w5 mc Flashcards
Which of the following best illustrates the interaction between nature and nurture in development?
(A) A child inherits a genetic predisposition for high intelligence but only excels in a stimulating environment.
(B) Identical twins raised apart have completely identical personalities.
(C) Environmental influences determine all aspects of a child’s behavior.
(D) Genetic factors alone dictate an individual’s abilities and traits.
Answer: (A) (Nature and nurture interact—genetics set potential, but the environment shapes expression.)
Why do researchers use both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs to study human development?
(A) Longitudinal studies track changes over time, while cross-sectional studies compare different age groups at one point in time.
(B) Cross-sectional studies are better for detecting cause-and-effect relationships.
(C) Longitudinal studies are faster to conduct than cross-sectional studies.
(D) Cross-sectional studies eliminate the need for statistical control.
Answer: (A) (Longitudinal studies observe change over time, while cross-sectional studies compare different groups.)
Which of the following research methods is most effective in studying infant cognitive abilities?
(A) Self-report surveys
(B) Preferential looking technique
(C) Cross-sectional interviews
(D) Twin studies
Answer: (B) (Infants cannot verbalize thoughts, so researchers use gaze preference to infer cognition.)
What does research on face recognition in newborns suggest about early perceptual abilities?
(A) Face recognition is learned entirely through experience.
(B) Newborns prefer looking at human faces over other stimuli, suggesting an innate bias.
(C) Infants cannot distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar faces until 6 months.
(D) Face recognition does not develop until late childhood.
Answer: (B) (Newborns show a preference for faces, indicating an early perceptual bias.)
What is the role of synaptic pruning in brain development?
(A) It increases the number of neurons in the brain.
(B) It strengthens necessary neural connections while eliminating weaker ones.
(C) It only occurs during infancy and does not continue into adolescence.
(D) It reduces cognitive flexibility.
Answer: (B) (Pruning refines neural pathways by removing unused connections.)
Why is adolescence considered a critical period for prefrontal cortex development?
(A) The prefrontal cortex undergoes a second wave of synaptic overproduction followed by pruning.
(B) Adolescents experience a permanent loss of neurons in the prefrontal cortex.
(C) Prefrontal development is complete by early childhood.
(D) Decision-making abilities remain static from infancy to adulthood.
Answer: (A) (The prefrontal cortex refines executive functions during adolescence.)
How did Harry Harlow’s monkey experiment challenge behaviorist views of attachment?
(A) It demonstrated that infant monkeys preferred comfort over food when seeking security.
(B) It showed that attachment is entirely determined by reinforcement schedules.
(C) It supported the idea that attachment is formed purely through feeding.
(D) It confirmed that attachment is not influenced by early social interactions.
Answer: (A) (Monkeys preferred cloth mothers over wire mothers with food, emphasizing comfort in attachment.)
What attachment style is characterized by infants displaying distress when separated but being easily comforted upon return?
(A) Insecure-avoidant
(B) Insecure-resistant
(C) Disorganized
(D) Secure
Answer: (D) (Securely attached infants show distress but quickly recover upon caregiver return.)
What is the key difference between assimilation and accommodation in Piaget’s theory?
(A) Assimilation involves modifying existing schemas, while accommodation involves applying old schemas to new situations.
(B) Assimilation integrates new experiences into existing schemas, while accommodation alters schemas when new information does not fit.
(C) Accommodation happens first, followed by assimilation.
(D) Both processes occur only in adulthood.
Answer: (B) (Assimilation incorporates new info into existing frameworks, accommodation changes the framework itself.)
In Vygotsky’s theory, what is the function of the “Zone of Proximal Development” (ZPD)?
(A) It represents tasks a learner can perform independently.
(B) It describes the difference between a child’s current ability and their potential with guidance.
(C) It suggests that all cognitive abilities develop naturally without social influence.
(D) It only applies to formal education settings.
Answer: (B) (The ZPD highlights how guidance helps children reach higher cognitive levels.)
Which of the following best describes authoritative parenting?
(A) High warmth, high control
(B) High warmth, low control
(C) Low warmth, high control
(D) Low warmth, low control
a
How does Erikson’s stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion apply to adolescent development?
(A) Adolescents must form a clear sense of self and life direction.
(B) It focuses only on moral development.
(C) It describes cognitive changes rather than social changes.
(D) It applies exclusively to early childhood.
a
If a 4-year-old child insists that the amount of water increases when poured into a taller glass, they are in which Piagetian stage?
(A) Sensorimotor
(B) Preoperational
(C) Concrete Operational
(D) Formal Operational
b
According to the Harvard Grant Study, what factor is most predictive of long-term well-being?
(A) Intelligence
(B) Close relationships
(C) Wealth
(D) Physical appearance
b
What is the primary challenge of Erikson’s stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion?
(A) Establishing a clear and stable sense of self.
(B) Learning to trust caregivers.
(C) Developing fine motor skills.
(D) Overcoming feelings of inferiority.
a
How does parental monitoring affect adolescent risk-taking behavior?
(A) Higher parental monitoring is associated with lower risk-taking.
(B) Excessive monitoring increases adolescent independence.
(C) Lack of monitoring has no impact on risk behavior.
(D) Peer influence is unaffected by parental monitoring.
a
hat cognitive ability declines most significantly with age?
(A) Crystallized intelligence
(B) Procedural memory
(C) Fluid intelligence
(D) Vocabulary knowledge
c
According to socioemotional selectivity theory, how do older adults prioritize social interactions?
(A) They seek fewer but more meaningful relationships.
(B) They focus on expanding their social network.
(C) They spend more time with acquaintances than close friends.
(D) They disengage from all social activities.
a
