Question 1

Of the following, who thought that developmentalists should identify norms, or average ages, at which milestones happen?

Accepted Answer

G. Stanley Hall believed in identifying norms or average ages at which milestones happen. He was a key figure in the field of child development and established the concept of "norms" by studying thousands of children at various ages and stages of development. Watson, Locke, Descartes, and Rousseau did not focus on identifying developmental norms in the same way as Hall.

Question 2

Based on Spelke's research, we would expect that two-month-old Timmy would

Accepted Answer

Spelke's research on cognitive development in infants suggests that even very young babies have some innate understanding of the physical world, including an expectation that unsupported objects will fall. This indicates that two-month-old Timmy would understand that objects will move downward when not supported, aligning with the principles of object permanence and intuitive physics that Spelke's work highlights.

Question 3

The belief that changes in behavior are caused by environmental influences is found in

Accepted Answer

The belief that changes in behavior are caused by environmental influences is a central concept in behaviorism, making option D the correct answer. Rationalism focuses on reason and intuition as the basis for knowledge, while psychoanalysis focuses on the role of the unconscious mind. Nativism emphasizes innate abilities and knowledge. Idealism posits that reality is constructed by the mind. None of these theories emphasize the environmental influences on behavior as strongly as behaviorism does.

Question 4

Professor Chang considers herself to be an empiricist. Which of the following would she be most likely to believe?

Accepted Answer

As an empiricist, Professor Chang would be most likely to believe that at birth, the mind is tabula rasa, meaning it is a blank slate upon which experiences and knowledge are written through sensory experiences and interactions with the environment. This belief aligns with the foundational ideas of empiricism, which emphasize the importance of observing and experiencing the world to gain knowledge and understanding.

Question 5

John Watson believed

Accepted Answer

John Watson, a behaviorist, believed that through the manipulation of the environment, a child could be trained to become anything, emphasizing the power of environmental influences over genetic predisposition or inborn traits.

Question 6

According to the concept of inborn biases, infants

Accepted Answer

The concept of inborn biases suggests that infants are born with certain preexisting conceptions or biases, such as a preference for faces, a preference for familiar voices, and a basic understanding of cause and effect relationships. This contradicts the idea of a tabula rasa mind at birth (option B) and implies that infants have some preexisting knowledge and biases. Option A is incorrect because infants can learn from birth, and option C is incorrect because while infants do form attachments to caregivers, this does not necessarily happen by six months of age. Option D is partially correct in that infants do show some initial preference for faces of their own gender, but this is not the only bias they are born with.

Question 7

Greenough's research indicated that one of the proteins needed for the development of the visual system is controlled by a gene whose action does not occur without visual experience. This finding leads to the conclusion that some maturational sequences

Accepted Answer

Greenough's research indicates that the gene controlling the development of the visual system requires visual experience before it can be activated. This suggests that some maturational sequences require some experience to trigger them. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 8

"The first 18 months of life are the most important ones in development. Children who do not receive the proper stimulation or the proper loving attention then will be less likely to fully develop emotionally." What theoretical principle is reflected in this statement?

Accepted Answer

The statement talks about the importance of early experiences and emphasizes that the first 18 months of life are critical for emotional development. This reflects the principle of sensitive period, which suggests that there are optimal timeframes for certain experiences to occur in order for them to have maximum impact on development.

Question 9

Which of the following statements describes a qualitative developmental change?

Accepted Answer

Tamara's improved peer relationships are a qualitative developmental change because it involves a change in her social skills and interpersonal abilities, which cannot be measured numerically. The other options involve quantitative changes that can be measured using numbers or other objective means.

Question 10

The "Little Albert" experiment was conducted by

Accepted Answer

The "Little Albert" experiment was conducted by John B. Watson, an American psychologist, in 1920, as a demonstration of classical conditioning.

Question 11

Whether a child's development is governed by inborn knowledge or whether it is shaped by environmental factors is the question of

Accepted Answer

The question of whether a child's development is governed by inborn knowledge or whether it is shaped by environmental factors is commonly known as the nature versus nurture debate. This makes option E, nature versus nurture, the correct choice.

Question 12

Of the following individuals, who advocated the empiricist side of the nature-nurture debate?

Accepted Answer

Locke was a philosopher who believed in empiricism, which emphasizes the role of experience and evidence rather than innate ideas or beliefs. He argued that the mind is a blank slate or "tabula rasa" at birth, and that knowledge is acquired through observation, sensory experience, and reflection. This aligns with the empiricist side of the nature-nurture debate, which holds that behavior and development are primarily shaped by environmental factors rather than innate or genetic ones.

Question 13

All of the following reflect the same debate EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Idealism versus rationalism is not a common or widely recognized debate in psychology. The other options are all longstanding debates in the field.

Question 14

Dr. Hidalga is a behavior geneticist. The primary research techniques he will use are

Accepted Answer

Dr. Hidalga is a behavior geneticist and his primary research technique is the study of identical and fraternal twins and adopted children. These research techniques help to study the influence of genetic and environmental factors on behavioral traits. Longitudinal studies are also important, but they are not mentioned as the primary research technique for behavior geneticists. Correlational studies of gender and race may not be relevant to behavior genetics, and case studies and correlations are not mentioned as primary research techniques for behavior geneticists.

Question 15

All of the following represent a similar point of view EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Empiricists emphasize knowledge through sensory experience, which contrasts with the views of Plato, Descartes, idealists, and rationalists, who focus more on innate ideas or reason.

Question 16

Of the following, the best example of a maturational change is

Accepted Answer

A maturational change refers to a natural biological or physiological process that occurs with age, such as the development of underarm hair during puberty. Choice A refers to a change that results from environmental factors, choice C refers to a change resulting from behavioral change, choice D refers to a change resulting from a negative environmental influence, and choice E refers to a change resulting from external consequences.

Question 17

According to research, the critical period for imprinting in ducks is approximately

Accepted Answer

Imprinting in ducks typically occurs within a very short period after hatching, often within the first 15 to 20 hours, making option E the correct choice.

Question 18

Of the following theorists, who would be on the nature side of the nature-nurture debate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Of the following theorists, who would be...

Question 19

All of the following are characteristic of maturation EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Maturation refers to the natural, genetically determined process of growth and development that occurs in humans and other animals. It is characterized by universal, sequential patterns of change that are relatively impervious to environmental influence and occur across cultural boundaries. However, while some aspects of maturation may involve natural abilities and processes that unfold without explicit instruction or practice, many developmental milestones also require practice and experience in order to be fully realized. Therefore, D is the exception as it suggests that maturation cannot occur without practice.

Question 20

The concept of stages is not needed if development

Accepted Answer

The concept of stages is typically used in development to denote significant qualitative changes or reorganizations in development. When development consists only of additions, without qualitative changes, reorganization, or the development of new strategies or skills, the concept of stages is not necessary.

Quiz 1: Basic Issues in the Study of Development