Psyc Chapter 9
What is a similarity between prenatal development and early childhood development?
Both are characterized by rapid brain development. Both are characterized by rapid brain development.
How are accommodation and assimilation similar?
Both processes involve adding new information to existing schema. Children adjust their internal schemas by assimilating and accommodating new information. Assimilation is adding information to existing schemas, while accommodation involves changing one's existing schemas to fit new information. Todd and June have both adjusted their existing schemas to accommodate new information.
When Kate enters sixth grade, she is embarrassed to see that she is now taller than many boys who were the same height as her before summer break. What is the MOST likely cause for this height discrepancy?
Kate experienced a growth spurt over the summer. Growth spurts are periods of rapid physical growth. Teenagers typically experience a growth spurt during puberty. Girls' growth spurts typically occur earlier than boys' growth spurts. Kate is taller than boys her age, because they have not yet experienced their growth spurts.
Eighteen-month-old Emma seems to put everything in her mouth and enjoys banging on whatever objects are available. What is a likely explanation for this?
Emma is in the sensorimotor stage. Infants who occupy the sensorimotor stage of development, explore the world with their immediate senses and motor activities. They learn information by manipulating items with their hands and putting them in their mouths.
When Colleen has a consultation with the nurse practitioner at her first prenatal appointment, she asks Colleen if she is currently exposing the baby to any teratogens. What is the nurse asking about?
Environmental factors that can cause impairment of prenatal development. A teratogen is any environmental agent that can harm the developing embryo or fetus. Teratogens include biological, chemical, and physical factors, such as maternal drug and alcohol use, and exposure to dangerous chemicals.
Rose and Niles are having a heated discussion in class. Rose states that humans are born with specific genetic behavioral traits that remain constant throughout life. Niles asserts that environment and experiences have the greatest impact on behavior. How do Rose and Niles perspectives differ?
Rose believes nature has the greatest impact on a person, while Niles believes that nurture has more of an impact. Nature and nurture both contribute to a person's development. Genetics and biology comprise nature, while nurture includes the influences of a person's environment, including family, peers, and culture. Rose's statement reflects a preference for nature, while Niles's emphasizes nurture.
Danielle laments, "At the start of sixth grade, all of the boys in my class were taller than me. Now, at the end of the school year, I'm taller than nearly every boy in the class. Am I growing into a giant or something?" How would you explain this height discrepancy to Danielle?
Tell her that it is normal for girls to have their adolescent growth spurt about two years earlier than boys. Growth spurts are periods of rapid physical growth. Teenagers experience growth spurts during puberty. Girls' growth spurts typically occur earlier than boys' growth spurts, so Danielle is taller than boys her age. The boys in her class will grow in the next couple of years, many surpassing Danielle's height.
When a parent frequently hugs and kisses their newborn, what is the likely result?
The child will attach to the parent. Attachment is the bond between children and their caretakers. Forming healthy bonds is an important social and emotional developmental milestone that occurs during infancy. Warm and affectionate parenting increases the likelihood a child will form a secure attachment.
According to some parenting style studies, what role does the child's temperament play in parenting styles?
The child's temperament may influence the parenting style. Attachment is the major psychosocial milestone of infancy, and one major criticism of Ainsworth's attachment style theory is the influence a child's temperament has on attachment. Critics suggest that a child's temperament may significantly affect parenting styles.
A father expects his daughter to behave properly at all times. If she misbehaves, he punishes her immediately. If she behaves properly, he ignores her. If she protests against his arbitrary rules, he punishes her for being a "smart-mouth". What sort of parenting style does this parent use?
authoritarian Authoritarian parents command obedience and conformity. These parents closely monitor their children's activities, and express little warmth. This father's demanding style reflects authoritarian parenting.
A mother loves reading to her child and spends a lot of time playing and cuddling with her, but she also expects the child to learn appropriate behavior. This parent helps her child learn how to behave by modeling good behavior and praising the child when she does well. What sort of parenting style does this parent use?
authoritative Authoritative parents exhibit both high levels of warmth toward their children and high levels of behavioral control over them. Authoritarian parenting involves high levels of control and low levels of warmth. Permissive parents display high levels of warmth, but low levels of behavioral control.
When Micah asked his mother if he could go to the concert, Micah's mother responded, "Who are you going with? I want you to be responsible. " Which parenting style does Micah's mother display?
authoritative Micah's mother expresses concern for where he is going, and exerts a moderate amount of control. She considers Micah's request and responds accordingly, which indicates an authoritative parenting style.
Stage theorists believe that development occurs in discrete changes, while continuity theorists believe that developmental changes are more
gradual Continuous development is a gradual, roughly linear process that occurs over a prolonged period of time. Stage theories of development view change as discrete steps which occur at specific ages or times.
Bailey's parents are trying to wean her from the pacifier. Thinking Bailey is asleep, her mother removes the pacifier from her mouth. Bailey opens her eyes and begins to cry. Her mother hides the pacifier behind her back, though Bailey continues crying and reaches for her mother's hand tucked behind her back. From this example, we can assume Bailey
has achieved object permanence. Bailey understands that her pacifier still exists, even when her mother removes it from her sight. This demonstrates that Bailey grasps object permanence.
A researcher interested in comparing the personality characteristics of extraversion to introversion follows a cohort of 20 children, from kindergarten through twelfth grade. What type of research method is he using?
longitudinal Longitudinal research takes repeated measures of one person or a cohort group over time, a useful method for tracking development over the lifespan. This researcher is following the same 20 children throughout their school years, tracking the stability and change of the personality dimension, extraversion.
Rolling over, crawling, and walking are all stages of which naturalist process?
maturation Maturation refers to a natural process of development, the "nature" component of the nature versus nurture debate. Rolling over, crawling, and walking are natural developmental milestones largely governed by automatic, genetically predetermined signals.
Denalda is 9 and has been helping her family's catering business by setting tables and assisting the wait staff as needed. Until recently, Denalda was too impatient to help with an all-day event, but she does very well with it now. This is an example of
maturation With maturation, development is largely governed by automatic, genetically predetermined genetic signals. At age nine, Denalda's attention span is still developing and will continue to increase through adulthood as part of natural development and maturation.
At age 7, Ella has just learned to ride her bike without training wheels. Ella is in which developmental period?
middle childhood Developmental psychology studies growth and changes through the eight major stages of life. At age 7, Ella is in the early part of middle childhood having successfully moved out of early childhood and continues to build on those developmental tasks.
Brandon is 11 months old. When he visits his aunt's house, he goes directly to the big staircase that leads from the living room to the bedrooms upstairs. Brandon's mom tells her sister that he is attracted to the stairs because they do not have any in their house. Within a few visits, Brandon is crawling up the stairs on his hands and knees. This is BEST described as an example of ________ development.
motor Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups, which control the arms and legs and coordinate large movements. Crawling up a set of stairs displays a child's gross motor development, as this child learns to move his limbs to perform a new motor skill.
When you ask your nephew what his mother wants for her birthday, he promptly responds, "A toy train!" As a psychology student, you immediately recognize that your nephew is in which of Piaget's stages?
preoperational Children in the preoperational stage display egocentrism, and lack the ability to take others' perspectives. Ainsley's nephew mistakenly believes that because he wants a toy train, everyone wants the same thing. The understanding that others have different points of view than one's self develops later in the preoperational stage.
A young child believes that all four-legged creatures with fur and a tail are called dogs. According to Piaget, what is this type of belief?
schema A schema is an individual's mental representation of a thing or idea that helps them process and understand the world around them. Children assimilate and accommodate information into, and change, existing schemas to fit new information.
A baby's favorite toy falls under the table, out of sight. The baby cries, believing it is gone forever. This lack of object permanence indicates that the child is in which of Piaget's stages?
sensorimotor Children in the early portion of the sensorimotor stage do not yet grasp the concept of object permanence. According to Piaget, once an object is out of sight, a young infant will not remember the object exists. Children grasp object permanence around the age of 5 to 8 months, according to Piaget.
Nellie's parents find that at eight months of age Nellie enjoys music, because every time she hears music she starts "dancing" by kicking her legs and waving her arms. The ability to hear and enjoy music is BEST described as an example of ________ development.
sensory Nellie has keen hearing, and she appears to enjoy music. Her response to the music indicates her auditory acuity, an important sensory development.
The psychologist attempts to discover elements from his patient's childhood to help break down issues in the patient's adult life. This practice emphasizes
stability This type of practice emphasizes stability over change, assessing which traits and experiences persist from the patient's childhood to adulthood.
When Lindsey's pregnancy test is positive, she schedules a prenatal appointment where she is told that her baby is in the late stages of the embryonic phase. During the ultrasound she is surprised to see that
the head is as large as half the entire baby. In the embryonic stage, the heart starts to beat, and the body's organs form and begin to function. Only gross features, not fine details, are discernable at this stage.
When Thom first started playing peekaboo with his daughter Tomasita, she would cry when Thom would hide behind the blanket. But over time instead of crying, Tomasita would peek around the blanket to look for Thom. From this example, we can assume Tomasita
understands the concept of object permanence. Tomasita understands that Thom still exists, even when he is out of sight. This demonstrates that Tomasita understands the concept of object permanence.
While infants show a strong preference for the sound of their own mothers, which sense is not yet fully developed at birth?
vision The senses continue to develop after birth, and vision is the least developed sense at birth. Newborns shows a preference for human faces, even though their sight is not yet fully developed.
How does brain development relate to motor and sensory development?
Adequate brain development is necessary to support motor and sensory development. The brain develops rapidly before and after birth. Neuron strengthening occurs throughout infancy and early childhood, as neural pathways form and connect. Brain development facilitates increased motor skills, sensory capabilities, and cognitive abilities.
What is the critical distinction between assimilation and accommodation?
Assimilation involves adding new information, whereas accommodation requires the modification of an existing schema. Children adjust their internal schemas by assimilating and accommodating new information. Assimilation is adding information to existing schemas, while accommodation involves changing one's existing schemas to fit new information.
Twins Carly and Cole are at the playground. Their babysitter, Mandy, is majoring in special education and conducting a study on physical development for a class assignment. As she watches the twins play, she notices that Carly is demonstrating motor development while Cole is demonstrating sensory development. Which example below BEST fits this scenario?
Carly is climbing up the ladder and Cole is letting handfuls of sand filter through his fingers. Motor skills allow the body to move. Motor skills coordinate movement of large and small muscle systems that move the limbs. Carly displays motor skills when she climbs a ladder, coordinating her body's movements. Cole feels the sand using his sense of touch, displaying sensory development.
Caroline and her daughter, Gemma, are both enduring hormonal changes. Which scenario below best illustrates the situation?
Caroline is experiencing menopause and Gemma is beginning to experience menstruation. When girls experience puberty, menstruation begins, and secondary sex characteristics develop. Middle-aged women experience menopause when they stop menstruating. At this stage, women may also gain weight in the hips and thighs, as the body's hormone levels change.
Izzy is a smart and curious 9-year-old girl. One day she comes home from school and announces to her father that the Easter Bunny is not real. Which stage of development is Izzy demonstrating?
Concrete operational Children who are in the concrete operational stage are less egocentric in their thinking and become more capable of true logical thought. They begin to question beliefs like the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus, as they form logical inquiries, like, "Why does Santa Claus resemble Uncle Phil?"
A psychologist says, "To understand how parental discipline affects children, we can't look at discipline alone. We must also consider how much warmth and affection the parent shows to the child." This psychologist is likely to be most influenced by the work of which of the following researchers?
Diana Baumrind Baumrind's theory of parenting styles describes a relationship between parental discipline and responsiveness. According to Baumrind, authoritative parenting is the most ideal method, which combines discipline and parental warmth.
Diane is studying the correlation of sun exposure to subsequent development of skin cancer. She measures the time spent in the sun among subjects who are 16-20 years old, 21-25 years old, and 25-30 years old. Eileen is studying the same topic; however, she follows the sun exposure of children who are 10 years old across a 15-years span of time. What is the difference between these studies?
Diane has employed a cross-sectional design, whereas Eileen has employed a longitudinal design. Cross-sectional research design measures individuals of various ages at a single point in time to provide information about age differences, such as Diane's study. Longitudinal research takes repeated measures of one person or cohort over a long period of time, such as Eileen's research.
What is the difference between maturation and a critical period?
Maturation refers to development over the life span, whereas a critical period refers to a specific and narrow period of development. A critical period is a specific, sensitive period in development crucial to healthy development of organs (fetal) or skills (childhood). Maturation refers to a natural process of development, the "nature" component of the nature versus nurture debate.
A junior high student, John, believes he has a pimple and when his parents try to console him, he says, "This pimple is a monster. You cannot understand what I am going through. The whole class is going to make fun of me." John is exhibiting signs of which two concepts?
John is exhibiting an imaginary audience and a personal fable; both are associated with egocentrism. Egocentric thinking reemerges in the teenage years (the formal operational stage), as adolescents imagine others are scrutinizing them. John believes his pimple will be the object of scrutiny and humiliation.
Four students are trying to understand the work of different attachment researchers. Which student has the most accurate understanding?
Jules says, "Both Bowlby and Harlow believed that attachment is a critical, biologically-determined step in infant development." Harlow's research on attachment styles in monkeys suggested that comfort was critical to attachment, rather than just nourishment. Bowlby built on Harlow's research and applied it to humans, suggesting that infants form secure attachments to their mothers, as a base of exploration. Neither theorist used conditioning in their attachment research.
Which of the following examples of kindergartener behavior shows the typical effect of an authoritarian parenting style, in which strict enforcement of rules is not balanced by compassion and tenderness?
Michael is emotionally unpredictable and lashes out immediately at other children if he does not get his way. Authoritarian parenting is associated with negative outcomes like withdrawal, anxiety, and depression. Children with authoritarian parents may not feel free to socialize in school, and have difficulty communicating with others.
Which of the following statements best exemplifies Baumrind's theory of Parenting Styles?
Parenting styles are categorized into four broad patterns differentiated by control, demandingness, warmth, and responsiveness. Baumrind's theory on parenting styles differentiates parenting styles based on warmth, demands, and control. Authoritative parents set boundaries, with warmth and responsiveness. Authoritative parents are demanding and cold. Permissive parents display warmth and responsiveness, but little control.
Sal believes that by 12-years-old, children have developed the capacity for logical thought. Riley believes that logical thought develops gradually, and is not necessarily well established by age 12. Which statement best summarizes Sal and Riley's positions?
Sal believes in the stage theory of development and Riley believes in the continuity theory of development. Continuous development is a gradual, roughly linear process that occurs over a prolonged period of time. Stage theories of development view change as discrete, discontinuous steps which occur at specific ages or times. Sal's opinion reflects discontinuous theory, while Riley believes in continuous development.
Tim used to be sad when his mother would not let him go on the roof deck to say goodnight to the stars that seemed to be waving to him. Recently his sister asked him why he did not try to say goodnight to the stars anymore, and Tim replied, "It is stupid to try to say goodnight to the stars. They cannot talk." What is the MOST likely explanation for this change in attitude?
Tim has transitioned from the preoperational to the concrete operational stage. Tim has transitioned from preoperational thought to concrete operational thought, adjusting his attitudes and beliefs to fit reality. He is beginning to understand the world and natural elements in logical ways, realizing that the stars cannot talk.
Todd saw a beaver near the stream and at first called it a cat. He now understands that a beaver is a different four-legged animal with a long tail. June thought computers were defined by a monitor and a keyboard; but now understands, after her father explained, that a smartphone is also a computer. How are Todd and June similar?
Todd and June have both added new information to their existing schema. Children adjust their internal schemas by assimilating and accommodating new information. Assimilation is adding information to existing schemas, while accommodation involves changing one's existing schemas to fit new information. Todd and June have both adjusted their existing schemas to accommodate new information.
Which of the following abilities would be the result of normal physical development for most people as a result of maturation?
Walking Maturation refers to a natural process of development, the nature component of the nature versus nurture debate. Walking is a natural developmental milestone, the absence of which indicates abnormal development. Singing, typing, and skating are all learned skills.
Sara has just had a baby. When her mother-in-law comes to visit a few weeks later, Sara has to explain that his sense of vision, though poorly developed, is right on target for his age. Which scenario below BEST illustrates a possible catalyst for her mother-in-law's concern?
When she hangs the brightly colored mobile she brought as a gift above his crib, he does not seem to notice it but does not appear to be focusing on anything else either. Sara's mother-in-law is most likely concerned with the baby's sensory development, misunderstanding infants' visual acuity. Infants do not have a fully developed sense of sight at birth, and their vision improves as they age.
Peter, age two months, has a mother who is a drug addict. When she is high on drugs, she ignores Peter completely. When she is sober, she feels guilty and lavishes Peter with affection and attention. What sort of attachment is Peter likely to show?
anxious/ambivalent Anxious/ambivalent children tend to show anger, fear, and clinginess, due to inconsistent levels of parental response. Peter may experience confusion and anger toward his mother when placed in a strange situation, because he doesn't know how his mother will respond, and she may not be a safe base of exploration.
Which of the following parenting activities is most likely to foster a secure attachment?
cuddling, kissing, and hugging a young infant The most important factor contributing to secure attachment is parental responsiveness. A parent who responds appropriately to a child's needs is likely to foster a secure attachment with the child.
Malakai pinched his younger brother, making him cry out. When corrected by his father, Malakai insists he did not hurt his brother and demonstrates by pinching himself saying, "See? No hurt!" Malakai is demonstrating
egocentrism Children in the preoperational stage display egocentrism, and lack the ability to take others' perspectives. Malakai demonstrates egocentrism by assuming that if an action does not hurt him, it does not hurt others, either.
Lauren is pregnant with her first child. At her recent ultrasound, she could just start to see the formation of arms and legs, and the baby's head was very large compared to the rest of the body. The baby is in the ________ period of development.
embryonic In the fetal stage of prenatal development, from weeks 9 to 40 of gestation, the developing child begins to look like a human. During this stage, all actual body parts and organs are established.
How is an authoritarian parent likely to respond if a child asks why he or she has to follow a certain rule?
expect the child to behave without giving an explanation of the rule Authoritarian parents expect compliance without explaining their reasoning. Authoritative parents are likely to explain their rationale for setting rules and encourage discussions with their children.
According to naturists, a child brought up in a stimulating environment will
fearlessly explore surroundings. Naturists believe there are critical periods that occur early in life when exposure to certain stimuli is necessary for proper development. Securely attached children fearlessly explore their environments, using their caregivers as a safe base of exploration through imprinting.