Question 1

Research indicates that mothers talk more to girls,that parents talk more about emotions to girls,that parents put more pressure on boys to suppress crying,and that teachers are more disapproving of girls than of boys when they are highly active.Which of the following theories argues that these modeling and rewarding processes are the most important influences on sex differences in behavior?

Accepted Answer

Social learning theories argue that behavior is learned through modeling and rewarding processes, and that sex differences in behavior are primarily influenced by these processes. The research findings mentioned in the question, such as mothers talking more to girls and parents putting more pressure on boys to suppress crying, can be seen as examples of how gender-specific behaviors are learned through observation and reinforcement. Information processing theories focus on how individuals process and store information, psychoanalytic theories focus on unconscious conflicts and emotions, and behavioral genetics theories focus on genetic and environmental influences on behavior. While all of these theories may play a role in shaping sex differences in behavior, social learning theories specifically emphasize the role of modeling and reinforcement in learning gender-specific behaviors.

Question 2

When elementary school children are free to choose whomever they wish to play with,the most consistent finding is that they will choose

Accepted Answer

Several studies have consistently found that elementary school children tend to choose same-sex playmates when given the freedom to choose. This could be due to a variety of factors including gender identity development and societal expectations surrounding gender roles in childhood.

Question 3

Biological females with two X chromosomes are sometimes born with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH),which causes their external genitalia to appear more like those of a male.They may be misidentified at birth and raised as males.If the correct identification is not made before age 3,physicians often advise parents to continue raising the child as a boy,because the child's gender identity may be difficult to change after age 3.The experiences of CAH girls and other gender atypical children have helped demonstrate that

Accepted Answer

The experiences of CAH girls and other gender atypical children demonstrate that social assignment (i.e. being raised as a male or female) is a powerful influence on gender identity. This suggests that biology and genetics alone do not determine gender identity.

Question 4

Social skills training programs are interventions in which children are taught specific,discrete behaviors that can facilitate effective social interactions,like making eye contact and asking appropriate questions.Assessments of these interventions indicate that they have modest success in improving peer acceptance.Which of these is the best description of a major shortcoming of these intervention programs?

Accepted Answer

The major shortcoming of social skills training programs is that they do not address the biased perceptions peers may have of socially unskilled children. Therefore, even if the children learn appropriate social behaviors, they may still be excluded by their peers due to pre-existing biases.

Question 5

In the Primary Mental Health Project begun in 1958 in Monroe County,New York,1^st graders were evaluated in a variety of ways in order to determine which early risk factor might predict later maladjustment.Of all the assessments done on those first graders,which one was the best predictor of mental health problems later?

Accepted Answer

The nomination by peers for negative roles in a class play was found to be the best predictor of later mental health problems in the Primary Mental Health Project. This is because it reflects how the child is perceived by their peers, which may indicate social difficulties and difficulty in forming positive relationships. Teachers' assessments of classroom conduct and personality tests were also evaluated but were not found to be as accurate in predicting future mental health problems. School attendance records did not have a significant correlation with later mental health outcomes.

Question 6

Beliefs about sex differences sometimes are supported by research and sometimes are not.Which of the following gender stereotypes is NOT supported by most research studies?

Accepted Answer

Research studies have shown that there is no consistent difference between males and females in terms of sociability and prosocial behavior.

Question 7

The term degrouping refers to

Accepted Answer

Degrouping is a term used to describe the decline in importance of cliques in middle adolescence. During this time, adolescents begin to broaden their social network and interact with a wider range of peers, outside of their clique. They may also start to question the values and attitudes of their clique, leading to a decrease in conformity to group norms.

Question 8

Research indicates that sex role development usually proceeds normally in single parent families as well as in the more traditional dual parent families.These findings are not consistent with predictions from what type of theory about how sex differences develop?

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic theories, such as Freudian theory, propose that children's sex role development is strongly influenced by their relationship with both parents, with the father playing a crucial role in the development of gender identity. Therefore, psychoanalytic theories would predict that children in single parent families would have an incomplete or disrupted sex role development. However, research findings suggest that this is not the case.

Question 9

Recent research indicates that children who spend more time in same-gender groups show greater increases in gender-related behaviors over time than children who spend less time in same-gender groups.This process is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is the social dosage effect, which refers to the idea that the more time individuals spend in a particular situation or group, the greater the impact that situation or group will have on their behavior. In this case, children who spend more time in same-gender groups are more likely to adopt gender-related behaviors associated with their gender, leading to the observed increase over time.

Question 10

A child's social preference score is based on ____________,and their social impact scores are based on ____________.

Accepted Answer

A child's social preference score is based on the number of positive nominations they receive from their peers. Their social impact scores are based on the number of positive nominations they receive plus the number of negative nominations they receive. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Question 11

Which of the following is more typical of boys' sex-segregated groups than of girls' sex-segregated groups?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that boys tend to be more physically active and engage in more rough-and-tumble play than girls. This type of play is more common in boys' sex-segregated groups.

Question 12

When data are examined and compared from a large number of different studies on the same question,such as "are there sex differences in nurturing tendencies," the report is called a

Accepted Answer

A report that examines and compares data from multiple studies on the same question is called a meta-analysis. A collaborative discourse refers to a discussion or exchange of ideas among individuals or groups working together, a social dosage effect refers to the impact of the quantity or dosage of a particular social factor on individuals or groups, and sociometric analysis refers to the study of social relationships between individuals within a group.

Question 13

In adolescence and early adulthood,males and females begin to spend more time in mixed-gender groups.Studies of who has more influence on the outcome of problem solving in mixed-gender groups indicate that

Accepted Answer

Studies indicate that in mixed-gender groups, females often have a disadvantage because males tend to dominate conversations and do less turn-taking, which can impact the dynamics of problem-solving.

Question 14

As a toddler,Joey loved to "dance" with his mother and his sisters,twirling around the house to music.By age 5,Joey refused to dance anymore,saying that dancing was for girls.His mother felt that he really wanted to dance but that he just wouldn't.How would a psychoanalytic (Freudian)theorist explain Joey's attitude toward dancing?

Accepted Answer

A psychoanalytic (Freudian) theorist would explain Joey's change in behavior through the lens of identification with the same-sex parent, which is a key concept in Freudian theory. This means Joey is likely imitating behaviors and attitudes of his father, adopting what he perceives as male-appropriate behaviors.

Question 15

With regard to differences between males and females in math skills,which of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that there used to be a significant difference between males and females in math skills, with males outperforming females in most areas. However, in recent years these differences have decreased and there is now little difference between the two genders before grade 12. It is important to note that while there may be differences in performance on certain math skills, this does not mean that one gender is inherently better or worse at math overall.

Question 16

By middle childhood,boys' choices of companions tend to be based on shared interests,whereas girls' choices of companions tend to be based more on

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that during middle childhood, girls tend to place a higher value on social skills, empathy, and emotional connections when choosing friends, which aligns with personality traits, rather than shared interests or physical appearance.

Question 17

One way to assess children's status among their peers is to ask each child in a classroom to choose which other children he or she would most like to sit next to or to do various things with,and which other children he or she would least like to do these things with.This technique is called

Accepted Answer

This technique is called sociometry, which is a method used to measure social relationships among individuals in a group. By asking children to choose who they would or would not want to spend time with, researchers can gain insights into social dynamics, cliques, and potential issues such as bullying or exclusion.

Question 18

As a toddler,Joey loved to "dance" with his mother and his sisters,twirling around the house to music.By age 5,Joey refused to dance anymore,saying that dancing was for girls.His mother felt that he really wanted to dance but that he just wouldn't.How would a cognitive theorist explain Joey's attitude toward dancing?

Accepted Answer

According to cognitive theorists, individuals are intrinsically motivated to engage in behaviors that they believe are consistent with their gender. Therefore, Joey's attitude toward dancing can be explained by his belief that dancing is a behavior more appropriate for girls.

Question 19

Which of the following DOES NOT represent a rule that governs borderwork (mixed-gender interactions during middle childhood)?

Accepted Answer

In middle childhood, mixed-gender interactions often follow social rules that allow contact under specific conditions, such as accidental contact, adult supervision, or being accompanied by someone of the same gender. Sharing the same interest in an activity does not typically govern these interactions.

Question 20

Males are less likely to survive than females,both before and after birth.One important reason is that

Accepted Answer

This statement is a reference to the fact that males only have one X chromosome, while females have two. For males, the single X chromosome is all they have to work with, so if it contains a recessive X-linked allele, they will express it. Females, on the other hand, have two X chromosomes, so if they carry a recessive X-linked allele on one X chromosome, they may still have a functional copy on the other X chromosome. Therefore, males are more vulnerable to disorders caused by X-linked recessive alleles than females.

Quiz 8: Gender and Peer Relationships: Middle Childhood Through Early Adolescence