Question 1

When asked to describe the aspects of self of which he is most proud, J. says "I'm a good father; I always help my work group accomplish its objectives; and I try never to gloat just because I play very well on the company basketball team." Cross-cultural research on the content of persons' self-concepts implies that Joe is most likely

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural research suggests that individuals from collectivist cultures, such as Japanese or Chinese, often define themselves in terms of their relationships and group memberships, as Joe does.

Question 2

Levels of self-esteem displayed by 4- to 7-year-olds

Accepted Answer

Research shows that young children tend to have highly positive self-esteem, with little awareness of their limitations and weaknesses. This can result in unrealistic beliefs and expectations about themselves. The notion that athletic ability determines self-esteem is not supported by research.

Question 3

Once children develop a theory of mind and clearly differentiate their public and private selves, their self-descriptions

Accepted Answer

Once children differentiate their public and private selves, they shift their self-descriptions from listing external attributes to describing enduring inner qualities, such as beliefs and values. This shift reflects an increased understanding of themselves as psychological beings with unique personalities and traits.

Question 4

Research indicates that preschoolers with _____ siblings are generally quicker to adopt a belief-desire theory of mind.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that having older siblings may accelerate the development of theory of mind in preschoolers, possibly due to increased exposure to social interactions and the need to understand others' perspectives.

Question 5

The feelings that one has about his or her characteristics and capabilities represent that aspect of self called

Accepted Answer

Self-esteem refers to an individual's subjective evaluation and feelings about their own worth, value, and abilities. It is a measure of how much one values oneself and believes in their own abilities to achieve their goals. Options B, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of this aspect of self. Self-competence refers to an individual's actual skills and abilities in a particular domain. Categorical self refers to an individual's understanding of themselves as belonging to certain groups or categories (e.g. gender, ethnicity, nationality). Looking-glass self refers to the way in which an individual's self-concept is influenced by the perception and feedback of others around them.

Question 6

A grade-school child who labels the self as being poor at schoolwork and having few social skills may still enjoy high self-esteem if the child

Accepted Answer

The child may still have high self-esteem if they perceive themselves as highly competent in other domains that are important to them. This suggests that their self-worth is not solely based on their academic or social abilities, but rather on a variety of factors that contribute to their overall self-perception. Gender is not a relevant factor in this scenario.

Question 7

Children's self-concepts become more and more _____ over the course of childhood as they begin to incorporate _____ into their self-descriptions.

Accepted Answer

Children's self-concepts evolve to include more abstract psychological attributes (like thoughts and feelings) as they grow, moving away from the more concrete self-descriptions of early childhood.

Question 8

If a person's "Who Am I?" statements consisted primarily of attributes reflecting personal achievements and personal characteristics, we might conclude that this person

Accepted Answer

Personal achievements and characteristics are often emphasized in individualistic cultures, where individual identity is highly valued and promoted. In collectivist cultures, group identity and social roles are more important than individual attributes.

Question 9

Jimmie feels very good about his grades and the large number of friends he has, but he realizes he is a poor fielder and will have to improve if he is to earn a spot on the Little League team. Jimmie displays

Accepted Answer

Jimmie's positive feelings about his grades and number of friends suggest high self-esteem. His recognition of his weakness in fielding shows a willingness to identify and work on improving a skill, rather than dwelling excessively on perceived inadequacies. There is no indication of an inferiority complex.

Question 10

A person who describes herself as a very bright individual despite the fact that she doesn't perform very well in subjects she doesn't like is probably

Accepted Answer

A person who has a sense of their own intelligence and ability to excel in certain subjects, despite struggling in others they do not like, is likely to have reached an age where they have a greater understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. This suggests an adolescent or adult age range.

Question 11

Greta and John are both teachers. Both feel that they work hard at teaching and are perceived by their students as demanding. However, Greta feels good about her ability to reach students whereas John does not. With regard to teaching, it might be said that Greta and John have

Accepted Answer

Greta and John both view themselves as hardworking and demanding teachers, indicating they have similar self-concepts regarding their teaching roles. However, Greta feels good about her ability to reach students, while John does not, suggesting they have different levels of self-esteem in relation to their teaching effectiveness.

Question 12

The description "I am well liked and will usually help others but sometimes I'm cruel and inconsiderate" was most likely made by a(n)

Accepted Answer

This description reflects the self-awareness and complexity of thought typical of an adolescent. Adolescents are more capable of recognizing and articulating the contradictory aspects of their personality, such as being both kind and cruel, due to their advanced cognitive and emotional development.

Question 13

According to Harter and her associates, adolescents who _____ are best able to resolve inconsistencies in their conduct across situations and contexts

Accepted Answer

Harter and her associates found that adolescents who have achieved solid mastery of formal operations are best able to resolve inconsistencies in their conduct across various situations and contexts. The other options (A) and (C) are not related to this specific finding.

Question 14

One excellent predictor of the self-esteem of preschool children is _____ .

Accepted Answer

The child's attachment history with parents is a strong predictor of self-esteem in preschool children. Children who have secure attachments with their parents tend to have higher levels of self-esteem compared to children who have insecure attachments or who have experienced disruptions in their attachment relationships.

Question 15

Cross-cultural research reveals that

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural research shows that the emergence of belief-desire theory of mind varies across cultures, and is delayed in cultures lacking the social supports for its emergence. This means that children in cultures with more social supports for developing theory of mind skills may develop belief-desire reasoning earlier than in cultures where these skills are not as strongly supported. However, this does not mean that 2-year-olds in more advanced industrialized societies automatically have a belief-desire theory of mind, as stated in options B and D. Option A is also incorrect as not all cultures may prioritize or encourage the development of belief-desire theory of mind in children.

Question 16

Harter and Monsour (1992) found that _____ are particularly disturbed by the inconsistencies they detect in their self-images.

Accepted Answer

Mid-adolescents are particularly disturbed by inconsistencies in their self-images as they are in a developmental stage where they are forming their identity and are more sensitive to contradictions in their self-perception.

Question 17

A factor that seems to contribute a belief-desire theory of mind by illustrating that beliefs are mental constructions that influence behavior is

Accepted Answer

Collaboration with adults to deceive others in games involving trickery and participating in pretend play with siblings and peers both involve the use of beliefs and desires to achieve a goal or outcome. Through these activities, a child can develop an understanding that beliefs and desires play a role in shaping behavior. Option A and E are incorrect because solitary play does not involve social interactions that would require the use of beliefs and desires. Option B is a good choice but does not capture the additional importance of collaborating with parents and adults. Therefore, option D is the best answer.

Question 18

A significant change in self-descriptions that occurs between ages 9 and 11 is a shift from

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that during the ages of 9 to 11, children tend to shift their self-descriptions from physical characteristics to more abstract inner qualities such as personality traits, beliefs, and attitudes. This reflects a move towards a more complex and nuanced understanding of self, beyond just the physical appearance.

Question 19

Harter and others find that when 8-year-olds rate their social, cognitive, and physical competencies and their general self-worth, they tend to

Accepted Answer

The answer of Harter and others find that when 8-year-olds...

Question 20

Research on the origins of self-esteem reveals that _____ may serve as the foundation for constructing a positive or negative sense of self-esteem.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that infants and toddlers construct working models of self that can serve as the foundation for self-esteem. These working models may be positive or negative based on early experiences and interactions with caregivers.

Quiz 6: Development of the Self and Social Cognition