Question 1

In the late teens, the brain actively destroys unneeded connections, especially in the frontal lobes.This pruning of synapses sharpens the brain's capacity for

Accepted Answer

The pruning of synapses in the frontal lobes during late teens sharpens the brain's capacity for abstract thinking. This is because the frontal lobes are responsible for cognition, decision-making, and planning, which all involve abstract thinking. Therefore, pruning synapses in this area allows for more efficient and effective processing of abstract concepts.

Question 2

Recent research on infant cognition suggests that infants appear to know that objects are solid and do not disappear when out of view

Accepted Answer

Recent research has shown that infants as young as 3 months of age appear to have an understanding of object permanence, which is the knowledge that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer visible. This suggests that this cognitive ability develops earlier than previously thought.

Question 3

Evaluations of Piaget's theory have suggested that he

Accepted Answer

Piaget is criticized for underestimating the cognitive abilities of infants and young children, mistaking physical limitations for mental incompetence. Additionally, his theory does not fully account for the influence of culture on cognitive development. Therefore, option D is the correct choice as it encompasses all the above criticisms of Piaget's theory.

Question 4

Regarding recent findings on cognitive development, which of the following statements is/are TRUE?

Accepted Answer

All of the statements are true.

A) Recent research has shown that even young infants, as young as three months old, have the ability to detect and process information about impossible events, showing that they have a basic understanding of the laws of physics.

B) Research has also shown that by eight months of age, babies have the ability to remember where objects are and where they should be for at least one minute, indicating an increasing ability to form and store memories.

C) Research has shown that children who grow up in cultures where particular skills or knowledge are valued, such as in villages where pottery is made, can develop that skill or knowledge earlier than Piaget predicted. This specific example demonstrates that children who grow up in pottery-making cultures can conserve clay before Piaget's predicted age of seven years.

Question 5

Ideas about Piaget's stages and the cognitive ability of infants are challenged by infants' reaction to

Accepted Answer

Infants' reaction to impossible events challenge Piaget's idea of object permanence and their ability to understand the physical world. They show surprise and interest when presented with objects appearing to violate the laws of physics or basic logic. This suggests that infants have some innate understanding of the physical world, which contradicts some of Piaget's earlier claims.

Question 6

According to Vygotsky, children's thinking develops through

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes the role of social interactions and dialogues with more capable people in children's cognitive development. Vygotsky believed that cognitive development cannot be understood independently of social and cultural contexts in which children are raised. Therefore, he stressed the importance of a social constructivist approach, which argues that children learn through active participation in social interactions with more experienced individuals. Through these interactions, children's cognitive abilities are expanded, and they acquire new information, skills, and ways of thinking.

Question 7

A child that no longer plays the game of Monopoly mechanically and is able to understand the complex and hypothetical transactions unique to each game is most likely in the _____ stage of cognitive development.

Accepted Answer

The formal operations stage, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, is when individuals develop the ability to think abstractly, logically, and systematically, which includes understanding complex and hypothetical scenarios.

Question 8

Between the ages of _____, peak synaptic growth shifts to the temporal and parietal lobes.During this period, children become increasingly adept at using language.

Accepted Answer

The peak synaptic growth shifts to the temporal and parietal lobes between the ages of 7 and 15 years. During this period, children's language skills continue to develop and become increasingly adept.

Question 9

Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky believed that cognitive development is strongly influenced by

Accepted Answer

Lev Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development emphasizes the role of social and cultural factors in shaping a person's cognitive abilities. He believed that children learn better with the help of more advanced peers or adults and that language plays an important role in developing conceptual thought. Thus, choice C, social and cultural factors, is the best answer.

Question 10

Which of the following may explain why Piaget underestimated the abilities of infants?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following may explain why...

Question 11

Today, psychologists conclude that Piaget's theory is

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory is still considered a useful framework for understanding how children's thinking develops, but it is not seen as absolute or completely accurate in all aspects. Many of Piaget's ideas have been supported by research, but there is also evidence that challenges some of his specific claims, such as his views on egocentricism. Therefore, choice C is the best answer as it recognizes the value of Piaget's theory while also acknowledging its limitations.

Question 12

According to the sociocultural theory of _____, children's thinking develops through dialogues with more capable people.

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural theory is associated with Lev Vygotsky, who believed that children learn and develop through their interactions with more skilled and knowledgeable individuals in their social environments. This theory emphasizes the importance of social and cultural contexts in shaping cognitive development.

Question 13

The growth in connections between brain cells that occurs in waves supports _____ theory of cognitive development.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children go through distinct stages of cognitive development, and the growth in connections between brain cells that occur in waves is consistent with Piaget's concept of cognitive development occurring in stages. Piaget believed that cognitive development occurs through a series of stages, each characterized by different abilities and ways of thinking, and that these stages are the result of genetic maturation and environmental experiences. The growth in brain connections that occur in waves can be seen as reflecting the transition from one stage of cognitive development to the next.

Question 14

Between the ages of 7 and 15 years, children become increasingly adept at using language, a specialty of the

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobes, particularly the left temporal lobe, are responsible for language comprehension and production. As children grow and develop, they become more skilled at using and understanding language, which indicates growth and development in their temporal lobes. The parietal lobes are more responsible for sensory processing and spatial awareness, while the occipital lobes focus on visual processing. The corpus callosum is a bundle of fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain and is not specifically involved in language development.

Question 15

Which of the following methods was used by Baillargeon to test for the mental capacities of infants?

Accepted Answer

Baillargeon used the method where infants showed surprise at seeing an impossible event occur during a "magic show" to test for the mental capacities of infants. This method is based on the violation of expectation principle, where infants look longer at events that violate their understanding of basic physical principles, indicating they find such events surprising or unexpected.

Question 16

In the late teens, the brain actively destroys unneeded connections, especially in the _____ lobes.This pruning of synapses sharpens the brain's capacity for abstract thinking.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes are responsible for abstract thinking and decision making, and the pruning of synapses in this region during the late teens helps to sharpen these abilities.

Question 17

Between the ages of three and six, a tremendous wave of growth occurs in connections among neurons in the _____ areas of the brain.This corresponds to the time when children make rapid progress in their ability to think symbolically.

Accepted Answer

The frontal areas of the brain are responsible for executive functions such as problem-solving, decision-making, and planning, and are crucial for symbolic thinking. During the ages of three to six, there is a rapid growth in neural connections in the frontal areas of the brain, which corresponds to the development of symbolic thinking in children.

Question 18

Which of the following supports Piaget's theory of intellectual development?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of intellectual development is supported by evidence of cycles in the growth of the brain, as it aligns with his concept of stages of cognitive development, where each stage represents a qualitative change in thinking.

Question 19

Between the ages of _____, a tremendous wave of growth occurs in connections among neurons in the frontal areas of the brain.This corresponds to the time when children make rapid progress in their ability to think symbolically.

Accepted Answer

Between the ages of 3 and 6 years, children experience significant growth in neural connections in the frontal areas of the brain, which is associated with their rapid development in symbolic thinking, such as language and pretend play.

Question 20

According to _____, children continuously gain specific knowledge and do NOT undergo stage-like leaps in general mental ability.

Accepted Answer

Learning theorists believe that children acquire knowledge gradually and continuously through experience and interaction with their environment, rather than through distinct stages.

Quiz 3: Extension B: Human Development