PSYC 2070 EXAM 1

the scientific method

is the process of posing and answering researh questions using careful, controlled techniques that include systematic, orderly observation and the collection of data.

ethnicity

relates to a person’s cultural background, nationality, religion, and language

An investigator is studying the effectiveness of two new types of parenting interventions for children who demonstrate disruptive behavior. In this example, the type of intervention would be the __________ variable, and the amount of disruptive behavior would be the __________ variable.

independent, dependent

Which theoretical perspective argues that people have a natural capacity to make decisions about their lives?

humanistic perspective

Piyush is interested in changes in how we view ourselves and others across the lifespan. Piyush's interests are MOST SIMILAR to those of __________.

erikson

Jerias believes that his son's behavior is largely motivated by subconscious inner forces and memories. Jerias is MOST similar in thinking to which theoretical approach?

psychodynamic

Ranjan follows a group of children for several years, recording how their conflict-resolution methods change over time. Ranjan's study is primarily focused on __________ development. 

social

Compared to young children, adults have a much harder time learning a new language. Researchers studying this phenomenon are mainly addressing which key issue in development?

critical versus sensitive periods

Jasmine uses several different theoretical approaches in her understanding of development, as she often focuses on specific aspects of development. Her approach is BEST described as _________.

eclectic

Lifespan development examines patterns of growth, change, and __________ in human behavior across the life span.

stability

The __________ perspective identifies behaviors that are the result of genetic inheritance.

evolutionary

__________ emphasizes the importance of learning by observing the behavior of another person, called a model.

social-cognitive learning theory

Professor Gomez is interested in studying the development of a sense of humor. She collects data from groups of 6-year-olds, 16-year-olds, 26-year-olds, and 46-year-olds. Which type of research design is Professor Gomez using?

cross-sectional

Compared to the others, which circumstances represent a history-graded influence?

living in a small town where a mass shooting has taken place

Behnam wants to know if eating more fibrous foods causes a change in one's cholesterol levels. To do this, which research method must he use?

experimental

Dr. Hinckle recently received her PhD in developmental psychology, focusing on infancy and early childhood. Which statement MOST LIKELY represents her view?

Growth and change occur in all aspects of a person’s life across their lifespan.

The strength and direction of a relationship between two factors is represented by a(n) __________.

correlation coefficient

Which statement BEST summarizes the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?

Classical conditioning involves automatic responses and operant conditioning involves voluntary responses.

Fran is a graduate student performing research for his dissertation. Before testing his participants, he tells them what the study is about, the procedures involved, and any risks they may encounter. This is the ethical principle of ___________.

briefing

LaRhonda believes that child development is a process of continuous change. Her classmate Angelo thinks that development follows a pattern of discontinuous change. Which person is correct?

Both: A child’s development is marked by both continuous and discontinuous change.

In the nature versus nurture discussion, the term nurture refers to __________.

environmental influences

Talia is interested in adding more knowledge to her field; Abu is performing research to solve a specific problem.  Talia is engaged in _______, while Abu is engaged in ___________.

theoretical research; applied research

Walter’s genetic makeup shows the presence of an extra X chromosome in his male genetic pattern, which would be identified as __________, a disorder characterized by genetic abnormalities.

klinefelter syndrome

each human parent usually contributes _________ to the developing zygote

one of the two chromosomes in each pair of 23

Which situation can be seen as an indication that intelligence has a strong genetic basis?

Tatiana’s IQ scores are nearly the same as those of her identical twin, Zuzanna.

During the end of her pregnancy, JooYun’s fetus was in the breech position, so the doctors decided to surgically remove the baby from the uterus. Which type of birth does this describe?

cesarean

Males are significantly more apt to have red-green color blindness because they

have only one x chromosome

The most informative way that researchers can learn about the different effects of nature and nurture on human development is through studies of __________.

identical twins raised separately

During the __________ stage of prenatal development, the fertilized egg, or blastocyst, attaches itself to the wall of the uterus.

germinal

The smallest parts of our genetics are ________.

DNA

Hugo and Angelo are walking home from school one afternoon. Hugo has his football cleats with him, and Angelo is carrying his viola case. As they pass the downtown storefronts, Hugo blurts out, “Wow, look at that! What a great opportunity!” Almost simultaneously, Angelo exclaims, “Yeah! Wow! Tryouts for the Junior Symphony Concert!” “What are you talking about?” Hugo rebuffed. “I’m looking at that flyer for Pop Warner Football tryouts.” How can we explain the difference in their interests, attention, and enthusiasm in a way that recognizes the joint impact of hereditary and environmental factors?

In each case, the child is focused on those aspects of their environment that help their genetically determined abilities to flourish.

A person’s __________, defined as enduring patterns of arousal and emotionality in an individual, has a strong genetic basis, but it can be influenced by environmental factors such as family traits and behaviors.

temperament

The noninvasive prenatal testing procedure commonly used to determine the size and shape of the baby and to monitor developmental patterns is called __________.

ultrasound sonography

A pediatrician learns that a child has a poor appetite and a yellowish hue to their eyes. Blood tests show that the child’s blood cells are shaped differently than is typical. Which inherited disorder is the child most likely to have?

sickle-cell anemia 

Kelly's overall intelligence is determined by a combination of her genetics and learning experiences. This is known as _________.

multifactorial transmission

Emily smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol daily during her pregnancy, which led to serious birth defects when her baby was born. These harmful prenatal influences are called __________.

teratogens

Tameka and Justinia are twins. They share about 50% of their DNA - this makes them _____ twins. 

dizygotic

The prenatal procedure by which a small sample of fetal cells is drawn from the fluid surrounding the fetus is called __________.

amniocentesis

Dr. Huang in interested in investigating the extent to which hereditary factors influence behavior and psychological characteristics, compared to the amount of influence environmental factors have on those processes. Dr. Huang MOST likely works in the area of

behavioral genetics

A(n) __________ occurs when pregnancy ends before the developing child is able to survive outside the pregnant person’s uterus.

stillbirth

__________ is a childbirth technique based on the principle that giving birth should be as natural as possible, and should not involve the use of medications or medical interventions.

the bradley method

The nearly universal decline in near vision in middle adulthood is called __________.

presbyopia

As children grow, the two halves of the brain become increasingly differentiated and specialized in a process called __________.

lateralization

By the end of the preschool years, most children show __________, which is a clear preference for using one hand over the other.

handedness

Blindness, the most serious visual impairment, is defined as visual acuity below __________ after correction.

20/200

__________ is a particularly useful ability, helping babies as young as 6 months to acknowledge heights and avoid falls.

depth perception

One of the most important ways behavior becomes integrated is through the development of various body __________, which are repetitive, cyclical patterns of behavior.

rhythms

The key symptom of presbycusis, which is common in middle adulthood, is __________.

a decline in the ability to hear high-pitched sounds

Severe and early loss of hearing can impair __________ thinking.

abstract

During the preschool period, a child’s __________ grow(s) faster than any other part of the body.

brain

During the preschool years, __________ is completed in the hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory.

myelination

Carlos was clearly troubled, and his physician asked him why. “I dunno,” Carlos replied, “it just seems like I’m slowing down…like everything hurts more and it takes more energy to get things done. I’m only 43, Doc; I think I should have more vitality than this!” “Well,” his physician replied, “you’re really no different from anyone else. You’re experiencing a natural physical decline brought about by increasing age, that already began in your twenties. If you want a fancy name for it, we call it _____________ .”

senescence

Mina finds it difficult to see because the lenses of her eyes have become cloudy over time.  What is Mina experiencing?

cataracts

When baby Mica's mother strokes his cheek, he turns towards her hand.  Which reflex is this?

rooting

Which of these is a secondary sex characteristic?

beard growth

Adequate exercise can help to reduce __________, a condition in which the bones become brittle, fragile, and thin, that occurs in later life.

osteoporosis

During middle childhood, __________.

boys and girls have similar motor skills

Which hormones play important roles in the onset of puberty?

androgens, leptin, and estrogens

The __________ approach to perception considers how information collected by various individual sensory systems is integrated and coordinated.

multimodal

One of the major body rhythms, the degree of awareness an infant has to both internal and external stimulation, is known as an infant’s __________.

state

According to the peripheral slowing hypothesis, the increased reaction time of older people is attributable to changes in the __________.

nerves that branch from the brain and spinal cord

Evelyn is a typically developing infant. By the age of 9 months, which fine motor skill should she be able to demonstrate?

grasping an object with her thumb and forefinger