Human Development

Question 1

At what age should symptoms be present before for an ADHD diagnosis?

Answer 1

Symptoms must be present before age 12, though diagnosis may occur in adulthood

Question 2

What is the primary developmental task during Erikson’s adolescence stage?

Answer 2

Identity vs. Role Confusion - developing a sense of self and personal identity

Question 3

A 16-year-old struggles with peer relationships and identity. Which theorist would be most relevant?

Answer 3

Erik Erikson - adolescence is the stage of identity formation

Question 4

What characterizes the preoperational stage in Piaget’s theory?

Answer 4

Symbolic thinking, egocentrism, and lack of conservation (ages 2-7)

Question 5

When does object permanence develop according to Piaget?

Answer 5

During the sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years)

Question 6

What is the difference between assimilation and accommodation?

Answer 6

Assimilation: fitting new info into existing schemas; Accommodation: changing schemas to fit new info

Question 7

Which attachment style results from inconsistent caregiving?

Answer 7

Anxious-ambivalent (resistant) attachment

Question 8

What characterizes secure attachment in infancy?

Answer 8

Child explores when caregiver present, distressed when separated, comforted upon return

Question 9

At what age do children typically develop theory of mind?

Answer 9

Around age 4 - understanding that others have different thoughts and beliefs

Question 10

What is the primary task of early adulthood according to Erikson?

Answer 10

Intimacy vs. Isolation - forming close relationships

Question 11

When is the critical period for language development?

Answer 11

Birth to age 5 (particularly birth to age 3)

Question 12

What characterizes concrete operational thinking?

Answer 12

Logical thinking about concrete objects, conservation, reversibility (ages 7-11)

Question 13

What is emerging adulthood?

Answer 13

A developmental period from late teens through twenties characterized by identity exploration

Question 14

Which theorist focused on moral development stages?

Answer 14

Lawrence Kohlberg

Question 15

What are the three levels of Kohlberg’s moral development?

Answer 15

Pre-conventional, Conventional, Post-conventional

Question 16

What characterizes formal operational thinking?

Answer 16

Abstract reasoning, hypothetical thinking, systematic problem-solving (age 12+)

Question 17

What is the primary developmental concern in late adulthood?

Answer 17

Ego integrity vs. Despair - accepting one’s life as meaningful

Question 18

When does separation anxiety typically emerge in infants?

Answer 18

Between 6-8 months of age

Question 19

What is the Strange Situation procedure used to assess?

Answer 19

Infant attachment styles

Question 20

Which theorist emphasized psychosocial stages across the lifespan?

Answer 20

Erik Erikson

Question 21

What is scaffolding in Vygotsky’s theory?

Answer 21

Support provided by more skilled individuals to help learning within the zone of proximal development

Question 22

What is the zone of proximal development?

Answer 22

The difference between what a learner can do independently and with guidance (Vygotsky)

Question 23

At what stage do children develop the ability to take others’ perspectives?

Answer 23

Concrete operational stage (around age 7-11)

Question 24

What characterizes the anal stage in Freudian theory?

Answer 24

Toilet training and control issues (ages 1-3)

Question 25

What is rapprochement in Margaret Mahler's theory?

Answer 25

Toddler returns to caregiver for reassurance while exploring independence (15-24 months)

Question 26

When does stranger anxiety typically emerge?

Answer 26

Between 6-12 months of age

Question 27

What is the primary task of middle adulthood according to Erikson?

Answer 27

Generativity vs. Stagnation - contributing to society and future generations

Question 28

What are developmental milestones?

Answer 28

Age-specific tasks and behaviors that most children can do at a certain age range

Question 29

What is regression in development?

Answer 29

Returning to earlier developmental behaviors when stressed

Question 30

What characterizes the phallic stage in Freudian development?

Answer 30

Oedipus/Electra complex and identification with same-sex parent (ages 3-6)

Question 31

When do most children develop gender identity?

Answer 31

Between ages 2-3

Question 32

What is the primary focus of development during the school-age years?

Answer 32

Industry vs. Inferiority - developing competence and mastery

Question 33

What are critical periods in development?

Answer 33

Specific times when certain developments must occur for normal growth

Question 34

What is the difference between growth and development?

Answer 34

Growth is physical size increase; development is qualitative changes in abilities

Question 35

When does menopause typically occur?

Answer 35

Between ages 45-55

Question 36

What characterizes the initiative vs. guilt stage?

Answer 36

Preschool age (3-6) when children explore and take initiative or feel guilty about desires

Question 37

What is synaptic pruning?

Answer 37

Elimination of unused neural connections during development to increase efficiency

Question 38

When is brain development most rapid?

Answer 38

Prenatal period and first 3 years of life

Question 39

What is temperament?

Answer 39

Innate behavioral and emotional characteristics present from birth

Question 40

What are the three temperament types identified by Chess and Thomas?

Answer 40

Easy, difficult, and slow-to-warm-up

Question 41

What is the primary developmental task in toddlerhood?

Answer 41

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt - developing independence

Question 42

When do most children develop the ability to classify objects?

Answer 42

During concrete operational stage (ages 7-11)

Question 43

What is egocentrism in childhood?

Answer 43

Inability to take another person's perspective (characteristic of preoperational stage)

Question 44

What characterizes animistic thinking?

Answer 44

Attributing life-like qualities to inanimate objects (preoperational stage)

Question 45

When does the identity vs. role confusion stage occur?

Answer 45

Adolescence (ages 12-18)

Question 46

What is pseudomaturity in adolescence?

Answer 46

Appearing mature while lacking genuine emotional development

Question 47

What are the typical challenges of middle childhood?

Answer 47

Peer relationships and academic achievement

Question 48

When does the latency stage occur in Freudian theory?

Answer 48

Ages 6-12 when sexual impulses are dormant

Question 49

What is the primary cognitive achievement of adolescence?

Answer 49

Abstract thinking and metacognition

Question 50

What characterizes the genital stage in Freudian development?

Answer 50

Mature sexual interests emerging in adolescence

Question 51

What is individuation?

Answer 51

Process of developing a separate identity from parents (particularly in adolescence)

Question 52

When does crystallized intelligence peak?

Answer 52

Later adulthood (continues to increase with experience)

Question 53

What is fluid intelligence?

Answer 53

Ability to solve new problems and think abstractly (peaks in young adulthood)

Question 54

What are normative age-graded influences?

Answer 54

Common experiences tied to chronological age that most people experience

Question 55

What is successful aging according to research?

Answer 55

Maintaining social connections and sense of purpose in later life

Question 56

What characterizes ageism?

Answer 56

Discrimination and stereotyping based on age

Question 57

When do most children develop conservation of number?

Answer 57

Around age 6-7

Question 58

What is the empty nest syndrome?

Answer 58

Period of adjustment when children leave home (middle adulthood)

Question 59

What are developmental tasks?

Answer 59

Age-related challenges that must be accomplished for healthy development

Question 60

What is continuous vs. discontinuous development?

Answer 60

Continuous: gradual change; Discontinuous: distinct stages with qualitative differences

Question 61

What characterizes the trust vs. mistrust stage?

Answer 61

Infancy (0-1 year) when consistent care builds trust or inconsistency creates mistrust