Question 1

Attitudes toward death in old age show the same diversity that is reflected in other aspects of adult development.

Accepted Answer

Attitudes toward death in old age vary greatly from person to person, just like other aspects of adult development. Some people may approach death with acceptance and even view it as a natural part of life, while others may fear or resist it. These attitudes can be influenced by factors such as cultural beliefs, past experiences with death, and health status.

Question 2

In late adulthood, neurons appear to become more efficient at communicating with one another, and this seems to result in speeded cognitive performance.

Accepted Answer

In late adulthood, neurons generally become less efficient at communicating, leading to slower cognitive performance due to age-related changes in the brain.

Question 3

Permissive parenting may have benefits in some cultures, including countries in South America and Southern Europe.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that permissive parenting may be more effective in some cultures, particularly in countries in South America and Southern Europe, where collectivist values and closer family relationships are valued. In these cultures, children may feel more comfortable expressing their needs and opinions, and parents may have greater trust in their children's ability to make their own decisions. However, it is important to note that cultural factors alone do not determine the effectiveness of parenting styles, and individual factors such as temperament and personal beliefs also play a role.

Question 4

Induction is an approach to discipline that combines controlling a child's behavior with teaching the child why the behavior is wrong or inappropriate.

Accepted Answer

Induction involves explaining to the child the reasons behind a behavior being unacceptable, while also implementing a form of control or discipline.

Question 5

When parents exercise control over their children's behavior yet are responsive to their children's desires and needs, their children are likely to be well adjusted in adolescence.

Accepted Answer

This parenting style is known as authoritative parenting and has been associated with positive outcomes for children, including better academic performance, higher self-esteem, and lower rates of problematic behaviors in adolescence.

Question 6

The children of parents who practice the permissive-indulgent parenting style tend to develop effective self-control strategies early in life and are more achievement-oriented than the children of authoritarian or authoritative parents.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. The permissive-indulgent parenting style is characterized by a lack of structure and limits, and often results in children who have difficulty with self-control and may struggle with achievement. On the other hand, the authoritative parenting style, which is characterized by warmth, high expectations, and clear boundaries, is associated with children who develop effective self-control strategies and are achievement-oriented.

Question 7

Declines in test scores of mental abilities in late adulthood are sometimes due to lack of practice with test items. Researchers have found that the test scores of most older adults can be improved by just a few hours of training.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that test scores of most older adults can indeed be improved by just a few hours of training.

Question 8

The activity theory of aging contends that life satisfaction in late adulthood is highest when people maintain the level of activity they displayed earlier in life.

Accepted Answer

The activity theory of aging suggests that maintaining an active lifestyle and continuing to engage in familiar activities from earlier in life can lead to higher levels of life satisfaction in late adulthood. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 9

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross proposed that people who are dying invariably progress through the stages of (1) denial, (2) anger, (3) bargaining, (4) depression, and finally, (5) acceptance.

Accepted Answer

This is the well-known Kübler-Ross model of the stages of grief, which includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Question 10

Some people are obsessed with issues of life and death from adolescence or early adulthood onward.

Accepted Answer

It is true that some people become obsessed with issues of life and death at an early age and this can continue throughout their lives. This may be influenced by various factors such as personal experiences, cultural beliefs, philosophical or religious views, or psychological disposition. Such individuals may have a heightened sense of mortality, fear of death, or a desire for existential meaning that drives their preoccupation with these issues.

Question 11

In Erik Erikson's theory, the older adult who feels that his or her life has been meaningful has achieved a sense of what Erikson calls ego integrity.

Accepted Answer

According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the older adult who feels that his or her life has been meaningful has achieved a sense of ego integrity, which is associated with the final stage of psychosocial development in late adulthood.

Question 12

According to the Focus on Neuroscience box "Boosting the Aging Brain," dozens of studies have shown that remaining sedentary can improve cognitive functioning in old age.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. Dozens of studies have actually shown that remaining active, both physically and mentally, can improve cognitive functioning in old age.

Question 13

Research has found that anxiety about death tends to peak in middle adulthood, and then tends to decrease during late adulthood.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Various studies have found that anxiety about death tends to peak in middle adulthood, usually between the ages of 40 and 60, and then tends to decrease during late adulthood. This decline in death anxiety is thought to be a result of several factors, such as a greater acceptance of mortality, the experience of having lived a full life, and a reduced concern about fulfilling personal goals or responsibilities.

Question 14

Authoritative parents are demanding, exert a high degree of control over their children, and expect their children to obey their rules without question.

Accepted Answer

Authoritative parents are demanding and have high expectations, but they also provide warmth, support, and open communication, encouraging independence and reasoning rather than expecting blind obedience.

Question 15

According to your textbook, not all older adults who are in poor health are accepting of death.

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that some older adults who are in poor health may be accepting of death, but not all. It is important to acknowledge that acceptance of death is individual and can vary among older adults.

Question 16

Social relationships become progressively less important as people age, because they tend to disengage from daily life and from other people.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that social relationships remain important throughout the lifespan and may even become more important as people age. However, the nature of social relationships may change, and some individuals may experience social disengagement due to factors such as health issues or life transitions. Overall, social connection and relationships are crucial for wellbeing and quality of life at any age.

Question 17

In the final stage of Erik Erikson's theory, the key psychosocial task facing people in late adulthood is ego integrity versus despair.

Accepted Answer

According to Erik Erikson's theory, the final stage of psychosocial development in late adulthood involves the struggle between ego integrity, which is a sense of wholeness and satisfaction with one's life, and despair, which is a feeling of regret, disappointment, and despair resulting from unfulfilled goals and unmet expectations.

Question 18

According to the Focus on Neuroscience box "Boosting the Aging Brain," aerobic exercise resulted in a 2 percent increase in hippocampal volume in older adults over a one-year period.

Accepted Answer

The Focus on Neuroscience box "Boosting the Aging Brain" states that aerobic exercise resulted in a 2 percent increase in hippocampal volume in older adults over a one-year period.

Question 19

Research has found that regardless of socioeconomic status or ethnic background, authoritative parenting produces a broad range of beneficial effects for adolescents, including better adjustment and greater confidence.

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that authoritative parenting, which involves high levels of warmth and support as well as clear and consistent expectations for behavior, is associated with positive outcomes for adolescents. These outcomes include better academic performance, higher self-esteem, and lower rates of problem behavior such as substance abuse and delinquency. These benefits hold true across different socioeconomic and ethnic groups, suggesting that authoritative parenting is a universally effective approach to raising healthy and well-adjusted adolescents.

Question 20

Attitudes toward death remain consistent across the life span and are not influenced by cultural beliefs.

Accepted Answer

Attitudes toward death can be influenced by cultural beliefs and can vary across different stages of the life span. Cultural beliefs and practices surrounding death can have a significant impact on an individual's attitudes toward death and dying. Additionally, experiences with death and loss throughout one's life can also shape attitudes toward death.

Quiz 9: Lifespan Development