thoughts, feelings, and past experiences that may be contributing to their current issues. This technique is a fundamental aspect of psychoanalytic therapy.

Question 9

John Watson classically conditioned Little Albert to demonstrate
A) that infants could learn to salivate to the sound of a bell.
B) how classical conditioning could create fear in a human infant.
C) that reinforcement was more powerful in shaping behavior than punishment.
D) how quickly responses can be learned and then unlearned.

Accepted Answer

John Watson's famous experiment aimed to show how classical conditioning could create fear in a human infant. He conditioned Little Albert to fear a white rat by repeatedly pairing its presence with a loud, frightening noise until the rat alone produced fear in the child. This fear then transferred to other furry objects, such as a rabbit, a fur coat, and even Watson's own hair. The experiment raised important ethical issues about the treatment of human subjects in psychological research.

Question 10

Watson believed that our personality, abilities and other qualities are primarily determined by
A) biological maturation.
B) neural impulses.
C) the environment.
D) internal drives.

Accepted Answer

Watson was a behaviorist and believed that our personality, abilities and other qualities are primarily determined by the environment and our experiences. He believed that nature plays a secondary role in shaping our behavior and that with the right environmental conditions, anyone can become anything.

Question 11

The major modern application of psychoanalytic theory has been in the area of
A) neuroscience.
B) ethnography.
C) developmental psychopathology.
D) information processing.

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic theory has been applied extensively in understanding and treating developmental psychopathology, such as personality disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression. This application involves identifying unconscious conflicts, defense mechanisms, and early childhood experiences of patients that may have shaped their psychological development.

Question 12

According to Freud, boys and girls develop what has been called "the family romance" during the ____________ stage of development.
A) anal
B) phallic
C) latency
D) genital

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, during the phallic stage of development (ages 3-6 years old), children develop a sense of attraction to the opposite-sex parent and feelings of rivalry with the same-sex parent. This is referred to as the Oedipus complex for boys and the Electra complex for girls. As a part of this process, children create an imaginary scenario called the "family romance" where they imagine themselves as the hero or heroine in a story where they win the affection of their desired parent and conquer their rival parent. This helps the child cope with their feelings of conflict and desire during this stage of development.

Question 13

The superego is the part of the personality that
A) contains the basic biological drives, such as sex and hunger.
B) deal with the demands of the real world and the demands of the id.
C) constitutes the conscience or sense of right and wrong.
D) contains the growing sense of autonomy as the child develops.

Accepted Answer

The superego, according to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, represents the internalized values, ideals, and moral standards learned from society and culture. It functions as the conscience or sense of right and wrong, and it strives to suppress or control the impulses and desires of the id that go against societal norms and expectations.

Question 14

The driving force for development in Erik Erikson's theory is the
A) use of rewards and punishment to shape the child's behavior.
B) need to understand and make sense of the child's experiences.
C) social experiences that are typical at each stage of development.
D) need to adapt to the changing demands of the environment.

Accepted Answer

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development emphasizes the importance of social experiences at each stage of development, suggesting that these experiences are the driving force behind development.

Question 15

The force that drives development
A) is biological processes in early development, but environmental processes later on.
B) alternates between biological process and environmental processes throughout development
C) cannot be quantified so we cannot say what this force might be.
D) can be biological processes, environmental events, or a combination of both.

Accepted Answer

The force that drives development can be biological processes, environmental events, or a combination of both. Different factors can contribute to development at different stages, so both nature and nurture are involved in driving development.

Question 16

The part of the personality in Freudian psychoanalytic theory that negotiates between the demands of the real world and the drive to satisfy basic drives is the
A) id.
B) ego.
C) superego.
D) latency principle.

Accepted Answer

The ego in Freudian psychoanalytic theory is the part of the personality that negotiates between the demands of the real world and the drive to satisfy basic drives. It operates based on the reality principle, which means that it considers the constraints of the external world and tries to find ways to balance them with the needs of the id (the unconscious part of the personality that seeks pleasure and immediate gratification) and the superego (the internalized values and ideals of society).

Question 17

A basic set of principles that help us organize our observations in order to understand and predict human development is called a(n)
A) hypothesis.
B) operationalization.
C) theory.
D) dynamic system.

Accepted Answer

A theory is a basic set of principles that help us organize our observations in order to understand and predict human development. It is a broad framework that provides a way of thinking about the complex processes involved in human development.

Question 18

Freud believed that the key to healthy psychological functioning involved
A) children directly confronting their parents about their perceived mistreatment while they were young.
B) releasing inhibitions and given free reign to the demands of the id.
C) uncovering the thoughts in the unconscious mind that were associated with the psychological symptoms of the person's problem.
D) slowly being desensitized to stimuli that are provoking anxiety.

Accepted Answer

Freud believed in the concept of the unconscious mind, which holds thoughts and memories that are not immediately accessible to awareness. He posited that unresolved conflicts held in the unconscious could lead to psychological symptoms. Therefore, the key to healthy psychological functioning involved uncovering these unconscious thoughts and resolving the conflicts associated with them. This process, known as psychoanalysis, involves exploring past experiences and encouraging the patient to talk openly about their thoughts and feelings in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Through this process, Freud believed that patients could gain insight into the root causes of their psychological problems and develop healthier ways of coping.

Question 19

As children grow, they become taller and heavier. This is a(n)
A) quantitative change in development.
B) qualitative change in development.
C) accumulative change in development.
D) transactive change in development.

Accepted Answer

A quantitative change in development refers to changes in amount or quantity, such as an increase in height or weight. As children grow taller and heavier, they are experiencing a quantitative change in development.

Question 20

The scientific process
A) is the best way to prove or disprove a theory.
B) provides us with hypotheses, but does not provide the methodology to test them.
C) has changed over time so that there now is little agreement on the best way to conduct the process.
D) cannot prove a theory beyond a shadow of a doubt, but can provide evidence that supports or opposes the ideas in it.

Accepted Answer

The scientific process involves developing hypotheses, testing them through experiments or observations, analyzing the data, and drawing conclusions. It cannot prove a theory with absolute certainty, but it can provide strong evidence that supports or refutes the ideas in it. As scientific knowledge advances, the process may be refined or modified, but there is still broad agreement on its basic principles.

Quiz 2: Theories of Development

Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory would suggest that the best way to help toddlers develop a sense of autonomy would be to

In Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the basic drives, such as sex and hunger, are contained in the

In Erikson's psychosocial theory, the developmental challenge of infancy is the issue of

Psychoanalytic theory focuses on the internal process of the mind, but learning theories focus on

In the process of classical conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that

Freud would say that an adult who smokes heavily or one who constantly bites her nails

When we look at developmental theories in historical perspective, we find that

The psychoanalytic technique of free association is intended to

John Watson classically conditioned Little Albert to demonstrate

Watson believed that our personality, abilities and other qualities are primarily determined by

The major modern application of psychoanalytic theory has been in the area of

According to Freud, boys and girls develop what has been called "the family romance" during the ____________ stage of development.

The superego is the part of the personality that

The driving force for development in Erik Erikson's theory is the

The force that drives development

The part of the personality in Freudian psychoanalytic theory that negotiates between the demands of the real world and the drive to satisfy basic drives is the

A basic set of principles that help us organize our observations in order to understand and predict human development is called a(n)

Freud believed that the key to healthy psychological functioning involved

As children grow, they become taller and heavier. This is a(n)

The scientific process