Question 1

The public and many professionals use the term child abuse to refer to both abuse and neglect; developmentalists increasingly use the term

Accepted Answer

While "child neglect" may be a commonly used term, the more appropriate and comprehensive term used by professionals in the field of child development is "child maltreatment." This term encompasses both abuse and neglect, as well as any other forms of harm or endangerment to a child's physical, emotional, or cognitive well-being. "Child battery" and "child assault" specifically refer to physical abuse, which is only one aspect of maltreatment.

Question 2

Which of the following is true about childhood maltreatment?

Accepted Answer

Childhood maltreatment is often caused by multiple factors, including parenting stress, substance abuse, social isolation, single parenting, and socioeconomic difficulties. Research also shows that experiencing abuse as a child increases the likelihood of becoming an abuser as an adult, but not all abused parents go on to abuse their own children. Additionally, exposure to violence on television and other media can contribute to the perpetuation of violence in families. Therefore, only option D is true.

Question 3

In the context of birth order, research indicates that firstborn children are ________ than later-born children.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that firstborn children tend to be more adult-oriented, responsible, and achievement-oriented than later-born children. This is often attributed to the fact that they have had more undivided attention from their parents and may have been held to higher expectations.

Question 4

According to a study, maltreated young children in foster care were ________ than middle-SES young children living with their birth family.

Accepted Answer

The study found that maltreated young children in foster care were more likely to show abnormal stress hormone levels compared to middle-SES young children living with their birth family. The study did not find evidence to support choices A, B, or D.

Question 5

Carl and Tulip are getting a divorce and want to know how they can best communicate the news to their young children. Ellen Galinsky and Judy David would suggest that

Accepted Answer

It is important to reassure children during a divorce that they are not the cause of the separation. By doing so, they will not feel responsible for their parent's divorce and can better cope with the new changes that may occur. It is also recommended to have both parents present when breaking the news and to not discuss the matter repeatedly with the children. While it is important to address any concerns or questions that the children may have, constantly rehashing the topic can be emotionally taxing for them. Additionally, it is important to communicate that while the family dynamic may change, the love and support the parents have for their children will remain constant.

Question 6

Damian's parents fail to provide for his basic needs; he is often unfed and dirty when he gets to school. This constitutes

Accepted Answer

Damian's situation falls under the category of child neglect, where his basic needs such as food, hygiene, and care are not met by his parents. Physical abuse involves intentional harm to a child's body, and mental injury refers to emotional harm inflicted on a child, neither of which are explicitly stated in the scenario. Child inattention is not a recognized term in child protection and does not accurately describe Damian's situation.

Question 7

Nine-year-old Tadako's uncle has been taking pictures of her naked body and selling them on the Internet. This constitutes

Accepted Answer

Tadako's uncle taking pictures of her naked body and selling them on the Internet is considered sexual abuse as it involves a child being exploited for sexual purposes.

Question 8

Punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, and shaking a child constitute

Accepted Answer

The actions listed in the question are physical in nature and involve harm or injury being inflicted upon a child. This constitutes physical abuse. Verbal abuse refers to harmful words or threats, sexual abuse refers to any sexual activity with a child, and child neglect involves a failure to provide for a child's basic needs.

Question 9

Laurie Kramer, who has conducted a number of research studies on siblings, says that

Accepted Answer

Kramer's research suggests that not intervening in sibling conflict can result in negative outcomes such as increased aggression and decreased sibling bond. However, letting the conflict escalate without guidance can also be detrimental. The best approach is to intervene in a constructive way by helping siblings learn effective communication and problem-solving skills.

Question 10

Bernice is raised by two lesbian mothers, whereas Jessica is raised by a heterosexual couple. According to research, it is most likely that

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that children raised by same-sex parents are just as well adjusted and popular as children raised by heterosexual parents. There is no evidence to suggest that sexual orientation is determined by the sexual orientation of one's parents, and the idea that Bernice is more likely to get divorced based on her parents' orientation is an unfounded stereotype. Therefore, it is most likely that Bernice and Jessica are the same with regard to popularity and mental health.

Question 11

Which of the following is true of children in divorced families?

Accepted Answer

Most children in divorced families do experience more difficulties in adjusting compared to their peers from nondivorced families. This can include emotional, social, and academic challenges, although the degree of impact can vary widely among individuals.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of how parents' work affects the development of their children?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that the nature of parents' work (such as job satisfaction, work-family conflict, flexibility, and job demands) has a greater impact on children's development than whether a parent works outside the home or not. Both parents working outside the home can have positive or negative effects depending on the nature of their work and how they manage their work-life balance. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. Option B and C are both incorrect as studies show little to no difference in attachment style and gender stereotyping for children of working mothers. Option D is also incorrect as it oversimplifies the complex factors that influence children's development.

Question 13

Why do more researchers think that birth-order influences on child development have been emphasized too strongly?

Accepted Answer

When all the factors that influence behavior are considered, birth order by itself shows limited ability to predict behavior. This suggests that the influences of birth order on child development have been overstated. Additionally, there is no clear consensus on the patterns of birth-order influences on personality, and some argue that the descriptions of such patterns are largely speculative and not based on concrete evidence. Furthermore, continued emphasis on birth-order influences could potentially create self-fulfilling prophecies that perpetuate birth order, making it difficult to isolate its true effects on child development.

Question 14

According to a research study by Kramer and Perozynski (1999), in families with two siblings 2 to 5 years of age, the most frequent parental reaction to verbal or physical sibling confrontations is to

Accepted Answer

The study by Kramer and Perozynski (1999) found that the most common parental reaction to sibling confrontations in young children is to do nothing, allowing the children to resolve their conflicts independently.

Question 15

In the context of working parents, a consistent finding is that in contrast to children whose mothers are not employed outside the home, children of working mothers

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that children of working mothers have more egalitarian views of gender, meaning that they are less likely to adhere to traditional gender roles and stereotypes. This may be because they have more exposure to both male and female role models in the workforce and at home.

Question 16

In the context of child maltreatment, which of the following would most likely constitute child neglect?

Accepted Answer

Allowing chronic truancy would most likely constitute child neglect as it involves failure to ensure a child's regular attendance at school, which is necessary for their academic, social, and emotional development. Beating a child, fondling a child's genitals, and commercial exploitation of a child would constitute physical abuse, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation, respectively.

Question 17

Maribel works as a housekeeper at a hotel. She has no autonomy in her work, works long hours, and feels quite stressed by her job. Kim is a lawyer who works long hours but has control over her work and a great office environment. Ann Crouter would say that

Accepted Answer

Ann Crouter's research has shown that job stress and lack of autonomy can lead to negative outcomes for children, such as less effective parenting and behavior problems. While both women work long hours, the differences in their job environments suggest that Kim's children are more likely to experience better outcomes than Maribel's children. Therefore, Maribel's children are likely to experience less effective parenting than Kim's children.

Question 18

Which of the following is true of the characteristics of sibling relationships as described by Judy Dunn?

Accepted Answer

Judy Dunn's research suggests that there is considerable variation in sibling relationships, with some siblings having close and affectionate relationships while others have more distant or conflictual relationships.

Question 19

The overwhelming majority of children from gay or lesbian families

Accepted Answer

Research shows that children raised by same-sex parents are just as likely to identify as heterosexual as the children of heterosexual parents. Therefore, the majority of children from gay or lesbian families have a heterosexual orientation.

Question 20

Eight-year-old Sara's mom has repeatedly called her fat and worthless, which has caused Sara to become withdrawn at home and in school. These actions are best characterized as

Accepted Answer

Sara's mother's repeated verbal abuse of calling her fat and worthless constitutes emotional abuse.

Quiz 8: Socioemotional Development in Early Childhood