Question 1

Some evidence reveals a link between children's departure from the home and __________.

Accepted Answer

The question is about the changes that occur in parents when children leave home. The correct answer is D because it suggests that men may become more open to their "feminine" side, implying a change in behavior or personality that could be triggered by their children's departure. The other options do not directly relate to the situation of children leaving home.

Question 2

Which statement is true about psychological well-being in midlife?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that the importance of having a spouse or partner in maintaining good mental health becomes increasingly significant in late midlife (around age 60 and beyond). Option A is incorrect because high life adversity, such as experiencing traumatic events or chronic stress, is actually associated with poorer psychological well-being. Option C is also incorrect since research has consistently shown the positive effects of exercise on mental health. Option D is incorrect because while there may be some gender differences in how role involvement affects well-being, both men and women generally report more positive emotion and environmental mastery as their level of role involvement increases.

Question 3

Jay,age 50,is finally comfortable with himself.He is more independent,assertive,and committed to his personal values than he was in early adulthood.Jay probably believes that midlife is __________.

Accepted Answer

Jay's newfound comfort with himself suggests that he sees midlife as a positive stage of life, rather than a time of upheaval or crisis (A), a mere stepping-stone to old age (B), or more stressful than early adulthood (C). Therefore, the best choice is D, "the prime of life."

Question 4

Nat is 42.His sister,Kiana,is 25.Which statement is the most likely to be true based solely on their ages?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that as people age, they often develop better coping mechanisms and strategies for dealing with life's challenges, including planning for future discomforts. This is attributed to life experience and emotional maturity.

Question 5

In adulthood,__________ is associated with cognitive flexibility,creativity,advanced moral reasoning,and psychosocial maturity.

Accepted Answer

Androgyny refers to possessing both masculine and feminine characteristics, which can lead to greater cognitive flexibility, creativity, advanced moral reasoning, and psychosocial maturity in adulthood. Studies have shown that individuals with high levels of androgyny tend to excel in areas such as problem-solving and interpersonal communication.

Question 6

Neuroticism __________ from adolescence through middle age.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that while personality traits such as agreeableness and conscientiousness tend to remain stable throughout adulthood, neuroticism generally declines with age. Adolescence is often a time of high neuroticism due to the many changes and stressors that individuals may experience, but as individuals enter middle age and gain more life experience, they may become more effective at coping with stress and regulating their emotions, leading to a decrease in neuroticism.

Question 7

Gregor,age 17,is high in conscientiousness.Gregor __________.

Accepted Answer

Conscientiousness tends to increase through middle age and then plateau or slightly decline in later adulthood. Therefore, Gregor can anticipate that this trait will increase through middle age.

Question 8

Nora is imaginative,creative,original,curious,and liberal.She is high in which "big five" personality trait?

Accepted Answer

Nora's traits of being imaginative, creative, original, curious, and liberal are indicative of a high level of openness to experience, which is one of the five dimensions of the Big Five personality traits.

Question 9

Hart volunteers with Habitat for Humanity.When he is at a work site,he is so engrossed in activity that he loses all sense of time and self-awareness.When he volunteers,Hart experiences __________.

Accepted Answer

The experience of losing all sense of time and self-awareness while engaging in an enjoyable activity is known as "flow," a term coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. This is often described as an optimal experience where one is completely absorbed in the task at hand and feels a sense of effortless control.

Question 10

In comparisons of Japanese and Korean adults with same-age U.S.MIDUS participants,__________.

Accepted Answer

The article states that in comparisons of Japanese and Korean adults with same-age U.S. MIDUS participants, the Japanese and Koreans scored higher on measures of positive relations with others, which suggests that this aspect of well-being is particularly important in these cultures. There is no evidence given that Americans did not regard family relations as relevant to personal psychological well-being, and while Americans did appear to place greater emphasis on their children's accomplishments, this is not a comparison point with the Japanese and Koreans. The article does state that the Japanese and Koreans reported higher levels of psychological well-being overall, but the highest well-being scores for these cultures were specifically related to positive relations with others.

Question 11

Compared with younger people,middle-aged adults see themselves as __________.

Accepted Answer

Middle-aged adults are often in the peak of their careers and family responsibilities and see themselves as capable of effectively managing a complex array of tasks. They may also have more self-confidence and experience than younger individuals. Option A is not necessarily true for all middle-aged adults as they may have established a sense of self and be less concerned with others' evaluations. Option C and D are not necessarily true for all middle-aged adults and may depend on individual circumstances.

Question 12

In recently gathered self-reports,__________.

Accepted Answer

The self-reports indicate that the endorsement of "masculine" and "feminine" traits remained stable throughout adulthood for both men and women. Therefore, option B is the correct choice. The other options are not supported by the given information.

Question 13

A wealth of earlier studies reported __________ in midlife.

Accepted Answer

The statement mentions "earlier studies reported" which implies that there has been some research conducted in the past. The most commonly reported finding in that research is the increase in androgyny in both men and women during midlife. This means that both masculine and feminine traits become more prominent in individuals during this phase of life. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 14

Sudie is calm,even-tempered,self-content,comfortable,unemotional,and hardy.She is low in which "big five" personality trait?

Accepted Answer

Sudie's calm and even-tempered nature, lack of emotionality, and hardiness suggest that she is not high in neuroticism, which is characterized by moodiness, anxiety, and emotional instability.

Question 15

Which statement is true about the "big five" personality traits?

Accepted Answer

Individual differences in the big five traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) are large and highly stable. These traits are believed to be relatively stable throughout the lifespan and to have a significant impact on behavior, attitudes, and interpersonal relationships. While some aspects of personality may change over time, the big five traits are generally considered to be more enduring.

Question 16

Individuals who are low in conscientiousness are __________.

Accepted Answer

Individuals low in conscientiousness tend to display behaviors that are negligent, lazy, disorganized, late, aimless, and nonpersistent.

Question 17

Individuals who are high in agreeableness are __________.

Accepted Answer

Individuals who are high in agreeableness are often described as being compassionate, empathetic, helpful, and cooperative. They tend to prioritize the needs of others over their own and are generally trusting and easy to get along with. These traits are reflected in the answer choice of being soft-hearted, trusting, generous, and good-natured.

Question 18

__________ increase(s)from early to middle adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Autonomy, or the sense of independence and control over one's life, tends to increase from early to middle adulthood. This is because individuals have typically established their careers, relationships, and identity by this point, allowing them to feel more confident in their decision-making abilities and ability to navigate life's challenges. On the other hand, self-doubt and destructiveness may decrease during this period as individuals become more self-assured and emotionally stable. Possible selves, or the range of potential identities and life trajectories a person imagines for themselves, may remain relatively stable throughout adulthood.

Question 19

Guy is reserved,quiet,passive,sober,and emotionally unreactive.He is low in which "big five" personality trait?

Accepted Answer

Guy's reserved, quiet, and emotionally unreactive nature suggests that he is low in extroversion, which is characterized by outgoing, talkative, and assertive behaviors.

Question 20

In longitudinal research,__________ gained most in dominance,assertiveness,and outspokenness by their early fifties.

Accepted Answer

According to longitudinal research, women who attained high status in their careers gained the most in dominance, assertiveness, and outspokenness by their early fifties.

Quiz 16: Emotional and Social Development in Middle Adulthood