Question 1

According to a recent survey (2010) reported in the text, which of the following statements is incorrect?
A) use of condoms has increased
B) masturbation is a common sexual practice in older adulthood but is seldom practiced in adolescence or early adulthood
C) about half of 18- to 49-year-old adults engage in oral sex
D) about 7 to 8% of adults identify themselves as gay or lesbian

Accepted Answer

The statement "masturbation is a common sexual practice in older adulthood but is seldom practiced in adolescence or early adulthood" is incorrect. The survey actually found that masturbation is a common sexual practice across all age groups.

Question 2

Brittany often engages in the kind of thought in which she argues both sides of a question
A) formal operational thinking
B) postformal thought
C) normative thought
D) dialectical thought

Accepted Answer

As noted in the text, dialectical thought is the style of thinking that seeks to integrate opposing or conflicting ideas and observations.

Question 3

If Dr. Swank studies how IQ scores change across the lifespan, she would probably find that most individuals score the highest on tests of intelligence when they are at which of the following ages?
A) age 18
B) age 27
C) age 39
D) age 60

Accepted Answer

IQ scores are observed to peak between the ages of 20 and 34, especially when the tests involve speed and memory in addition to more complex, context-based problem solving.

Question 4

If a person has developed postformal thought, this would imply that she:
A) can consider both cognitive and emotional aspects of a problem, in addition to her own experiences
B) can understand hypothetical situations and can reason through "what if" problems
C) has mastered the concepts that underlie conservation tasks
D) knows the difference between "right" and "wrong"

Accepted Answer

As noted in the text, postformal thinking typically involves both cognitive and emotional aspects in problem solving and often is seen when issues are framed within a social context.

Question 5

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about how psychologists have thought about homosexuality as being a mental disorder? A) Psychologists have never considered homosexuality to be a mental disorder. B) Psychologists today consider homosexuality to be a mental disorder, and there is a classification for homosexuality in the current edition of the DSM. C) In the early part of the 20^th century, psychologists considered homosexuality to be a mental disorder, but today they no longer do. D) Psychologists are split today, with about half considering homosexuality to be a mental disorder and about half considering homosexuality to not be a disorder but rather a lifestyle preference.

Accepted Answer

In the early part of the 20th century, psychologists did consider homosexuality to be a mental disorder, but since then, there has been a significant shift in thinking, and today psychologists no longer consider homosexuality to be a disorder. Therefore, option C is the most accurate statement. Option A is incorrect since there have been times when psychologists considered homosexuality a mental disorder. Option B is incorrect because homosexuality is not classified as a mental disorder in the current edition of the DSM. Option D is also incorrect since most psychologists today consider homosexuality to be a natural variation in human sexuality and not a disorder or a lifestyle preference.

Question 6

Jacob explains a difficult situation by bringing together ideas that reflect the logical aspects of the problem, the emotional aspects of the problems, and his own past experiences in solving problems of this type. The term that best describes Jacob's approach to explaining this problem is:
A) formal operational thinking
B) postformal thought
C) normative thought
D) dialectical thought

Accepted Answer

Postformal thinking typically involves both cognitive and emotional aspects in problem solving and often is seen when issues are framed within a social context.

Question 7

The text reports a study conducted on students from Harvard and Radcliffe. Compared to how their thinking was characterized as seniors, when these students were freshmen, their thinking was more likely to:
A) be tolerant of many different points of view
B) reflect their self-chosen ideas and convictions
C) be dualistic, emphasizing the "either-or" aspects of thought
D) focus on understanding ambiguous answers, rather than focusing on truth and knowledge

Accepted Answer

The passage states that as freshmen, the students' thinking was "dualistic, emphasizing the 'either-or' aspects of thought."

Question 8

According to research presented in the text, what percentage of second-year medical students were found to endorse the belief that homosexuality is a mental disorder?
A) 4%
B) 9%
C) 19%
D) 27%

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to research presented in the text,...

Question 9

According to a recent survey (2010) reported in the text, about % of men and % of women reported having an orgasm at the most recent sexual encounter.
A) 95%; 50%
B) 50%; 25%
C) 85%; 64%
D) 95%; 95%

Accepted Answer

According to the survey reported in the text, about 85% of men and 64% of women reported having an orgasm at the most recent sexual encounter.

Question 10

According to the text, a phrase that means essentially the same thing as "sexual orientation" is:
A) homosexuality
B) heterosexuality
C) bisexuality
D) sexual preference

Accepted Answer

While A, B, and C refer specifically to one's attraction to a particular gender or genders, "sexual preference" can encompass a broader range of factors that contribute to one's sexual attraction and behavior, including but not limited to gender. Therefore, D is the best option for a phrase that means essentially the same thing as "sexual orientation."

Question 11

In comparison to people with heterosexual orientations, those with same-sex orientations are more likely to:
A) be a high school dropout
B) live in a large city
C) live in a rural area
D) be an only child

Accepted Answer

Research studies indicate that people with same-sex orientations are more likely to live in large cities than in rural areas. They are also more likely to be well-educated and have higher incomes, which suggests they are less likely to be high school dropouts. There is no evidence to suggest that sexual orientation affects the likelihood of being an only child.

Question 12

According to Piaget, at which of the following ages do individuals typically reach the stage of formal operations, and thereby substantially complete their cognitive development?
A) at age 12
B) at age 25
C) at age 55
D) at age 75

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development posits that the stage of formal operations typically begins around age 12, marking a phase where individuals develop the ability to think abstractly and reason logically.

Question 13

A person who is sexually attracted to both males and females is called which of the following?
A) homosexual person
B) heterosexual person
C) bisexual person
D) hermaphrodite person

Accepted Answer

A person who is sexually attracted to both males and females is called a bisexual person. Homosexual refers to a person who is attracted to individuals of the same sex, heterosexual refers to a person who is attracted to individuals of the opposite sex, and hermaphrodite refers to a person with both male and female reproductive organs.

Question 14

Homophobia is best described as:
A) sexual prejudice
B) a clinical phobia
C) sexual orientation
D) homosexuality

Accepted Answer

Homophobia is defined as a fear or hatred towards individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ or exhibit behaviors that may be perceived as such. It is a form of sexual prejudice that can manifest itself through discriminatory attitudes and behaviors towards non-heterosexual individuals. It is not a clinical phobia because there is no recognized clinical diagnosis for homophobia, and it is not a sexual orientation or homosexuality as it is a negative attitude towards individuals who identify as such.

Question 15

According to Piaget, how would the problem-solving abilities of a 15-year-old differ from those of a 30-year-old:
A) Their problem-solving abilities would not differ substantially, although the 30-year-old might know more things.
B) The 15-year-old would be better at conservation tasks.
C) The 30-year-old would be better at conservation tasks.
D) The 30-year old would be much more likely to use hypothetical reasoning when solving scientific problems.

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, although adults continue to accumulate additional facts and experiences, the logic and problem-solving skills they apply are largely the same as they used when they developed formal operational skills in adolescence.

Question 16

The prejudice, fear, and aversion held by individuals and directed against lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals is called what?
A) homophobia
B) agoraphobia
C) xenophobia
D) heterophobia

Accepted Answer

Homophobia is the term used to describe prejudice, fear, and aversion towards individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Agoraphobia refers to the fear of open or public spaces, xenophobia is the fear or dislike of people from different cultures, and heterophobia is not a recognized term or concept.

Question 17

According to the text, the most accurate answer to the question, "What causes a person to develop a same-sex orientation?" is:
A) exposure to male hormones during the prenatal period
B) overly harsh punishment during childhood
C) a set of genes that produce this behavior
D) we don't know

Accepted Answer

The text states that the exact cause of a same-sex orientation is not known, indicating that we don't know the answer. Therefore, option D is the most accurate answer. The other options mentioned in the question and text are either hypothetical reasons or not supported by scientific evidence.

Question 18

Sexual orientation is best thought of as being:
A) "either-or," that is, a person has either a same-sex or an opposite-sex orientation
B) the result of biological causes
C) the result of social and psychological causes
D) a continuum, with individuals varying in the degree to which they have same-sex and opposite-sex preferences

Accepted Answer

Sexual orientation is a multifaceted construct that cannot be reduced to a simple binary of either heterosexual or homosexual. Rather, it exists along a continuum with people ranging from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual and everything in between. This can also include different gender identities and sexual preferences. While biological factors may play a role in shaping sexual orientation, it is also influenced by social and psychological factors, such as cultural norms, family, and individual experiences.

Question 19

Which of the following is the term that describes thought that seeks to integrate opposing or conflicting ideas and observations?
A) normative thought
B) dialectical thought
C) preformal thought
D) postformal thought

Accepted Answer

Dialectical thought involves the ability to consider and integrate opposing viewpoints and ideas. Normative thought relates to ideas about what is right or wrong, preformal thought is the earliest stage of cognitive development, and postformal thought goes beyond logical thinking to include intuition and emotion.

Question 20

Which of the following explanations about the development of same-sex orientation is LEAST likely to be supported with research?
A) There may be gene sequences on the X chromosome that are involved in determining sexual orientation, at least in males.
B) The brain structure of people with a same-sex orientation may be slightly different than those with opposite-sex orientations.
C) Individuals make a choice about which orientation they prefer, often in late childhood or early adolescence. 
D) Male hormones that circulate during the prenatal period may influence brain development toward, or away from, a structure that is consistent with same-sex or opposite-sex orientation.

Accepted Answer

The text states that "the consensus view is that homosexuality is much more complex than simply making a choice about which sexual orientation one prefers." The other explanations listed as answer choices are all suggested as possible explanations for same-sex orientation.

Quiz 12: Young Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development

According to a recent survey (2010) reported in the text, which of the following statements is incorrect?

Brittany often engages in the kind of thought in which she argues both sides of a question

If Dr. Swank studies how IQ scores change across the lifespan, she would probably find that most individuals score the highest on tests of intelligence when they are at which of the following ages?

If a person has developed postformal thought, this would imply that she:

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about how psychologists have thought about homosexuality as being a mental disorder?

Jacob explains a difficult situation by bringing together ideas that reflect the logical aspects of the problem, the emotional aspects of the problems, and his own past experiences in solving problems of this type. The term that best describes Jacob's approach to explaining this problem is:

The text reports a study conducted on students from Harvard and Radcliffe. Compared to how their thinking was characterized as seniors, when these students were freshmen, their thinking was more likely to:

According to research presented in the text, what percentage of second-year medical students were found to endorse the belief that homosexuality is a mental disorder?

According to a recent survey (2010) reported in the text, about % of men and % of women reported having an orgasm at the most recent sexual encounter.

According to the text, a phrase that means essentially the same thing as "sexual orientation" is:

In comparison to people with heterosexual orientations, those with same-sex orientations are more likely to:

According to Piaget, at which of the following ages do individuals typically reach the stage of formal operations, and thereby substantially complete their cognitive development?

A person who is sexually attracted to both males and females is called which of the following?

Homophobia is best described as:

According to Piaget, how would the problem-solving abilities of a 15-year-old differ from those of a 30-year-old:

The prejudice, fear, and aversion held by individuals and directed against lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals is called what?

According to the text, the most accurate answer to the question, "What causes a person to develop a same-sex orientation?" is:

Sexual orientation is best thought of as being:

Which of the following is the term that describes thought that seeks to integrate opposing or conflicting ideas and observations?

Which of the following explanations about the development of same-sex orientation is LEAST likely to be supported with research?