Question 1

According to the text, the age group in the society that makes most of the policy decisions is referred to as:
A) Generation X
B) Generation Y
C) Generation Z
D) the command generation

Accepted Answer

The text refers to the age group that makes most of the policy decisions as "the command generation", which is not referenced to any particular generational label such as Generation X, Generation Y or Generation Z. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 2

Which of the following events is the best example of a nonnormative event?
A) retiring at age 65
B) experiencing menopause at age 52
C) having a spouse killed in a car accident at age 48
D) having wrinkles appear on one's face as one gets older

Accepted Answer

Nonnormative events are those that do not occur at a predictable point in a person's development. An accident is a prime example of an event that cannot be predicted.

Question 3

The text suggests that the beginning and ending of the period of middle adulthood is defined by a variety of cues. Which of the following stage-defining cues is the best example of a PSYCHOLGICAL cue?
A) reaching menopause
B) the realization that one will soon retire
C) the youngest child leaving home for college
D) the slowing down of reaction times, making it more difficult to play baseball

Accepted Answer

Reaching menopause and slowed reaction times are cues that would be considered biological. Social cues have more to do with changes is one's family status or personal status, and an example would be having the youngest child leave home. The realization that one will soon retire is a psychological cue, since its focus is on how the person comes to understand the significance of this event.

Question 4

Recently, Jim has begun to focus on his feeling that he has accomplished the career goals he set for himself and he now does not know what to do with his life. He feels frustrated and confused, and he wonders if the excitement in his life is mostly behind him. According to Levinson, Jim is experiencing:
A) a command moment
B) transitional moment
C) a fluid moment
D) a midlife crisis

Accepted Answer

According to Levinson, at the end of the period of young adulthood individuals experience a midlife crisis in which earlier decisions are questioned and life patterns must be reestablished.

Question 5

Generalizing from the text, which of the following age periods is most likely to be defined by the events that are taking place in the person's life, rather than by events linked directly to biological maturation?
A) infancy and toddlerhood
B) early childhood
C) early adulthood
D) middle adulthood

Accepted Answer

The period termed middle adulthood typically begins and ends for an individual depending on the life experiences they are going through.

Question 6

Transitional models of adult development generally stress which of the following features of development?
A) continuities in how life is experienced
B) discontinuities in how life is experienced
C) cognitive changes that occur with age
D) biological changes that occur with age

Accepted Answer

Transitional models of adult development emphasize that even though developmental changes occur throughout adulthood, there are also many continuities in how life is experienced. These models view adult development as a gradual and continuous process rather than a series of distinct stages or abrupt changes. While cognitive and biological changes may also occur in adulthood, they are not the primary focus of transitional models.

Question 7

According to the text, midlife crises are more likely to occur among:
A) very poor men, since they must continue to work for the longest period of the lifespan
B) very poor women, since they have always worked to support their families
C) middle-income men and women, since they have a realistic view of their lives
D) affluent men and women, since they can delude themselves about the burdens of life

Accepted Answer

The text states that midlife crises are more likely to occur among affluent men and women, as they can delude themselves about the burdens of life.

Question 8

According to transitional models, if crises do occur they generally are the result of:
A) gradual biological aging
B) gradual cognitive changes that come with age
C) unexpected, traumatic events
D) turning 40

Accepted Answer

According to transitional models, crises are rare and when they do occur they usually are in response to a specific event, such as the death of a friend or parent, a sudden illness, unemployment, a new job, a child going off to war, and so forth. These are all unexpected, traumatic events. They are not linked to gradual aging or to any specific birthday.

Question 9

Which of the following physical changes is typically experienced more severely in men than in women?
A) hearing loss
B) decreases in the ability to distinguish different smells
C) decline in visual acuity
D) loss of bone mass

Accepted Answer

Hearing loss tends to be more severe in men than in women, often due to a combination of factors including occupational noise exposure and genetic predisposition.

Question 10

In Levinson's later work, he studied the way in which women move through middle adulthood. According to this research, Levinson concluded that women:
A) very seldom experience a midlife crisis
B) do experience midlife crises, but at much earlier ages than men
C) do experience midlife crises, but at much later ages than men
D) experience midlife crises in ways very similar to men

Accepted Answer

Levinson's later work suggested that both men and women experience midlife crises and that the nature of these crises is more similar than different across genders. This challenges earlier assumptions that midlife crises were predominantly a male phenomenon or that they manifested very differently in women.

Question 11

Suppose that Mark is a person with a very realistic and planful approach to life. Luke is a person who lives for the moment, deluding himself about the realities of life and instead focusing on the next "big adventure" in his life. When Mark and Luke enter middle adulthood, which of the following statements is the best description about how they are likely to experience this transition?
A) Mark will be much more likely than Luke to have a midlife crisis.
B) Luke will be much more likely than Mark to have a midlife crisis.
C) Both Mark and Luke will be very likely to have a midlife crisis, because they are men.
D) Neither Mark nor Luke will be likely to have a midlife crisis, because they are men.

Accepted Answer

Those who are most likely to experience a midlife crisis tend to avoid introspection and use denial to avoid thinking about their changing bodies and lives.

Question 12

According to the text, in the U.S. today, the period of middle adulthood spans the ages from:
A) 35 to 55
B) 40 to 60 or 65
C) 45 to 65 or 70
D) 50 to 65 or 70

Accepted Answer

The period of middle adulthood in the U.S. today is generally considered to span from ages 40 to 60 or 65, reflecting changes in life expectancy and societal views on aging.

Question 13

Laura has been feeling older lately and has begun to re-evaluate the choices she has made thus far in her life. She decides that she needs a little more excitement, so she buys a new red sports car. Her response is best considered to be an example of:
A) a command decision
B) the climacteric
C) a midlife crisis
D) a transitional event

Accepted Answer

According to Levinson, at the end of the period of young adulthood individuals experience a midlife crisis in which earlier decisions are questioned and life patterns must be reestablished.

Question 14

Which of the following people is LEAST likely to be experiencing the period of middle adulthood?
A) Marie, who is 35 years old
B) Laura, who is 45 years old
C) Jane, who is 55 years old
D) Maxine, who is 60 years old

Accepted Answer

Middle adulthood typically spans the ages from years 40 to 60 or 65, although it may begin or end earlier or later for certain individuals.

Question 15

The text suggests that the beginning and ending of the period of middle adulthood is defined by a variety of cues. Which of the following stage-defining cues is the best example of a SOCIAL cue?
A) reaching menopause
B) the realization that one will soon retire
C) the youngest child leaving home for college
D) the slowing down of reaction times, making it more difficult to play baseball

Accepted Answer

Reaching menopause and slowed reaction times are cues that would be considered biological. The realization that one will soon retire is a psychological cue, although the retirement itself could be considered social in nature. Social cues have more to do with changes is one's family status or personal status, and an example would be having the youngest child leave home.

Question 16

According to Levinson, which of the following ages is most likely to include a feeling of inner turmoil, as a man resolves questions about the meaning of his life and the correctness of the choices he has made?
A) age 32
B) age 42
C) age 52
D) age 58

Accepted Answer

According to Levinson, most men experience a midlife crisis between the ages of 40 and 45, although more recent research suggests that such a crisis, if it happens at all, might occur either earlier or later.

Question 17

Therefore, beginning at about age 50, he makes a series of investments with his savings so that he will have enough income to support himself and he plans to move into a smaller, less expensive house. When his 65^th birthday comes, Arnie feels calm and prepared. Arnie's adjustment to retirement is best considered to be an example of how which of the following models view adult development? A) crisis models B) Levinson's model C) command models D) transitional models

Accepted Answer

Transitional models advocate the view that changes in midlife are gradual and midlife crisis is not the norm.

Question 18

Manuel, age 52, has the experience and self-knowledge to allow him to manage his own life, and is able to make decisions with ease and self-confidence. This is why Manuel is considered part of:
A) the command generation
B) Generation X
C) Generation Y
D) Generation Z

Accepted Answer

Because they can make decisions with ease, and have expertise and self-confidence that were previously beyond their grasp, individuals in the 40-to-60-year range are considered part of the "command generation."

Question 19

In comparison to Levinson's view of the midlife crisis, most modern theorists view this crisis as:
A) less likely to occur than Levinson thought
B) more likely to occur than Levinson thought
C) more likely to occur in men, but less likely to occur in women than Levinson thought
D) less likely to occur in men, but more likely to occur in women than Levinson thought

Accepted Answer

Most modern theorists believe that a midlife crisis is less common than Levinson suggested. They argue that while midlife can be a period of evaluation and transition, it does not universally lead to the crisis Levinson described.

Question 20

Recently, Larry has begun to focus on his feeling that he has accomplished the career goals he set for himself and he now does not know what to do with his life. He feels frustrated and confused, and he wonders if the excitement in his life is mostly behind him. According to Levinson, Larry is most likely to be about how old?
A) 30 years old
B) 40 years old
C) 50 years old
D) 60 years old

Accepted Answer

According to Levinson, most men experience a midlife crisis between the ages of 40 and 45, although more recent research suggests that such a crisis, if it happens at all, might occur either earlier or later.

Quiz 14: Middle Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development

According to the text, the age group in the society that makes most of the policy decisions is referred to as:

Which of the following events is the best example of a nonnormative event?

The text suggests that the beginning and ending of the period of middle adulthood is defined by a variety of cues. Which of the following stage-defining cues is the best example of a PSYCHOLGICAL cue?

Generalizing from the text, which of the following age periods is most likely to be defined by the events that are taking place in the person's life, rather than by events linked directly to biological maturation?

Transitional models of adult development generally stress which of the following features of development?

According to the text, midlife crises are more likely to occur among:

According to transitional models, if crises do occur they generally are the result of:

Which of the following physical changes is typically experienced more severely in men than in women?

In Levinson's later work, he studied the way in which women move through middle adulthood. According to this research, Levinson concluded that women:

According to the text, in the U.S. today, the period of middle adulthood spans the ages from:

Laura has been feeling older lately and has begun to re-evaluate the choices she has made thus far in her life. She decides that she needs a little more excitement, so she buys a new red sports car. Her response is best considered to be an example of:

Which of the following people is LEAST likely to be experiencing the period of middle adulthood?

The text suggests that the beginning and ending of the period of middle adulthood is defined by a variety of cues. Which of the following stage-defining cues is the best example of a SOCIAL cue?

According to Levinson, which of the following ages is most likely to include a feeling of inner turmoil, as a man resolves questions about the meaning of his life and the correctness of the choices he has made?

Manuel, age 52, has the experience and self-knowledge to allow him to manage his own life, and is able to make decisions with ease and self-confidence. This is why Manuel is considered part of:

In comparison to Levinson's view of the midlife crisis, most modern theorists view this crisis as: