Module 3 Developmental psychology

Question 1

Inherited genetic characteristics versus environment and social learning is called…

Answer 1

nature versus nurture

Question 2

Psychologists use the word “nature” to refer to…

Answer 2

the genes and traits that we inherit

Question 3

What does nurture refer to in the nature vs. nurture debate?

Answer 3

environment and culture

Question 4

Which is the best example of “nature” in the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 4

genetic makeup

Question 5

The “nurture” argument suggests that people socialize and behave in certain ways because of…

Answer 5

the way they are raised

Question 6

Which idea describes the process of giving assistance to someone who needs it but gradually tapering off assistance as one performs the task on one’s own?

Answer 6

scaffolding

Question 7

Which theorist would agree with Watson’s premise that a person’s habits or learned reactions build from the person’s reactions to one’s environment?

Answer 7

jerome bruner

Question 8

The zone of proximal development refers to…

Answer 8

the skills children cannot yet perform on their own but can perform if they have help from someone who has attained those skills.

Question 9

Which person is known for studying a child’s thinking and cognitions and how those abilities change over different stages of child development?

Answer 9

jean piaget

Question 10

__________ was one of the first people to suggest that behaviors as an adult are influenced by experiences in childhood.

Answer 10

sigmund freud

Question 11

By about 6 months of age, most infants can…

Answer 11

babble

Question 12

The case study of Genie supports the idea that there is a critical period for first language acquisition.

Answer 12

true

Question 13

If you don’t learn a second language during childhood, you’ll never be fluent in any second language.

Answer 13

false

Question 14

Facial hair is a primary sexual characteristic.

Answer 14

false

Question 15

A 50-year-old would probably perform better on a vocabulary test than a puzzle test.

Answer 15

true

Question 16

Late onset of puberty tends to result in good outcomes for girls but bad outcomes for boys.

Answer 16

true

Question 17

Old age is defined as any age over 65.

Answer 17

true

Question 18

Men over 80 have the highest suicide rates of any age group.

Answer 18

true

Question 19

There’s no way to combat the decline of health as we age.

Answer 19

false

Question 20

Deb is a developmental psychologist. She is interested in observing the differences in how adolescent girls treat their friends vs. how adolescent boys treat their friends. Which goal is Deb working towards?

Answer 20

describing development

Question 21

Deb is a developmental psychologist. She has gathered data about differences in how girls treat their friends vs. how boys treat their friends, and she is trying to come up with a theory about why girls and boys behave this way. Which goal is Deb working towards?

Answer 21

explaining development

Question 22

Nasheen is a developmental psychologist interested in researching the development of social connectedness among the elderly. He is working with college students and pairing them with elderly patients in a nursing home facility. Which goal of development psychology is Nasheen working toward?

Answer 22

optimizing development

Question 23

Which is/are the goal(s) of a developmental psychologist? (Select all that apply.)

Answer 23

optimizing development; describing development

Question 24

Which is an example of what a developmental psychologist would study?

Answer 24

smoking trends of adolescents

Question 25

Which is a criticism for Piaget’s and Erikson’s stage theories of development?

Answer 25

the theories are too linear

Question 26

Which theory is criticized for describing what happens as a person ages rather than explaining why those changes are occurring?

Answer 26

erikson’s

Question 27

Which theory has been criticized for ignoring a child’s environment, such as parenting, school, and culture?

Answer 27

piaget’s

Question 28

Which is a criticism of learning theories?

Answer 28

the theories do not take biology into account

Question 29

Penelope and a friend grew up in the exact same environment with the same caregivers and teachers. According to learning theorists, they would…

Answer 29

behave in the exact same way because individual differences are explained by environments.

Question 30

Sue is a middle-aged adult who has enjoyed healthy relationships all of her life. Which attachment style supports the reason for her ability to sustain relationships?

Answer 30

secure

Question 31

Who developed the theory of four adulthood attachment styles used today?

Answer 31

bartholomew and horowitz

Question 32

Those with anxious-preoccupied adult attachment style may have experienced which type of attachment as a child?

Answer 32

anxious-ambivalent

Question 33

In the case study of Genie, she could not speak at all. What theory do developmental psychologists use to support this inability to speak despite efforts made by therapists?

Answer 33

critical period of development

Question 34

Children that experienced an anxious-avoidant attachment may develop which unhealthy attachment style as an adult?

Answer 34

dismissive-avoidant

Question 35

Which is a positive characteristic of boys who mature early?

Answer 35

they have high self-esteem

Question 36

During adolescence, many engage in higher levels of risk-taking behavior. Emotional outbursts are common. This is explained by the relative underdevelopment of the…

Answer 36

prefrontal cortex

Question 37

The early onset of puberty in girls has which possible effect?

Answer 37

depression, substance abuse, eating disorders

Question 38

The limbic system is the part of the brain that is thought to be…

Answer 38

the emotion and reward center

Question 39

According to Erik Erikson, if teens are allowed to explore different social circles and trends…

Answer 39

they will create a cohesive personal identity

Question 40

Which condition causes blood vessels to become narrower, leading to heart attack or stroke?

Answer 40

heart disease

Question 41

While younger adults have better __________ intelligence, older adults have better __________ intelligence.

Answer 41

fluid; crystallized

Question 42

Donna has an easy time with crossword puzzles because she has accumulated a lot of vocabulary knowledge over the years. This is an example of excellent…

Answer 42

crystallized intelligence

Question 43

Paula’s son has had to ask his mother to stop driving because she has had several “fender benders” in which she has hit the back of another driver’s car. This is an example of…

Answer 43

reaction time

Question 44

As we get older, our bodies become susceptible to long term illnesses and may suffer from chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and…

Answer 44

athritis