Chapter 1: The Life-Span Perspective

Question 1

Pattern of change that begins at conception and continues through the life span.

Answer 1

Development

Question 2

The perspective that development is lifelong, multidimensional, multidirectional, plastic, multidisciplinary, and contextual; involves growth, maintenance, and regulation; and is constructed through biological, sociocultural, and individual factors working together.

Answer 2

Life-Span Perspective

Question 3

Average number of years that a person born in a
particular year can expect to live.

Answer 3

Life Expectancy

Question 4

In the life-span perspective, early adulthood is not the end-point of development.

Answer 4

Development Is Lifelong

Question 5

No matter what your age might be, your body, mind, emotions, and relationships are changing and affecting each other.

Answer 5

Development is Multidimensional

Question 6

Throughout life, some dimensions or components of a dimension expand and other shrink.

Answer 6

Development is Multidirectional

Question 7

Means the capacity for change

Answer 7

Development is Plastic

Question 8

Psychologist, sociologist, anthropologists, neuroscientist, and medical researchers all share an interest in unlocking the mysteries of development through the life span.

Answer 8

Developmental Science is Multidisciplinary

Question 9

All development occurs within a context, or setting.

Answer 9

Development is Contextual

Question 10

Influences that are similar for individuals in a particular age group.

Answer 10

Normative age-graded influences

Question 11

Influences that are common to people of a particular generation because of historical circumstances.

Answer 11

Normative history-graded influence

Question 12

Unusual occurrences that have a major impact on the lives of individual people.

Answer 12

Nonnormative life events

Question 13

Mystery of life often involves conflicts and competition among three goals of human development (Baltes and his colleagues, 2006).

Answer 13

Development Involves Growth, Maintenance, and Regulation of Loss

Question 14

Development is a co-construction of biological, cultural, and individual factors working together.

Answer 14

Development Is a Co-construction of Biology, Culture, and the Individual

Question 15

Health professionals today recognize the powerful influences of lifestyles and psychological states on ________ and _______

Answer 15

Health and Well-Being

Question 16

Adult typically face more losses in _____ ___ than earlier in life.

Answer 16

Middle Age

Question 17

What effect might ______ have on children’s and older adults’ ability to process information?

Answer 17

Exercise

Question 18

The behavior patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a group that are passed on from generation to generation.

Answer 18

Culture

Question 19

Comparison of one culture with one or more other cultures. These provide information about the degree which development is similar, or universal, across cultures, and the degree to which it is culture-specific.

Answer 19

Cross-cultural studies

Question 20

A characteristic based on cultural heritage, nationality characteristics, race, religion, and language.

Answer 20

Ethnicity

Question 21

Refers to the grouping of people with similar occupational, education, and economic characteristics.

Answer 21

Socioeconomic status (SES)

Question 22

The characteristics of people as males or females.

Answer 22

Gender

Question 23

A national government’s course of action designed to promote the welfare of its citizens.

Answer 23

Social Policy