Lifespan Development Final Exam
questions and answers 2026\2027 A+
Grade
List and describe the four stages of Piaget's Cognitive Development. What is post-formal thought?
- correct answer Sensorimotor: birth to 2, infant's knowledge of the world is based on senses and motor
skills, by the end of the period child uses mental representation
Preoperational thought: 2-6 years, child learns how to use symbols such as words and numbers to
represent aspects of the world but relates to the world only through his or her perspective
Concrete operational thought: 7- early adolescence, child understands and applies logical operations to
experiences provided they are focused on the here and now
Formal operational thought: adolescence and beyond, adolescent or adult thinks abstractly, deals with
hypothetical situations and speculates about what may be possible
Postformal thought: thinking characterized by recognizing that the correct answer varies from one
situation to another, that solutions should be realistic, that ambiguity and contradictions are typical, and
that subjective factors play roles in thinking
Discuss two different models of occupational choices—that of Holland and the SCCT—and discuss how
these two models may actually work in a complementary fashion.
- correct answer Holland's personality type theory focuses on skill-set. Asserts that people choose work
based on the fit between their individual traits and occupational interests. Six personality traits:
1. Realistic
2. Investigative (thought, analytical approaches, explore, knowledge, ideas, not social) = biologist,
chemist, dentist, vegetarian, programmer
3. Artistic (literary, musical, artistic, emotional, creative, open) = artist, musician, poet, interior designer,
writer
,4. Social (train, inform, educate, help, supportive, avoid technical skills, empathy, relationships) = social
work, counseling, police officer, LPN
5. Enterprising (verbally skilled, persuasive, direct, leader, dominant) = lawyer, business executive,
politician, TV producer
6. Conventional (rules and routines, provide order or direct structure, self control, respect power and
status, punctual, orderly) = bank teller, clerk typist, cashier, data entry
Albert Bandura's social cognitive career theory (SCCT): focuses on self-efficacy with respect to
occupation. By means of the self system, individuals exercise control over their thoughts, feelings, and
actions. Among the beliefs with which an individual evaluates the control over his/her actions and
environment, self-efficacy beliefs are the most influential predictor of human behavior. The level and
strength of self-efficacy will determine: whether coping behavior will be initiated, how much effort will
result, and how long the effort will be sustained in the face of obstacles. Self efficacy is derived from 4
most influential sources:
1. Personal performance (Accomplishments - previous successes or failures) - Most influential
2. Vicarious experience (watching others, modeling, mentoring
3. Verbal persuasion (verbal encouragement or discouragement
4. Physiological and emotional factors (perceptions of stress react
List and describe Erikson's eight stages of Psychosocial Development.
- correct answer 1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy): When parents consistently respond to the newborns
needs, results in HOPE.
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3yrs): Understanding that the child can control his/her actions
counteracts with doubt and shame, results in WILL.
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6yrs): Ones initiative may clash with goals of others, results in PURPOSE.
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (school age 5-12): Mastery comes from success and recognition, accepting of
the course of ones life, results in COMPETENCY.
5. Ego Identity vs. Role confusion (adolescence): Exploration of different paths to attain a healthy
identity, results in FIDELITY.
, 6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adult 18-40): Form positive, close relationships with others, results in
LOVE.
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (adulthood 40-65): Caring for others, empathy and concern, results in
CARE.
8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Maturity 65): Older adults are trying to make sense of their lives, results in
WISDOM.
Choose two different biological theories of aging and provide a brief description of each.
- correct answer 1. Programmed theories: biological clock in which cells start to self-destruct. aging is
biologically or genetically programmed and cells start to self-destruct on a biological clock.
2. Damage or error theories:
a. Wear and tear theory: a theory that suggests that the body (like machine) gradually deteriorates &
finally wears out
b. Cellular theories: explanations of aging that focuses on processes that occur within individual cells,
which may lead to buildup of harmful substances or deterioration of cells over a life time.
Examples of cellular errors/processes:
1. Accumulation of free radicals: chemicals that are produced randomly during normal cell metabolism
and that bond easily to other substances inside cells
2. Cross linking: random interaction of some proteins with certain body tissues, such as muscles and
arteries, like elastic tissue becomes stiffer
3. Telomeres: tips of the chromosomes that shorten and break with increasing age, like the photocopy
of a photocopy losing quality
Prenatal Development: List the three stages of prenatal development in the correct order, and note how
long each stage lasts. Indicate the major event that indicates the beginning and end of each stage.
Finally, discuss the major events that take place within each stage.
- correct answer 1. Zygote (weeks 1-2): spans 14 days. Begins with fertilization of the egg in fallopian
tube and ends with implantation of fertilized egg in the uterine wall. Implantation of the zygote into the
uterine wall triggers hormonal changes that prevent mentrstruation.
questions and answers 2026\2027 A+
Grade
List and describe the four stages of Piaget's Cognitive Development. What is post-formal thought?
- correct answer Sensorimotor: birth to 2, infant's knowledge of the world is based on senses and motor
skills, by the end of the period child uses mental representation
Preoperational thought: 2-6 years, child learns how to use symbols such as words and numbers to
represent aspects of the world but relates to the world only through his or her perspective
Concrete operational thought: 7- early adolescence, child understands and applies logical operations to
experiences provided they are focused on the here and now
Formal operational thought: adolescence and beyond, adolescent or adult thinks abstractly, deals with
hypothetical situations and speculates about what may be possible
Postformal thought: thinking characterized by recognizing that the correct answer varies from one
situation to another, that solutions should be realistic, that ambiguity and contradictions are typical, and
that subjective factors play roles in thinking
Discuss two different models of occupational choices—that of Holland and the SCCT—and discuss how
these two models may actually work in a complementary fashion.
- correct answer Holland's personality type theory focuses on skill-set. Asserts that people choose work
based on the fit between their individual traits and occupational interests. Six personality traits:
1. Realistic
2. Investigative (thought, analytical approaches, explore, knowledge, ideas, not social) = biologist,
chemist, dentist, vegetarian, programmer
3. Artistic (literary, musical, artistic, emotional, creative, open) = artist, musician, poet, interior designer,
writer
,4. Social (train, inform, educate, help, supportive, avoid technical skills, empathy, relationships) = social
work, counseling, police officer, LPN
5. Enterprising (verbally skilled, persuasive, direct, leader, dominant) = lawyer, business executive,
politician, TV producer
6. Conventional (rules and routines, provide order or direct structure, self control, respect power and
status, punctual, orderly) = bank teller, clerk typist, cashier, data entry
Albert Bandura's social cognitive career theory (SCCT): focuses on self-efficacy with respect to
occupation. By means of the self system, individuals exercise control over their thoughts, feelings, and
actions. Among the beliefs with which an individual evaluates the control over his/her actions and
environment, self-efficacy beliefs are the most influential predictor of human behavior. The level and
strength of self-efficacy will determine: whether coping behavior will be initiated, how much effort will
result, and how long the effort will be sustained in the face of obstacles. Self efficacy is derived from 4
most influential sources:
1. Personal performance (Accomplishments - previous successes or failures) - Most influential
2. Vicarious experience (watching others, modeling, mentoring
3. Verbal persuasion (verbal encouragement or discouragement
4. Physiological and emotional factors (perceptions of stress react
List and describe Erikson's eight stages of Psychosocial Development.
- correct answer 1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy): When parents consistently respond to the newborns
needs, results in HOPE.
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3yrs): Understanding that the child can control his/her actions
counteracts with doubt and shame, results in WILL.
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6yrs): Ones initiative may clash with goals of others, results in PURPOSE.
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (school age 5-12): Mastery comes from success and recognition, accepting of
the course of ones life, results in COMPETENCY.
5. Ego Identity vs. Role confusion (adolescence): Exploration of different paths to attain a healthy
identity, results in FIDELITY.
, 6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adult 18-40): Form positive, close relationships with others, results in
LOVE.
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (adulthood 40-65): Caring for others, empathy and concern, results in
CARE.
8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Maturity 65): Older adults are trying to make sense of their lives, results in
WISDOM.
Choose two different biological theories of aging and provide a brief description of each.
- correct answer 1. Programmed theories: biological clock in which cells start to self-destruct. aging is
biologically or genetically programmed and cells start to self-destruct on a biological clock.
2. Damage or error theories:
a. Wear and tear theory: a theory that suggests that the body (like machine) gradually deteriorates &
finally wears out
b. Cellular theories: explanations of aging that focuses on processes that occur within individual cells,
which may lead to buildup of harmful substances or deterioration of cells over a life time.
Examples of cellular errors/processes:
1. Accumulation of free radicals: chemicals that are produced randomly during normal cell metabolism
and that bond easily to other substances inside cells
2. Cross linking: random interaction of some proteins with certain body tissues, such as muscles and
arteries, like elastic tissue becomes stiffer
3. Telomeres: tips of the chromosomes that shorten and break with increasing age, like the photocopy
of a photocopy losing quality
Prenatal Development: List the three stages of prenatal development in the correct order, and note how
long each stage lasts. Indicate the major event that indicates the beginning and end of each stage.
Finally, discuss the major events that take place within each stage.
- correct answer 1. Zygote (weeks 1-2): spans 14 days. Begins with fertilization of the egg in fallopian
tube and ends with implantation of fertilized egg in the uterine wall. Implantation of the zygote into the
uterine wall triggers hormonal changes that prevent mentrstruation.
