Question 1

Which theorist is most closely associated with an ecological approach to human development?

Accepted Answer

Urie Bronfenbrenner is best known for his ecological systems theory, which emphasizes the importance of studying the multiple interacting contexts in which the individual develops, including the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. This approach emphasizes the complex interactions between the individual and their environment, rather than focusing solely on internal psychological processes or individual traits.

Question 2

When Tina was given a huge salary increase, she was able to get things for her children that they had always needed and move into a nicer home. According to Bronfenbrenner, what does this increase in the mother's salary exemplify?

Accepted Answer

The increase in the mother's salary exemplifies the impact of the children's exosystem, which includes larger societal systems that do not contain the developing person but nevertheless affect them indirectly, such as a parent's workplace.

Question 3

Who does your textbook say is most responsible for developing the first life-span perspective?

Accepted Answer

According to the information provided in the prompt, the textbook states that Riley is most responsible for developing the first life-span perspective. Therefore, B) is the best choice.

Question 4

Who is most likely to support a life-span perspective?

Accepted Answer

The life-span perspective emphasizes that development is ongoing and influenced by multiple factors throughout the entire lifespan. Claire's belief that in order to understand childhood, you must consider what comes after it aligns with this perspective.

Question 5

Which of the following theorists supported the concept that a child's thinking process is influenced by the sociocultural context in which he or she matures?

Accepted Answer

Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes the important role of social interaction and cultural context in cognitive development. He believed that children learn through their interactions with more knowledgeable individuals and that the cultural values and practices of their society shape their thinking process.

Question 6

The AIDS epidemic has dramatically influenced dating behaviour. From an ecological perspective, what is this influence part of?

Accepted Answer

The AIDS epidemic's influence on dating behavior is part of the culture's macrosystem because it reflects the overarching cultural values, beliefs, and attitudes that affect individuals' behaviors and interactions within society.

Question 7

Dana studies how individuals' choice of life goals change as the individual gets older, and how individuals maintain and enhance the goals that they select. Which model does Dana most likely support?

Accepted Answer

Dana's focus on how individuals select and maintain their life goals suggests that she would likely support the selective optimization with compensation model. This model proposes that individuals focus on a smaller number of goals as they age, and use selective optimization strategies to achieve these goals while compensating for declines in other areas of functioning.

Question 8

Jackson's knowledge of economics has grown over the years, while at the same time his ability to play hockey has deteriorated. What does Jackson's experience exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Jackson's experience exemplifies multidirectionality, which is the idea that development can involve both growth and decline in various areas throughout the lifespan. This means that while Jackson's knowledge of economics has grown, his ability to play hockey has declined, showing that development is not always a linear progression in one direction.

Question 9

Mr. Harwood is no longer able to participate in his weekly poker game because his dementia is progressing and he can't remember which card is which. What does this change in Mr. Harwood's life exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Loss-based selection is the process of making choices based on what a person can no longer do due to aging, illness, or disability. In this case, Mr. Harwood can no longer participate in his weekly poker game due to his dementia, which is a loss of his cognitive function.

Question 10

Fred grew up in the 1960s when a traditional family included a mother, father and two children. What does Fred's experience demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Fred's experience demonstrates the impact of historical context on the concept of a traditional family during the 1960s.

Question 11

Which perspective features the concepts of multidirectionality, plasticity, historical context, and multiple causation?

Accepted Answer

The life-span perspective emphasizes that development is multidirectional, meaning that it involves both growth and decline in different areas and at different times. It also recognizes plasticity, or the capacity for change, throughout the entire lifespan. Historical context is considered, recognizing that development is influenced by the time period and culture in which it takes place. Finally, the life-span perspective acknowledges that there are multiple causation factors that contribute to development, including biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences.

Question 12

Mary has only one child, one-year-old Shelly, and Mary has stayed at home during most of Shelly's life. From an ecological perspective, what is Mary part of?

Accepted Answer

Mary's role as a stay-at-home parent makes her part of Shelly's microsystem, which consists of the immediate environments that directly influence Shelly's development, such as family and caregivers.

Question 13

What type of theorist would most likely describe human cognitive development using the analogy of "mental software"?

Accepted Answer

The analogy of "mental software" is commonly used by information-processing theorists who view the mind as a computer that processes information. They see cognitive development as the acquisition of increasingly complex mental programs that allow individuals to process and manipulate information more efficiently.

Question 14

Rutger believes that, rather than progressing through a sequence of stages, mental processes gradually get more complex and efficient. Which theory does Rutger most likely support?

Accepted Answer

Rutger's belief that mental processes gradually get more complex and efficient aligns with the information-processing theory. Piaget's theory emphasizes distinct stages of cognitive development, Kohlberg's theory focuses on moral reasoning, and Erikson's theory emphasizes psychosocial development.

Question 15

Professor Linwood always makes a point of learning the names of all the students in her class. She used to always be able to do this in her head, but has recently found that she needs note cards to help her remember. What does this change in behaviour illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The change in behavior (using note cards to remember student names) illustrates compensation, as Professor Linwood is compensating for a deficit (a decline in her ability to remember names) by using a new strategy (note cards). Loss-based selection refers to the process of losing abilities or functions due to aging, but this doesn't seem to apply here as the decline in memory is not necessarily a normal part of aging. Elective selection is the concept that as people age, they become more intentional about how they spend their time and energy, but again, it doesn't quite fit this scenario. The epigenetic principle refers to the idea that development is a result of ongoing nature-nurture interactions, but it doesn't seem to apply to this particular change in behavior either.

Question 16

Louis discovers that the experiences he has in his developmental psychology class help him to deal with the children he works with at a day-care centre. Which of Bronfenbrenner's concepts best exemplifies this relationship?

Accepted Answer

The mesosystem in Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory refers to the interactions between different microsystems in a person's life. In this case, the connection between Louis's developmental psychology class (one microsystem) and his work at a day-care centre (another microsystem) exemplifies the mesosystem, as experiences in one setting influence his actions and reactions in another.

Question 17

When Dr. Bentley is asked to explain troubled adolescents, she says, "The only way to explain the problems of adolescents is to study them in relation to their parents and the culture that surrounds them." Which theory does Dr. Bentley most likely support?

Accepted Answer

Ecological theory emphasizes the importance of understanding the multiple systems (e.g. family, school, community) that influence development and behavior. In Dr. Bentley's statement, she suggests that troubled adolescents cannot be understood in isolation but must be examined in relation to their parents and culture, which aligns with ecological theory. Psychodynamic theory focuses on the internal conflicts and unconscious processes that shape behavior, cognitive developmental theory emphasizes the role of cognitive development in behavior, and social cognitive theory emphasizes the importance of learning and socialization processes in shaping behavior. None of these theories are explicitly referenced in Dr. Bentley's statement.

Question 18

Matt finds himself unable to adjust to college because he doesn't seem to have the study skills necessary to earn passing grades. Which theory best explains Matt's predicament?

Accepted Answer

The competence-environmental press theory suggests that a person's level of competence and the environmental demands placed upon them must match for optimal development to occur. In Matt's case, his level of competence in study skills is not sufficient for the demands placed upon him in college coursework, leading to a mismatch and difficulty adjusting.

Question 19

Lisa is getting ready to apply for graduate school. In order to focus on this goal, she is resigning from her posts as editor of the campus newspaper and president of her sorority. What do these changes in Lisa's life exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Lisa's decision to resign from her roles to focus on applying to graduate school is an example of elective selection, where she is choosing to prioritize certain goals over others.

Question 20

Marcia is 80 years old and is learning how to speak French and play the guitar for the first time. What does this new skill development exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt throughout the lifespan. Marcia's ability to learn new skills such as speaking French and playing the guitar at the age of 80 is an example of brain plasticity.

Quiz 1: The Study of Human Development