Mental Abilities Dev Psych

Question 1

What is the concept of a “g score” suggest about intellectual abilities?

Answer 1

We all hold a specific quantity of intelligence - some more, some less

A consistent ability across many tasks

Question 2

Compared to Spearman’s “g-factor”, how is Gardner’s theory of intelligence different?

Answer 2

Multiple intelligences

Some persons perform better on some tasks than others

Question 3

Be able to identify Gardner’s types of intelligence from a description.

Answer 3

Visual spatial intelligence - Visualizing shapes with the mind’s eye (drawing, sculpting, photography).
Verbal linguistic intelligence - Reading, writing, vocab, memorizing dates .
Bodily kinesthetic intelligence - Sports, dance, acting.
Logical mathematical intelligence - Logic, numbers, analyzing charted information.
Interpersonal intelligence - Sensitivity to other’s moods, feelings, temperaments and motivations (EQ, emotional intelligence).
Musical intelligence - Study with music, emotionally moved by music, good pitch, play an instrument, compose.
Intrapersonal intelligence - Understanding of one’s own person (“self-awareness”).
Naturalistic intelligence - Sensitive, ethical, and holistic understanding of the world and its complexities.

Question 4

The intelligence test designed by Binet & Simon had what purpose?

Answer 4

“… to identify ‘dull children who might need special instruction”

Question 5

Describe the assumptions behind the Binet & Simon test.

Answer 5

Mental age higher than chronological age = High intelligence

Mental age lower than chronological age = Lower intelligence

Question 6

Who developed the Stanford-Binet test?

Answer 6

Lewis Terman

Question 7

What is the IQ formula used by the Stanford-Binet test to measure intelligence?

Answer 7

Mental age divided by chronological age, then multiplied by 100

MA/CA x 100

Question 8

How are the Wechsler intelligence tests different from the Stanford-Binet tests?

Answer 8

Age specific tests

3 IQ scores

Question 9

Contrast the WPPSI, WISC, and WAIS tests by identifying the proper test for a person of a given age.

Answer 9

WPPSI - Preschool & primary scale (3-8 years old)

WISC - Scale for children (6-16 years old)

WAIS - Adult intelligence scale (17 years old and older)

Question 10

What abilities fall under the “performance” category?

Answer 10

• Picture arrangement
• Block design
• Object assembly
• Assemble puzzles
• Picture completion

Question 11

What abilities fall under the “verbal” category?

Answer 11

• General comprehension and reasoning
• Arithmetic reasoning
• Analogies
• Similarities
• Vocabulary

Question 12

Identify an infant test of mental ability.

Answer 12

Mental scale

• Following directions
• Reaching for a desirable object
• Searching for a hidden toy

Question 13

How well do infant tests predict later intelligence (in other words, how well do infant tests correlate to later intelligence scores)?

Answer 13

0 to .22

Question 14

What infant behaviors are predictive of later intellectual performance?

Answer 14

• Speed of habituation

Question 15

How is the intellectual climate of a child’s home environment assessed?

Answer 15

The HOME test

• Home
• Observation
• Measurement
• Environment

Measures parental involvement with child and opportunities for stimulation

Question 16

Describe broad factors which influence intelligence and potential biases.

Answer 16

Genetics
Motivation
Family characteristics
Parenting styles
Child characteristics

Question 17

What is the relationship between intelligence and “occupational prestige”?

Answer 17

Very correlated

Question 18

Contrast the cumulative-deficit hypothesis and cultural/familial retardation.

Answer 18

The cumulative deficit hypothesis states impoverished environments inhibit intellectual growth. The cultural familial retardation is a type of intellectual insufficiency due to a combination of an impoverished environment, low genetic potential, and parent or sibling with low IQ

Question 19

What is terminal drop?

Answer 19

Predictable drop in intelligence due to poor health prior to death

Question 20

What do cross-sectional and longitudinal designs each show regarding intelligence?

Answer 20

Cross sectional studies show significant decline. Longitudinal designs show mild insignificant change

Question 21

Contrast fluid and crystallized intelligence proposed by Horn & their role in adulthood.

Answer 21

Fluid intelligence - Reasoning to solve unfamiliar problems

Crystallized intelligence - Based on acquired knowledge through experience

Question 22

Describe factors could explain the intellectual performance of older adults?

Answer 22

Role of motivation or anxiety

Cohort-influenced knowledge

Question 23

Contrast absolutist thinking and relativistic thinking and identify the age groups which use these approaches.

Answer 23

Absolutist thinking - An understanding which emphasizes logically correct answer to every problem (young ages)

Relativistic thinking - An understanding that knowledge depends on context and the subjective experience of the knower (older adults)