Question 1

Which famous statement best illustrates the concept of relativistic thinking?

Accepted Answer

Relativistic thinking is the view that truth and morality are relative to one's individual perceptions, beliefs, and cultural background. The famous statement "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" reflects this concept as it suggests that what one person finds beautiful may not be the same for another person.

Question 2

Kameko has just gotten her hair trimmed,and even though it doesn't look very different than before,she is sure everyone in homeroom will notice a big change and be focusing on her hair all day.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Kameko's belief that everyone in homeroom will notice her hair and focus on it all day is an example of imaginary audience, which is a common belief among adolescents that they are constantly being watched and evaluated.

Question 3

One key difference between formal operational thought and concrete operational thought is that formal operational thinkers

Accepted Answer

Formal operational thinkers have the ability to think abstractly and use logic to solve problems, including hypothetical situations. Concrete operational thinkers, on the other hand, can only think logically about real, tangible objects and situations. Choice A and C are not correct because concrete operational thinkers can also solve conservation tasks and are prone to centration (focusing on one aspect of a problem rather than considering multiple factors). Choice B is also not correct as both formal operational and concrete operational thinkers can apply thoughts to real objects.

Question 4

Which statement best exemplifies the premise of an imaginary audience?

Accepted Answer

The statement "Why is everyone looking at me?" best exemplifies the premise of an imaginary audience, which refers to the belief that one is constantly being watched, judged, or evaluated by others, even when there is little or no evidence to support it. This phenomenon is common among adolescents and young adults, who may feel self-conscious or anxious in social situations due to the perceived scrutiny of others. Choices A, B, and D do not relate to the concept of an imaginary audience.

Question 5

Jorge doesn't understand why his psychology instructor doesn't just tell the class the correct answer.When asked,his instructor says that there is no single correct answer;it depends on each individual's interpretation.Jorge's difficulty in accepting his professor's answer would indicate that Jorge lacks _____ thinking.

Accepted Answer

Relativistic thinking acknowledges that there can be multiple perspectives and interpretations of a situation or problem, rather than a single correct answer. Jorge's difficulty in accepting this concept suggests that he may not be utilizing relativistic thinking. The other options (class inclusion, systematic, concrete thinking) do not necessarily relate to this scenario.

Question 6

Formal operational thinking differs from Piaget's other stages in that a formal thinker gains the ability to

Accepted Answer

Formal operational thinking is characterized by the ability to think abstractly, systematically, and hypothetically. This includes the ability to reason logically and consider multiple possibilities when solving problems. Therefore, the ability to think systematically about abstract concepts is a key feature of formal operational thinking. The other options are characteristics of earlier stages in Piaget's theory.

Question 7

A researcher asked students of different ages,"What would the world be like if there was no gravity?" According to Piaget's theory,which one of the following answers would most likely be heard from an adolescent in the formal operational stage?

Accepted Answer

Adolescents in the formal operational stage are capable of hypothetical thinking and abstract reasoning. They are able to imagine and consider the consequences of a situation even if it is not directly observable. Therefore, they would be more likely to generate creative and imaginative responses such as having to redesign classrooms with desks on the ceiling if there was no gravity. Option A is incorrect because it shows a lack of flexibility in thinking, which is not characteristic of adolescents in the formal operational stage. Option B is too simplistic and does not demonstrate abstract thinking. Option D is too personal and emotional, and does not demonstrate abstract reasoning either.

Question 8

The key to a personal fable is the belief that you

Accepted Answer

The personal fable is a cognitive distortion experienced by adolescents, where they believe they are unique and different from others, often leading to feelings of invulnerability.

Question 9

Concerning mental actions,concrete operations are to formal operations as

Accepted Answer

Concrete operations involve thinking about objects and events that are directly experienced, while formal operations involve abstract, hypothetical thinking. This is similar to how objects are tangible and directly experienced, whereas ideas are abstract and not directly observable.

Question 10

Which of Gibson's statements indicates that he is engaging in hypothetical-deductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning involves forming a hypothesis, predicting outcomes based on that hypothesis, and then testing those predictions through experimentation or observation. In statement D, Gibson is posing a hypothesis ("If string length matters"), making a prediction based on that hypothesis ("a short string should make a different sound than a long string"), and indicating a willingness to test that prediction through further observation or experimentation.

Question 11

By late adolescence,most individuals

Accepted Answer

By late adolescence, individuals typically have developed a capacity for scientific reasoning, but also retain the ability to use intuitive reasoning. Therefore, the best choice is that most individuals utilize both scientific reasoning and intuitive reasoning strategies at this stage of development.

Question 12

Paris spends the last week of summer vacation at the mall,looking for just the right outfit for the first day of 10th grade.Finally,she finds something she likes,and feels sure that everyone will notice her smashing outfit! This is an example of adolescent

Accepted Answer

This scenario demonstrates adolescent egocentrism, which is the tendency of teenagers to focus on their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences and believe that others are paying close attention to them. Paris thinks everyone will notice her outfit, showing her belief that her appearance is incredibly important and that others will be as focused on it as she is. This type of thinking is common among teenagers as they develop their sense of self and identity.

Question 13

"Pete is older than Jill,and Jill is older than Pat.Who is older,Pete or Pat?" The ability to solve problems such as this demonstrates competence in

Accepted Answer

The ability to use transitivity (making comparisons between two things by using a third comparison) is necessary to solve this problem. Pete is older than Jill and Jill is older than Pat, so transitivity can be applied to determine that Pete is older than Pat. Therefore, choice D (transitivity) is the correct answer.

Question 14

_____ thinking is best defined as detecting paradoxes and inconsistencies among ideas and attempting to reconcile them.

Accepted Answer

Dialectical thinking involves detecting paradoxes and inconsistencies among ideas and attempting to reconcile them, which is the description given in the question. Absolutist thinking involves viewing topics in black-and-white terms, static thinking involves viewing situations and people as unchanging, and preoperational thinking is a stage in Piaget's cognitive development theory where children lack logical thought.

Question 15

Whose statement indicates that they are engaging in dialectic thinking?

Accepted Answer

Soraya's statement demonstrates dialectic thinking as she acknowledges her lack of understanding and proposes to continue learning and gaining knowledge on the topic.

Question 16

People are most likely to regularly use formal operational thinking

Accepted Answer

Formal operational thinking, a concept from Piaget's theory of cognitive development, is most likely to be used in areas where individuals have expertise. This stage involves abstract, hypothetical, and systematic thinking, which people tend to apply in fields or subjects where they have significant knowledge or skill.

Question 17

During which stage of development would a person first be able to understand that her dad is a parent,an uncle,and someone's son (i.e. ,understand class inclusion)?

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children in the concrete operations stage (ages 7-12) begin to understand the concept of class inclusion, meaning they are able to understand that an object or person can belong to multiple categories or groups simultaneously. In the example given, the child would understand that her dad can be a parent, an uncle, and someone's son, all at the same time. This type of hierarchical thinking goes beyond the preoperational stage (ages 2-7), where children tend to classify objects based on one characteristic at a time, and is not fully developed until the formal operations stage (ages 12 and up).

Question 18

Which cognitive skill would a formal operations thinker possess that a concrete operational thinker would lack?

Accepted Answer

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning is the ability to think logically about hypothetical situations and make predictions about the consequences of those situations. This is a skill that formal operations thinkers possess but concrete operational thinkers do not.

Question 19

Patrick was born and raised in the midwestern United States.He's always been told that seafood tastes terrible so he has avoided it.One day while visiting the East Coast,he goes into a restaurant that features lobster.Patrick tells himself,"That lobster smells good and many people eat seafood,so they can't be terrible to eat.I think I'll order one." Patrick's decision to eat the seafood would best be explained by Piaget's concept of

Accepted Answer

Decontextualization refers to the ability to separate prior beliefs or experiences from new information or situations, allowing Patrick to reconsider his previous belief about seafood and decide to try the lobster.

Question 20

Elkind suggested that adolescent egocentrism is due to increased

Accepted Answer

According to Elkind, adolescent egocentrism is due to increased self-consciousness, or the heightened awareness and concern about one's own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in relation to others. This can lead to the belief that one's experiences, beliefs, and opinions are unique or special, and that others are constantly paying attention to or judging them. This type of thinking can contribute to self-conscious behaviors, such as feeling embarrassed or humiliated in social situations.

Quiz 7: Cognition