Question 1

Which of the following best describes pragmatism?

Accepted Answer

Pragmatism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes practicality and adapting logical thought to solve real-life problems that contain complexities and inconsistencies. Option D best represents this approach. Option A refers to linguistic or mental models, option B to sensorimotor perception, and option C to rigid logical thought, which are not defining characteristics of pragmatism.

Question 2

____ is often seeing situations and issues in polarized terms-an act is either right or wrong,with no in-between; a statement is either true or false,regardless of the nuances or the situation to which it is being applied.

Accepted Answer

Dualistic thinking refers to a tendency to see things only in terms of extremes, with no middle ground. This type of thinking tends to be black-and-white and does not take into consideration the nuances or complexities of a situation. Thus, an act or statement is either considered completely right or completely wrong, without any room for shades of gray. Dualistic thinking is a common cognitive pattern in children and adolescents, but it can also be seen in adults.

Question 3

Peng and Nisbett (1999)conducted studies comparing Chinese and American college students.They found that when students were presented with two apparently contradictory propositions,American students tended to ____.

Accepted Answer

Peng and Nisbett found that American students tended to embrace one solution and reject the other when presented with apparently contradictory propositions, indicating a preference for binary thinking. This is in contrast to Chinese students, who were more likely to try to reconcile seemingly contradictory ideas.

Question 4

When presented with the following story,according to Labouvie-Vief,how would an adolescent who is in formal operations respond? "Jim was a heavy drinker,especially at parties.His wife had warned him that if he came home drunk one more time,she would leave him and take the children.Sometime later he went to an office party and came home drunk.What did his wife do?"

Accepted Answer

An adolescent in formal operations would likely use logical reasoning and focus on the literal interpretation of the situation, as seen in choice A.

Question 5

Jean Piaget proposed that cognitive development reaches full maturity at formal operations; however,contemporary researchers propose that this is not the case,but rather that cognitive maturity extends into ____.

Accepted Answer

Contemporary researchers propose that cognitive maturity extends into postformal thinking, which involves the ability to engage in abstract reasoning, tolerate ambiguity, and understand that solutions to problems can vary depending on the context.

Question 6

Peng and Nisbett (1999)proposed that Chinese culture traditionally advocates an approach to knowledge that strives to reconcile contradictions and combine opposing perspectives by seeking a middle ground.What type of thinking is this?

Accepted Answer

The approach to knowledge that strives to reconcile contradictions and combine opposing perspectives by seeking a middle ground is an example of dialectical thought.

Question 7

____ involves a growing awareness that problems often have no clear solution and two opposing strategies or points of view may each have merit.

Accepted Answer

Dialectical thought involves the ability to recognize and reconcile opposing viewpoints or strategies, allowing for a more nuanced and complex understanding of problems. The other options, such as hypothetical-deductive reasoning and hypothesis testing, pertain more specifically to scientific reasoning and problem-solving, while egocentric thought refers to a self-centered perspective on the world.

Question 8

Peng and Nisbett (1999)conducted studies comparing Chinese and American college students.They found that Chinese students were more likely than Americans to prefer ____.

Accepted Answer

Peng and Nisbett (1999) found that Chinese students were more likely than Americans to prefer dialectical proverbs containing contradictions. This suggests that Chinese students may be more comfortable with and value the idea of holding multiple perspectives or ideas that may appear to contradict each other.

Question 9

According to Gisela Labouvie-Vief,adolescents and many young adults are confined to formal operations and do not possess postformal operational thought because they ____.

Accepted Answer

Labouvie-Vief argues that many young adults are limited to formal operations because they overestimate the applicability of abstract, logical thinking to real-life situations. They struggle to recognize the importance of contextual factors and personal experience in problem-solving, which is a hallmark of postformal operational thought.

Question 10

Caleb believes that stealing from another is wrong and there is no reason for a person to steal.Even if a person were starving and near death,he or she should not steal food.Which of the following best describes Caleb's cognitive pattern?

Accepted Answer

Caleb is demonstrating dualistic thinking, which is characterized by an all-or-nothing approach to moral reasoning. He believes that stealing is always wrong, regardless of the circumstances.

Question 11

Labouvie-Vief (1990)presented a story that described a man who was a heavy drinker.His wife had warned him that if he came home drunk one more time,she would leave him and take the children.At a later time,he went to an office party and came home drunk.Labouvie-Vief asked adolescents what they thought the wife would do.How did the adolescents respond?

Accepted Answer

Adolescents often think in more concrete terms and may not consider multiple possibilities, leading them to quickly conclude that the wife left.

Question 12

According to Basseches,what type of thinking develops in emerging adulthood that involves a growing awareness that problems often have no clear solution and two opposing strategies or points of view may each have some merit?

Accepted Answer

According to Basseches, the type of thinking that develops in emerging adulthood that involves a growing awareness that problems often have no clear solution and two opposing strategies or points of view may each have some merit is dialectical thought.

Question 13

According to Gisela Labouvie-Vief,cognitive development in emerging adulthood is distinguished from adolescent thinking by ____.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive development in emerging adulthood, as described by Gisela Labouvie-Vief, is marked by a greater recognition and incorporation of practical limitations to logical thinking. This reflects a move towards more pragmatic and realistic thinking, acknowledging the complexities and constraints of real-world situations.

Question 14

According to Piaget,formal operations are fully attained and cognitive maturation is complete by ____.

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that formal operations, the final stage of cognitive development, are fully attained by around age 20.

Question 15

Emerging adults tended to be ____ thinkers in the sense that they realized that the problems of real life often involve a great deal of complexity and ambiguity.

Accepted Answer

Postformal thinking is characterized by the ability to tolerate ambiguity and recognize that real-life problems often have multiple solutions. This type of thinking is common among emerging adults who are navigating the complexities of early adulthood. Preformal thinking is typical of children, while formal thinking tends to emerge during adolescence. Prescripted-formal thinking is not a recognized concept in developmental psychology.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes dualistic thinking?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following best describes dualistic...

Question 17

____ involves adapting logical thinking to the practical constraints of real-life situations.

Accepted Answer

Pragmatism involves adapting logical thinking to the practical constraints of real-life situations. Concrete thought refers to simple, literal thinking; hypothetical and deductive reasoning involve using hypotheses to draw conclusions; and reflective judgments involve evaluating evidence to form beliefs.

Question 18

____ is the capacity to evaluate the accuracy and logical coherence of evidence and arguments.

Accepted Answer

Reflective judgment refers to the ability to evaluate the accuracy and logical coherence of evidence and arguments. Dualistic thinking is a binary approach to understanding concepts and ideas, while relative-hypothesis testing refers to the ability to evaluate and compare different hypotheses. Concrete judgment is an approach that relies on direct sensory experiences rather than abstract reasoning.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes pragmatism as a component of postformal operational thought?

Accepted Answer

Pragmatism, as a component of postformal operational thought, refers to the understanding that social factors and factors specific to a given situation must be taken into account in approaching most of life's problems. This includes recognizing the importance of context, flexibility, and adaptation in problem-solving.

Question 20

Two of the most notable aspects of postformal thinking in emerging adulthood are ____.

Accepted Answer

According to postformal thinking, emerging adults are more likely to engage in pragmatic reasoning, which involves considering multiple perspectives and practical solutions, and reflective judgment, which entails being aware of the limitations of one's own knowledge and considering evidence before making decisions. Choice A (animism and personal fables) is characteristic of earlier stages of cognitive development, while choice B (egocentrism and reality testing) is associated with adolescence. Choice C (hypothetical and deductive reasoning) is a hallmark of formal operational thinking, which emerges during adolescence.

Quiz 9: Emerging Adulthood