Human Growth and Development Study Guide for Final

How can the scientific study of human development be best described?

Developmental science, the scientific study of human development across the life span.

Which approach best fits the notion that development is best described in terms of a series of abrupt shifts in behavior?

The discontinuous approach.

What field gives us information about how the four developmental forces interact with each other?

Developmental science.

What portion of the biopsychosocial framework does psychodynamic theories place the least emphasis?

Biological factors.

Who is most associated with psychosocial theory?

Erik Erikson.

What are the threadlike structures in the nucleus of a cell that contain genetic material called?

Chromosomes.

What combination would result in a boy?

XY

Which physical characteristic is most indicative of an individual with Down syndrome?

A distinctive facial appearance, including upward-slanting eyes.

What occurs when an individual intentionally seeks out an environment that matches characteristics driven by his or her genes?

Niche-picking.

Which event occurs following in vitro fertilization?

The fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus.

What is best described as any unlearned response triggered by a specific form of stimulation?

A reflex.

What differentiates a basic cry from a mad cry?

A mad cry is usually louder and more intense than a basic cry.

Why are African American and Native American babies more likely to die from SIDS?

They are more likely to experience environmental and socioeconomic risk factors associated with SIDS.

When does malnutrition seem to be most damaging if it occurs?

During the first two years of life.

Between early and later childhood, schemes tend to have more _____ properties.

Abstract properties.

What term did Piaget use to describe the process by which new experiences are easily incorporated into existing schemes?

Assimilation.

What thought is the defining characteristic of centration?

Focusing on one aspect of a situation while ignoring other aspects.

What is a memory for some significant life event called?

An autobiographical memory.

According to Erikson, what is the foundation of human development?

Social relationships.

How could a parent best encourage attachment in a 4-month-old?

By responding sensitively and consistently to the baby’s needs.

What field gives us information about how the four developmental forces interact with each other?

Developmental science.

What is a problem encountered by researchers assessing the effects of sociocultural forces?

It is difficult to separate the effects of different sociocultural factors.

Who is most associated with psychosocial theory?

Erik Erikson.

What is the main limitation of concrete operational thinking?

Children have difficulty with abstract and hypothetical thinking.

What is one of the more questionable aspects of Piaget’s theory?

Children may develop some cognitive abilities earlier than Piaget proposed.

Describe long-term memory.

Long-term memory is a relatively permanent memory system that stores information for long periods of time.

Who is best associated with a theory of “multiple intelligences”?

Howard Gardner.

From what perspective do most theorists today view families?

The family systems perspective.

Which parenting style tends to be most common for American parents of lower socioeconomic status?

Authoritarian parenting.

Which technique is always based on modeling?

Social cognitive learning.

How is the most frequent sort of child abuse categorized by far?

Neglect.

What type of child is disliked by the majority of their peers?

A rejected child.

What best defines the physical changes that mark the transition from childhood to young adulthood?

Puberty.

What are the two general types of physical development associated with puberty?

Primary and secondary sex characteristics.

What are overweight teens most at risk for developing later in life?

Obesity and related health problems.

What is one of the defining characteristics of anorexia nervosa?

An intense fear of gaining weight and severe restriction of food intake.

What are the attitudes, behaviors, and values that we believe make us unique individuals called?

Identity.

What does the key adolescent crisis involve according to Erikson?

Identity versus role confusion.

How is excessive adolescent egocentrism characterized?

By the imaginary audience and personal fable.

Which STD is most prevalent in the United States?

HPV, or human papillomavirus.

Which markers best describe the transition into adulthood in most Western societies?

Leaving home, finishing school, beginning a career, marrying, and becoming financially independent.

How is a rite of passage classified?

As a ritual that marks a transition from one stage of life to another.

Who would Erikson say is most capable of true intimacy?

Someone who has developed a strong sense of identity.

Who is most likely to be a binge drinker?

Young adults, especially college-age adults.

Describe the relationship between LDLs and HDLs.

LDL is considered “bad” cholesterol, while HDL is considered “good” cholesterol.

What are most friendships based upon?

Similarity, shared interests, and mutual support.

How are sibling friendships influenced?

They are influenced by age, gender, personality, and the quality of the sibling relationship.

What does research suggest about casual sex?

Casual sex can be associated with negative emotional and psychological outcomes for some people.

As the level of aggressive behavior increases, what do the causes of aggressive behavior become more like?

More biological and less influenced by immediate environmental factors.

According to research presented in the text, what can be done to keep a marriage happy for a long time?

Maintain positive communication, show affection and support, and effectively manage conflict.

How do you define the concept meaning-mission fit?

The degree to which a person’s work matches their personal values, goals, and sense of purpose.

How does Holland categorize occupations?

Realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional.

How are mentoring and generativity related?

Mentoring allows adults to guide younger people and is one way of expressing generativity.

Occupational burnout comes from what?

Prolonged work-related stress.

What is a key reason for women leaving the workforce?

Family and caregiving responsibilities.

Who is at the greatest risk of currently experiencing osteoporosis?

Older women, especially postmenopausal women.

How are menopause and the climacteric related?

Menopause is one event within the broader period of physical changes called the climacteric.

How is coping defined?

Managing stressful circumstances and adjusting to them.

What intelligence is defined as involving the skills and knowledge necessary for adapting to one’s physical and social environment?

Practical intelligence.

Who is most likely to deal with an instrumental problem using a problem-focused strategy?

Someone who believes the problem can be changed or controlled.

How is longevity determined?

By how long a person actually lives.

What is average longevity also known as?

Life expectancy.

What role in determining whether people reach centenarian status do genetic factors appear to play?

Genetic factors appear to play an important role in exceptional longevity.

What is a common characteristic of the fourth age?

Frailty and increasing dependence on others.

Which of the given items describes the potential role of telomeres in the aging process?

Telomeres shorten as cells divide, which may contribute to cellular aging.

What is the upper limit of a person’s ability to function in different domains called?

Competence.

What is defined as the demands exerted on oneself by one’s surroundings?

Environmental press.

When is adaptation level reached?

When a person’s competence is balanced with the demands of the environment.

Which adaptation level is associated with the greatest happiness and lack of worry about environmental demands?

High competence with low environmental press.

What characterizes docility?

Increased dependence on environmental support as competence declines.

What is the definition of death?

The irreversible cessation of all vital functions.

Who is clinically dead?

A person whose heart and breathing have stopped but who may still be revived.

In what does bioethics concern the interface between human values and technological advances?

It concerns ethical issues involving medicine, biology, and new technologies.

Which of the given examples would describe active euthanasia the best?

Intentionally taking an action that causes a person’s death, such as administering a lethal drug.

All stage theories of dying are based on what notion?

The notion that dying occurs in a predictable sequence of stages.