NCLEX Questions-Theories of Growth and Development

A parent of a 3-year-old tells a clinic nurse that the child is rebelling constantly and having temper tantrums. Using Erikson's psychosocial development theory, which instruction (s) should the nurse provide to the parent? Select all that apply 1. Set limits on the child's behavior 2. Ignore the child when this behavior occurs 3. Allow the behavior, because this is notmal at this age period 4. Provide a simple explanation of why the behavior is unacceptable. 5. Punish the child every time the child says "no" to change the behavior.

1, 4. Rationale-According to Erikson, the child focuses on gaining some basic control over self and the environment and the environment and independence between ages 1 and 3 years. Gaining independence often means that the child has to rebel against the parents wishes. Saying things like "no" or "mine" and having temper tantrums are common during this period of development. Being consistent and setting limits on the child's behavior are necessary elements. Providing a simple explanation of why certain behaviors are unacceptable is an appropriate action. Options 2 and 3 do not address the child's behavior. Option 5 is likely to produce a negative response during this normal development pattern.

The maternity nurse is providing instructions to a new mother regarding the psychosocial development of the newborn infant. Using Erikson's psychosocial development theory, the nurse instructs the mother to take which measure? 1. Allow the newborn infant to signal a need 2. Anticipate all the needs of the newborn infant 3. Attend to the newborn infant immediately when crying 4. Avoid the newborn indant during the first 10 minutes of crying.

1. Rationale-According to Erikson, the caregiver should not try to anticipate the newborn infant's needs at all times but must allow the newborn to signal needs. If a newborn infant is not allowed to signal a need, the newborn will not learn how to control the environment. Erikson believed that a delayed or prolonged response to a newborn infant's signal would inhibit the development of trust and lead to mistrust of others.

The mother of a 4-year-old child calls the clinic nurse and expresses concern because the child has been masturbating. Using Freud's psychosexual stages of development, the nurse should make which response? 1. "This is a normal behavior at this age" 2. "Children usually begin this behavior at age 8 years" 3. "The child is very young to begin this behavior and should be brought to the clinic" 4. "This is not normal behavior, and the child should be seen by the health care provider"

1. Rationale-According to Freud's psychosexual stages of development, between the ages of 3 and 6 the child is in the phallic stage. At this time, the child devotes much energy to examining his or her genitalia, masturbating, and expressing interest in sexual concerns. Therefore options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect.

The nursing instructor asks a nursing student to present a clinical conference to peers regarding Freud's psychosexual stages of development specifically the anal stage. The student plans the conference, knowing that which characteristic relates to this stage of development? 1. This stage is associated with toilet training 2. This stage is characterized by the gratification of self 3. This stage is characterized by a tapering off of conscious biological and sexual urges 4. This stage is associated with pleasurable and conflicting feelings about the genital organs

1. Rationale-In general, toilet training occurs during the anal stage. According to Freud, the child gains pleasure from the elimination of feces and from their retention. Option 2 relates to the oral stage. Option 3 relates to the latency period. Option 4 relates to the phallic stage.

The nursing instructor asks a nursing student to describe the formal operations stage of Piaget's cognitive development theory. The correct response by the nursing student is which statement. 1. "The child has the ability to think abstractly" 2. "The child begins to understand the environment" 3. "The child is able to classify, order, and sort facts" 4. "The child learns to think in terms of past, present, and future"

1. Rationale-In the formal operations stage, the child has the ability to think abstractly and logically. Option 2 identifies the sensorimotor stage. Option 3 identifies the concrete operational stage. Option 4 identifies the properational stage.

The nurse educator is preparing to conduct a teaching session for the nursing staff regarding the theories of growth and development and plans to discuss Kohlberg's theory of moral development. What information should the nurse include in the session? Select all that apply 1. Individuals move through all six stages in a sequential fashion 2. Moral development progresses in relationship to cognitive development 3. A person's ability to make moral judgments develops over a period of time 4. The theory provides a framework for understanding how individuals determine a moral code to guide their behavior 5. In stage 1 (punishment-obedience orientation) children are expected to reason as mature members of society. 6. In stage 2 (instrumental-relativist orientation), the child conforms to rules to obtain rewards or have favors returned.

2,3,4,and 6. Rationale-Kohlberg's theory states that individuals move through the six stages of development in a sequential fashion but that not everyone reaches stages 5 and 6 in his or her development of personal morality. The theory provides a framework for understanding how individuals determine a moral code to guide their behavior. It states that moral development progresses in relationship to cognitive development and that a person's ability to make moral judgments develops over a period of time. In stage 1, ages 2 to 3 years (punishment-obedience orientation), children cannot reason as mature members of society. In stage 2, ages 4 to 7 years, (instrumental-relativist orientation), the child conforms to rules to obtain rewards or have favors returned.

The mother of an 8-year-old child tells the clinic nurse that she is concerned about the child because the child seems to be more attentive to friends than anything else. Using Erikson's psychosocial development theory, the nurse should make which response? 1. "You need to be concerned" 2. "You need to monitor the child's behavior closely" 3. "At this age, the child is developing his own personality" 4. "You need to provide more praise to the child to stop this behavior"

3. Rationale-According to Erikson, during school-age years (6 to 12 years of age), the child begins to move toward peers and friends and away from the parents support. The child also begins to develop special interests that reflect his or her own developing personality instead of the parents. Therefore options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect responses.

The clinic nurse is preparing to discuss the concepts of Kohlberg's theory of moral development with a parent. What motivates good and bad actions for the child at the preconventional level. 1. Peer pressure 2. Social pressure 3. Parents' behavior 4. Punishment and reward

4. Rationale-In the preconventional stage, morals are thought to be motivated by punishment and reward. If the child is obedient and is not punished, then the child is being moral. The child sees actions as good or bad. If the child's actions are good, the child is praised. If the child's actions are bad, the child is punished. Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect for this stage of moral development.