Developmental Psychology

Question 1

__________________ ________________ is the scientific study of growth, change, and consistency through the lifespan.

Answer 1

Developmental psychology

Question 2

In the context of life, _____________ _______________ is the scientific study of the changes that occur in humans as they age, from conception until death.

Answer 2

human development

Question 3

In ____________ _______________, several factors are taken into consideration, such as personality, cognition, biological processes, and social interactions.

Answer 3

human development

Question 4

What is longitudinal design study?

Answer 4

A group of participants are studied over a long period of time.

Question 5

What is a cross-sectional design study?

Answer 5

Several different age groups are studied at one time.

Question 6

What is a cross-sequential design study?

Answer 6

Participants are first studied by means of a cross-sectional design but are then followed and assessed longitudinally.

Question 7

What changes do longitudinal designs typically study?

Answer 7

Mainly examines age-related changes.

Question 8

What changes do cross-sectional designs typically study?

Answer 8

Mainly examines age-related differences.

Question 9

______________ ______________ is where there is an impact on development occurring when a group of people share a common time period or common life experience.

Answer 9

Cohort effect

Question 10

In which design is cohort effect likely to occur?

Answer 10

Cross-Sectional Design & Cross-Sequential Design

Question 11

What changes do cross-sequential designs typically study?

Answer 11

Examines both age-related differences & age-related changes.

Question 12

What is ‘nature’ in terms of development?

Answer 12

Nature refers to heredity, the influence of inherited characteristics on personality, physical growth, intellectual growth, and social interactions.

Question 13

What is ‘nurture’ in terms of development?

Answer 13

Nurture refers to the influence of the environment on the same things and includes parenting styles, physical surroundings, economic factors and other possible external factors.

Question 14

According to scientific research, which affects human development more? ‘Nature’ or ‘nurture’?

Answer 14

There is no definitive answer, after numerous years of scientific research, most developmental psychologists agree that all that people are and all people become is the product of an interaction between nature and nurture.

Question 15

_______________ ________________ is a field of study in which researchers try to determine how much of behaviour is a result of genetic inheritance and how much is due to a person’s experiences.

Answer 15

Behavioural genetics

Question 16

What are family studies?

Answer 16

Family studies typically measure many individuals from a large number of families on a particular behavioural trait of interest.

Researchers would then correlate the scores on the trait between family members (i.e. parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins).

Question 17

What are adoption studies?

Answer 17

Tracks the presence or absence of traits in adopted children, among adoptive parents and biological parents.

Question 18

What can be the conclusion if an adopted child shares a more similar trait or if there is a higher correlation between themselves and their adoptive parents?

Answer 18

It shows that environmental factors plays a greater contribution in that trait rather than genetic factors.

Question 19

What can be concluded if the adopted child shares a more similar trait or there is a higher correlation between themselves and their biological parents?

Answer 19

It shows that genetic factors plays a greater contribution in that trait rather than environmental factors.

Question 20

What are twin studies?

Answer 20

Compares the frequency of traits in identical twins (or monozygotic twins) who share 100% of genes and frequency of traits in fraternal twins (or dizygotic twins) who share approximately 50% of genes.

Question 21

In twin studies for developmental psychology, their traits are being measured, but in what form?

Answer 21

They are being measured by the concordance rate, which is the percentage of twins in the study that share a particular trait.

Question 22

In twin studies for developmental psychology, if there is a higher concordance rate in traits between the twins. Can it be concluded that the trait is definitively influenced by genetic factors?

Answer 22

Having a higher concordance rate does not equal to more evidence that the trait is more influenced by genetic factors, as external factors such as living environment also play a part.

Question 23

_______________ is the science of heredity or the science of inherited traits.

Answer 23

Genetics

Question 24

What is DNA?

Answer 24

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a special molecule that contains the genetic material of the organism.

Question 25

What is DNA comprised of?

Answer 25

Comprised of two sugar-phosphate strands, linked by amines or bases arranged in a particular pattern.

Question 26

What are amines in DNA?

Answer 26

Amines are organic structures containing genetic codes for building proteins that make up organic life (i.e. hair colouring, muscle, skin).

Question 27

What does each section of DNA contain?

Answer 27

An ordering of amines, called a gene.

Question 28

What are chromosomes?

Answer 28

Tightly wound strand of genetic material or DNA.

Question 29

Where are chromosomes located?

Answer 29

Found in the nucleus of a cell.

Question 30

How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have typically?

Answer 30

23 pairs, for a total of 46 chromosomes.

Question 31

What determines the sex of a person?

Answer 31

The last 23rd pair of chromosomes, also known as the sex chromosomes.

2 X-shaped chromosomes indicate a female
1 X-shaped & 1 Y-shaped chromosome indicate a male.

Question 32

What are dominant genes?

Answer 32

Genes that are more active in influencing a trait are called dominant.

Question 33

What are recessive genes?

Answer 33

Genes that only influence a trait when paired with an identical gene are called recessive.

Question 34

What is fertilisation?

Answer 34

When an egg (or ovum) and a sperm unite, resulting single in a cell that will have a total of 46 chromosomes called a zygote.

Question 35

How does the single cell of the zygote eventually become a baby?

Answer 35

The zygote would start to divide into multiple cells, each new cell also containing these 46 chromosomes, as the DNA molecules produce duplicates of themselves before each division (this process is called mitosis). The zygote eventually becomes a mass of cells, becoming a foetus/baby.

Question 36

What happens when the zygote splits completely?

Answer 36

It will result in two foetuses being formed; these two foetuses are referred to as monozygotic twins, where they possess the exact same set of 46 chromosomes.

Question 37

What occurs when two different eggs are fertilised by two different sperm?

Answer 37

Two separate foetuses form, however, they only share about 50% of the chromosomes.

Question 38

What are the three stages of prenatal development?

Answer 38

The germinal period, embryonic period, and foetal period.

Question 39

In the ________________ __________________ of prenatal development, it occurs during the first ____ weeks after birth, where the ____________ begins dividing and moving down to the uterus, eventually attaching to the wall of the uterus.

Cells begin to differentiate or develop into _____________ cells, in preparation for becoming various kinds of cells of the human body (i.e. skin cells, organs).

Answer 39

germinal period, two, zygote

specialised

Question 40

During the _______________ _______________, cells continue to specialise and become various organs and structures.

The mass of cells, now called the __________, also begins to receive nourishment from the mother through the placenta.

Answer 40

embryonic period

embryo

Question 41

A ____________ _______________ is where environmental influences can have an impact on the development of the infant.

_____________ may cause severe harm towards the infant.

Answer 41

critical period

Teratogens

Question 42

_______________ are any substances such as a drug, chemical, virus or other factor that can cause a birth defect.

A common ____________ is alcohol, which when consumed during a critical period, can lead to foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Answer 42

Teratogens

teratogen

Question 43

During the _______________ _________________ of prenatal development, the __________ size increases by about 20 times. ____________ continue to develop and eventually become functional.

At 38 weeks, the foetus is considered full term, most babies are born between 38 and 40 weeks.

Answer 43

foetal period, foetus, Organs

Question 44

When does the germinal period occur in prenatal development and how long does it last?

Answer 44

From conception until about 2 weeks after birth.

Question 45

When does the embryonic period occur in prenatal development and how long does it last?

Answer 45

From 2 weeks after conception to about 8 weeks after conception.

Question 46

What are teratogens more likely to affect during the foetal period of prenatal development?

Answer 46

The physiology or physical functioning of the organs, rather than their structure.

Question 47

What are the two common methods of studying infants?

Answer 47

Preferential looking and habituation.

Question 48

What is preferential looking and how is it used in studying infants?

Answer 48

It assumes that the longer an infant looks at the stimulus, the more the infant prefers that stimulus over others.

Question 49

What is habituation and how is it used in studying infants?

Answer 49

Habituation is the tendency for infants to stop paying attention to an unchanging stimulus.

Habituation is commonly used as a tool to demonstrate the cognitive abilities such as categorization, object representation and memory, in infants.

Question 50

What are infancy reflexes?

Answer 50

Infants have a set of innate (existing from birth), involuntary behaviour patterns called reflexes.

Paediatricians use these innate reflexes to determine whether a newborn’s nervous system is working properly.

Question 51

What are the 6 common infancy reflexes?

Answer 51

Sucking, rooting, grasping, stepping, moro (startle), babinski.

Question 52

What are some motor milestones in infancy motor development?

Answer 52

(1) Raising head and chest—2 to 4 months
(2) Rolling over—2 to 5 months
(3) Sitting up with support—4 to 6 months
(4) Sitting up without support—6 to 7 months
(5) Crawling—7 to 8 months
(6) Walking—8 to 18 months.

Question 53

What is synaptic pruning and when does it occur in infants?

Answer 53

It is where unused synaptic connections and nerve cells are cleared away to make way for functioning connections and cells.

Much of these are due to the infants experiencing new things.

Question 54

What are some innate knowledges of infants?

Answer 54

The innate knowledge of properties of objects (e.g. moving as a cohesive unit, on a continuous path) and also the ability to quantify items.

Question 55

What are some innate social abilities of infants?

Answer 55

Mimicry (imitation of people’s behaviour), particularly in facial expressions

Strong synchronicity, where there is close coordination between the gaze, vocalising, touching, and smiling of infants and caregivers.

Question 56

How developed is the infant’s sense of touch?

Answer 56

It is the most well developed, due to skin-to-womb contact during last months of pregnancy.

Question 57

How developed is the infant’s sense of smell?

Answer 57

It is highly developed.

Breast-fed babies can tell the difference between their own mother’s milk scent and another woman’s milk scent.

Question 58

How developed is the infant’s sense of taste?

Answer 58

It is highly developed.

Infants show a preference for sweet tastes and can also develop a preference for salty tastes.

Sour & bitter tastes may produce spitting up and facial expression by the infant to display their unpleasantness.

Question 59

How developed is the infant’s sense of hearing?

Answer 59

Functional before birth, however still requires time to be fully developed.

Fluids of the womb must clear out of the auditory canals completely.

Question 60

Infants are mostly responsive to what kind of sounds?

Answer 60

Newborns seem most responsive to high and low pitches (women’s & men’s voices respectively).

Question 61

How developed is the infant’s sense of vision?

Answer 61

It is the least functional sense.

The rods are fairly well developed, however, cones will take another 6 months after birth to fully develop. Hence they have relatively poor colour perception and “fuzzy” vision.

Question 62

What is the most preferred visual stimulus of infants?

Answer 62

Human faces.

Question 63

What is the most preferred auditory stimulus of infants?

Answer 63

Human voices.

Question 64

Infants go through distinct and predictable behavioural changes which often occur with minimal parental involvement. These natural changes are defined as __________.

Answer 64

maturation

Question 65

In Jean Piaget’s ________ ________ theory, Piaget believed that children form mental concepts or schemas as they experience new situations and events.

Piaget also believed that children first try to understand new things in terms of schemas they already possess, a process called ____________.

Answer 65

cognitive learning

assimilation

Question 66

What are the four distinct stages of cognitive development as theorised by Jean Piaget?

Answer 66

Sensorimotor Stage, Preoperational Stage, Concrete Operations, and Formal Operations.

Question 67

According to Jean Piaget, when does the sensorimotor stage occur, and what occurs during that stage?

Answer 67

It occurs after birth and till the age of 2.

In this stage, infants use their senses and motor abilities to interact with the world.

They also use their involuntary reflexes to interact with objects by grasping, pushing, tasting etc.

Question 68

_________________ ___________________is the knowledge that an object exists even when it is not in sight.

It begins to develop during the __________________ stage.

Answer 68

Object permanence

sensorimotor

Question 69

_________________ _________________is the forming and maintaining of internal images of objects or events.

It begins to develop during the _________________ stage and also occurs during the __________________ stage.

Answer 69

Symbolic thought

sensorimotor, preoperational

Question 70

According to Jean Piaget, when does the preoperational stage occur, and what occurs during that stage?

Answer 70

It occurs from the age of 2 till the age of 7.

The child develops language and concepts, they are fully capable of symbolic thought as well as simple mental concepts.

They are not capable of logical thought yet.

Question 71

__________________ is the belief of inanimate objects are alive and have feelings.

It is seen during the _________________ stage.

Answer 71

Animism

preoperational

Question 72

_________________ is the inability to see the world through anyone else’s eyes but one’s own.

It is seen during the _____________ stage and the ____________ _____________ stage in adolescents.

Answer 72

Egocentrism

preoperational, formal operations

Question 73

__________________ is when the focus is only on one feature of some object rather than taking all features into consideration.

It is seen during the _________________ stage and usually no longer occurs during __________________ ________________.

Answer 73

Centration

preoperational, concrete operations

Question 74

__________________ is the ability to understand that changing the appearance of an object does not change the object’s nature.

It is absent during the __________________ stage and occurs during ______________ _______________.

Answer 74

Conservation

preoperational, concrete operations

Question 75

________________ is the inability to mentally reverse an action.

It is seen during the ______________ stage and usually is no longer present during _______________ ________________.

Answer 75

Irreversibility

preoperational, concrete operations

Question 76

According to Jean Piaget, when does the concrete operations stage occur, and what occurs during that stage?

Answer 76

It occurs between ages 7 to 12.

The child becomes capable of conservation and reversible thinking, and centration no longer occurs.

They are about to think logically about beliefs and come to their own more rational conclusions.

Question 77

______________ ______________ are concepts that are present in the physical world. Such as objects and written rules. They usually have to be present in one of the physical senses.

They are present in the ______________ ______________ stage.

Answer 77

Concrete concepts

concrete operations

Question 78

_____________ concepts are concepts that do not have a physical, concrete, touchable reality.

They are present in the _______________ _______________ stage but are not dealt with effectively. It is only dealt through ____________ thinking in the ______________ ________________ stage.

Answer 78

Abstract

concrete operations, abstract, formal operations

Question 79

According to Jean Piaget, when does the formal operations stage occur, and what occurs during that stage?

Answer 79

Occurs between ages 12 to adulthood.

People in this stage are capable of abstract thinking, they are able to understand concepts with no physical reality (abstract concepts).

They also engage in hypothetical thinking in possibilities and impossibilities.

Question 80

How have some of Jean Piaget’s theories being put into practice?

Answer 80

Educators have allowed children to learn at their own pace, by “hands-on” experience with objects, and by teaching concepts that are at the appropriate cognitive level for those children.

Question 81

What are some criticisms of Jean Piaget’s cognitive development theory?

Answer 81

That cognitive development is more continuous and gradual, rather than jumping from one stage to another.

Other research has also shown that preschoolers are not as egocentric as Piaget believed (during the preoperational stage), and that object permanence exists much earlier than Piaget thought.

Question 82

In language development for infants, does language production precede language comprehension?

Answer 82

No, infants are shown to comprehend languages from around 8 to 10 months after birth, whereas production of language only occurs from around 11 to 13 months after birth.

Question 83

What are the 5 stages of language development in infants and children?

Answer 83

Cooing - ‘ooo’, ‘aaah’

Babbling - ‘mama’, ‘dada’

One-Word Speech ‘milk’, ‘dog’

Telegraphic Speech ‘mommy go’, ‘doggy bye-bye’

Whole Sentences

Question 84

__________________ are words that represent an entire phrase of meaning.

It is present during the ______________ speech stage.

Answer 84

Holophrases

one-word

Question 85

______________ are smallest and simplest units of meaning (e.g. “-s” plural, “-ed” past).

It is present in the ______________ _______________ stage.

Answer 85

Morphemes

whole sentences

Question 86

_________________ is when a regular grammatical pattern is applied to an irregular word (e.g. ‘sleeped’ instead of ‘slept’).

It is present in the ____________ _______________ stage.

Answer 86

Overregularisation

whole sentences

Question 87

__________________ is the emotional bond that forms between a primary caregiver and an infant.

Answer 87

Attachment

Question 88

Why is attachment important in infants?

Answer 88

It lays the foundation for other close relationships as the infant grows from infancy, to childhood and eventually adulthood.

Question 89

When does attachment form in infants?

Answer 89

It usually forms within the first 6 months of the infant’s life. It also appears during the next second 6 months.

Question 90

What is stranger anxiety?

Answer 90

The wariness of strangers, it is usually present in infants.

Question 91

What is separation anxiety?

Answer 91

The fear of being separated from the caregiver, usually present in infants.

Question 92

Is human attachment innate or learnt?

Answer 92

Behaviourists believe that attachment is learnt through operant conditioning (i.e. food as a primary reinforcer & the caregiver being the secondary reinforcer providing food).

However, other psychologists such as John Bowlby, believed that attachment is innate, as the caregivers provide security and comfort, or contact comfort.

Question 93

______________ ______________ refers to the stimulation and reassurance derived from physical touch of a caregiver.

Answer 93

Contact comfort

Question 94

Mary Ainsworth devised an experimental design to measure the attachment of an infant to the caregiver through an experiment called ‘The Strange Situation’. What were the 4 different attachment styles identified?

Answer 94

Secure, Avoidant, Ambivalent and Disorganised-Disoriented.

Question 95

Describe the secure attachment style as described by Mary Ainsworth.

Answer 95

The infant was comfortable with caregiver & willing to explore new experiences.

When a stranger arrives, infants were wary but calm as long as the mother was nearby. It gets upset after the mother leaves, however was easily soothed after mother returned.

Question 96

Describe the avoidant attachment style as described by Mary Ainsworth.

Answer 96

Somewhat willing to explore, however did not do so, and seemed to have no interest or concern in contact with caregiver.

It did not react strongly to the presence/absence of mother or stranger.

Question 97

Describe the ambivalent attachment style as described by Mary Ainsworth.

Answer 97

Appeared to have very mixed feelings, very clingy and unwilling to explore to caregiver.

Very upset by stranger regardless of mother’s presence, and when mother left, protested heavily and were hard to soothe afterwards.

Question 98

Describe the disorganised-disoriented attachment style as described by Mary Ainsworth.

Answer 98

Unable to decide how to react, and disorganised in their behaviour. It was unsure how to react to the reunion with the caregiver.

Generally fearful and showed a dazed, depressed look on their faces.

Question 99

_____________ _______________ ______________ is a term that refers to the ability to understand your own mental states, such as beliefs, intentions, and desires, as well as the mental states of others.

Answer 99

Theory of mind

Question 100

______________ _______________ ______________ is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes problems in thinking, feeling, language, and social skills in relating to others.

Answer 100

Autism spectrum disorder

Question 101

How does the results of a Sally-Anne test suggest an absence of theory of mind?

Answer 101

If they were unable to accurately determine Sally’s perspective during the test, it would suggest that there is an absence of theory of mind.

Question 102

What are the 4 different parenting styles as outlined by Diana Baumrind?

Answer 102

Authoritarian, Permissive-Neglectful, Permissive-Indulgent, and Authoritative.

Question 103

Describe the authoritarian style of parenting.

Answer 103

Overly concerned with rules, the parent is stern, rigid, controlling, and uncompromising.

They demand perfection from the children and tend to use physical punishment.

Question 104

Describe the personality of the child who is subject to an authoritarian style of parenting.

Answer 104

Children are usually insecure, timid, withdrawn, and resentful.

It may lead to them rebelling as teenagers in negative and self-destructive ways.

Question 105

Describe the permissive neglectful style of parenting.

Answer 105

Parents are not involved with their children, they either ignore them or allow them to do whatever they want.

Parents only act when the child interferes with what the parent wants.

Question 106

Describe the personality of the child who is subject to a permissive neglectful style of parenting.

Answer 106

Similarly to permissive indulgent, children tend to be selfish, immature, dependent and lacking in social skills.

May lead to an abusive relationship between the parent and the child.

Question 107

Describe the permissive indulgent style of parenting.

Answer 107

The parent is too involved with their children and allows children to behave in any way they wish.

The parent also refuses to set limits on the child’s behaviour.

Question 108

Describe the personality of the child who is subject to a permissive indulgent style of parenting.

Answer 108

Similarly to permissive neglective, children tend to be selfish, immature, dependent and lacking in social skills.

Question 109

Describe the authoritative style of parenting.

Answer 109

Parents are more democratic, allowing child to have input, but still maintaining the role of decision maker.

Parents set limits that are clear and understandable, and if the child crosses the limits, the parents allow an explanation and then agree upon the right way to handle the situation.

Question 110

Describe the personality of the child who is subject to an authoritative style of parenting.

Answer 110

Children tend to be self-reliant and independent.

Question 111

According to Erik Erikson, what are the 8 different psychosocial stages of human development which occur throughout a human’s life?

Answer 111

(1) Infant (Trust vs. Mistrust)
(2) Toddler (Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt)
(3) Preschool Age (Initiative vs. Guilt)
(4) Elementary School Age (Industry vs. Inferiority)
(5) Adolescence (Identity vs. Role Confusion)
(6) Early Adulthood (Intimacy vs. Isolation)
(7) Middle Adulthood (Generativity vs. Stagnation)
(8) Late Adulthood (Ego Integrity vs. Despair)

Question 112

Describe the ‘Trust vs. Mistrust’ stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, at which ages does this stage occur?

Answer 112

Occurs from birth to about 1 year old.

Infants learn a basic sense of trust dependent upon how their needs are met.

They develop trust if the needs are met and mistrust if they are not met.

Question 113

Describe the ‘Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt’ stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, at which ages does this stage occur?

Answer 113

Occurs from 1 year old to about 3 years old.

Toddlers begin to understand that they can control their own actions.

Dependent on whether they are able to control their own actions, they either develop independence for succeeding or self-doubt and shame for failing.

Question 114

Describe the ‘Initiative vs. Guilt’ stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, at which ages does this stage occur?

Answer 114

Occurs from 3 years old to about 5 years old.

Preschool children learn to take responsibility for their own behaviour as they develop self-control.

Dependent on whether they succeed or fail in controlling their reactions and behaviour, they can either develop a sense of initiative or a sense of guilt.

Question 115

Describe the ‘Industry vs. Inferiority’ stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, at which ages does this stage occur?

Answer 115

Occurs from 5 years old to about 12 years old.

The child must learn new skills in both the academic world and the social world. They compare themselves to others to measure their success or failure.

They develop a sense of industry, making them feel competent and improving their self-esteem or inferiority dependent on their success or failure.

Question 116

Describe the ‘Identity vs. Role Confusion’ stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, at which ages does this stage occur?

Answer 116

Occurs from 13 years old to the early 20s.

Adolescents must decide who they are, what they believe, and what they want to be as an adult.

Dependent on their ability to define their own values, goals, and beliefs, they will either develop a stable sense of identity or they remain confused and may either isolate themselves or try to act like everyone else instead of themselves.

Question 117

Describe the ‘Intimacy vs. Isolation’ stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, at which ages does this stage occur?

Answer 117

Occurs from the 20s to the 30s.

Young adults face the task of finding a person with whom they can share their identity in an ongoing, close, personal relationship.

Dependent on their ability to find someone, they may develop a fulfilling relationship founded on psychological intimacy or isolate themselves and experience loneliness.

Question 118

Describe the ‘Generativity vs. Stagnation’ stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, at which ages does this stage occur?

Answer 118

Occurs during the 40s and 50s.

The focus is to find ways to be a creative, productive person who is nurturing the next generation.

Adults able to focus will be productive and creative, whereas those unable will remain stagnated and self-centred.

Question 119

Describe the ‘Ego Integrity vs. Despair’ stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, at which ages does this stage occur?

Answer 119

Involves coming to terms with the end of life, reaching a sense of wholeness and acceptance of life.

Dependent on their ability to come to terms with their lives, they may feel a sense of completion or a sense of despair and regret.

Question 120

____________ is described as physical changes (physical maturation) that occur in both primary sex characteristics (growth of sex organs such as the penis and uterus) and secondary sex characteristics (changes in the body such as development of breasts and body hair).

Answer 120

Puberty

Question 121

________________ occurs as a result of glandular activities involving the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and sex glands, often beginning 2 years after the growth spurt, where a rapid period of growth takes place at around age 10 for girls and around age 12 for boys.

Answer 121

Puberty

Question 122

The amygdala (‘feeling part’) is fully developed in adolescents, whereas the frontal lobe (‘thinking part’) is not yet fully developed. What are some of the functions of the prefrontal lobe?

Answer 122

It is responsible in part for impulse control, decision making, and the organization and understanding of information.

Question 123

What are some reasons as to why adolescents might participate in sensation-seeking as well as risky activities?

Answer 123

It may be due to an increase in estrogen and testosterone (hormones) and due to the frontal lobe & cortex not being fully developed.

Question 124

What are some hypothetical situations that adolescents might think about according to Jean PIaget’s cognitive development theory?

Answer 124

They might think of both possibilities and impossibilities or what an ‘ideal world’ would be like.

Question 125

Why does egocentrism appear in adolescents?

Answer 125

It may be due to the preoccupation (extreme or excessive concern) with their own thoughts.

They do a lot of introspection and may become convinced that their thoughts are as important to others as they are to themselves.

Question 126

What is a personal fable?

Answer 126

Personal fables are a type of thought common to adolescents in which they believe themselves to be unique and protected from harm (be it physical or emotional). They become convinced that they are special, one of a kind, and that no one else has ever had these thoughts and feelings before them.

Question 127

What is an imaginary audience?

Answer 127

Imaginary audience is also a common thought to adolescents, where they believe that other people are just as concerned about their thoughts and characteristics as they are themselves.

Essentially, this means that they believe that they are always at the centre of attention, including in everyone else’s worlds.

Question 128

What is James Marcia’s identity status theory?

Answer 128

In Marcia’s theory, identity is operationally defined as whether an individual has explored various alternatives and made firm commitments to an occupation, religion, sexual orientation, and a set of political values.

Based on these factors, they are grouped into four different identity statuses.

Question 129

What are the four identity statuses in James Marcia’s identity status theory?

Answer 129

Identity Achievement, Identity Moratorium, Identity Foreclosure and Identity Diffusion.

Question 130

Describe the identity achievement status based on James Marcia’s theory.

Answer 130

The individual has thoroughly explored different options of personal beliefs, values, and interests and has also made a commitment to beliefs he deems worthy.

Question 131

Describe the identity moratorium status based on James Marcia’s theory.

Answer 131

The individual has thoroughly explored different options of personal beliefs, values, and interests but has not made any commitments to their identity. They can be described as still actively exploring identity options prior to making the commitment.

Question 132

Describe the identity foreclosure status based on James Marcia’s theory.

Answer 132

The individual has not explored any personal beliefs, values, or interests but has already made a commitment to certain beliefs or identity. This may be due to conformity to values of others (e.g. parents, peers).

Question 133

Describe the identity diffusion status based on James Marcia’s theory.

Answer 133

The individual has not explored any personal beliefs, values, or interests and has not made any commitments to any identity.

This undeveloped identity may be due to a lack of interest in such matters, or an indecision about them.