NR 222 Nursing Concepts Final Exam Practice Test | Advanced
Developmental Theories Review, Real Exam- Questions, Rationales,
and Proven Strategies for A+ Performance (Latest 2026 Version)
1. A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about Erikson's theory of psychosocial development.
Which statement by a student indicates understanding of the theory?
A. "Each stage must be resolved before moving to the next stage."
B. "Successful resolution of a crisis leads to a virtue or strength."
C. "Development occurs only during childhood and adolescence."
D. "Failure to resolve a crisis cannot be addressed later in life."
Answer: B
Rationale: Erikson's theory proposes that successful resolution of each psychosocial crisis results in the
development of a basic virtue or strength (e.g., hope, will, purpose). While resolution of stages is ideal,
Erikson acknowledged that unresolved crises could be revisited later. Development occurs across the
entire lifespan, not just childhood.
2. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which characteristic is expected in a child in
the preoperational stage?
A. Ability to think abstractly and hypothetically
B. Understanding of conservation and reversibility
C. Egocentric thinking and use of symbolic play
D. Logical reasoning about concrete events
Answer: C
Rationale: The preoperational stage (ages 2-7) is characterized by egocentrism, symbolic thinking, and
pretend play. Abstract thinking develops in the formal operational stage. Conservation and reversibility
,are hallmarks of the concrete operational stage. Logical reasoning about concrete events occurs in the
concrete operational stage.
3. A nurse is caring for a 10-year-old child. According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, which
level of moral reasoning is most typical for this age?
A. Preconventional level
B. Conventional level
C. Postconventional level
D. Autonomous level
Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children (approximately 9-12 years) typically function at the conventional level of
moral development, where they follow rules to gain approval and maintain social order.
Preconventional reasoning is typical of younger children. Postconventional reasoning usually emerges in
adolescence or adulthood, if at all.
4. Which developmental theorist emphasized the role of social interaction and cultural tools in cognitive
development?
A. Jean Piaget
B. Lawrence Kohlberg
C. Lev Vygotsky
D. Sigmund Freud
Answer: C
Rationale: Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes that cognitive development occurs through
social interactions and the use of cultural tools, such as language. He introduced concepts like the zone
of proximal development and scaffolding. Piaget focused on individual cognitive construction; Kohlberg
on moral development; Freud on psychosexual stages.
5. A nurse is reviewing Havighurst's developmental tasks with a community health group. Which task is
appropriate for middle adulthood?
,A. Learning to walk and talk
B. Achieving personal independence
C. Developing adult civic and social responsibility
D. Adjusting to decreasing physical strength and health
Answer: D
Rationale: Havighurst identified "adjusting to decreasing physical strength and health" as a
developmental task of later maturity. However, for middle adulthood (40-65 years), tasks include
achieving adult civic and social responsibility, assisting teenage children to become responsible adults,
and developing adult leisure activities. Option D is more aligned with older adulthood, but among the
choices, it is the closest to middle/late adulthood tasks. Clarification: Option C is actually a task of early
adulthood. For middle adulthood, appropriate tasks include managing a career, maintaining
relationships, and preparing for retirement.
Correction for accuracy: Let me revise this question for clarity.
Revised Question 5: A nurse is reviewing Havighurst's developmental tasks. Which task is most
appropriate for middle adulthood (40-65 years)?
A. Selecting a mate and learning to live with a marriage partner
B. Achieving a feminine or masculine social role
C. Assisting teenage children to become responsible and happy adults
D. Learning to take first steps and speak first words
Answer: C
Rationale: Assisting teenage children to become responsible adults is a key developmental task of
middle adulthood according to Havighurst. Selecting a mate is an early adulthood task. Achieving gender
role is an adolescent task. Learning to walk/talk is an infant task.
6. According to Freud's psychosexual theory, fixation at the anal stage may result in which adult
personality trait?
A. Excessive dependence on others
, B. Orderliness, stubbornness, or messiness
C. Sexual deviance or promiscuity
D. Oral aggression or passivity
Answer: B
Rationale: Freud believed that fixation at the anal stage (18 months-3 years), related to toilet training,
could lead to adult traits of orderliness, stubbornness, or messiness. Oral fixation relates to dependency
or aggression. Phallic stage fixation may influence sexual behaviors.
7. A nurse is applying Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to assess a pediatric client. Which
system includes the child's immediate family and school?
A. Microsystem
B. Mesosystem
C. Exosystem
D. Macrosystem
Answer: A
Rationale: The microsystem includes the immediate environments that directly interact with the child,
such as family, school, and peers. The mesosystem involves connections between microsystems. The
exosystem includes settings that indirectly affect the child (e.g., parent's workplace). The macrosystem
encompasses cultural values and societal norms.
8. Which statement best describes the concept of "scaffolding" in Vygotsky's theory?
A. Allowing a child to explore independently without guidance
B. Providing temporary support to help a child achieve a task just beyond their current ability
C. Reinforcing behaviors through rewards and punishments
D. Encouraging peer competition to stimulate learning
Answer: B
Developmental Theories Review, Real Exam- Questions, Rationales,
and Proven Strategies for A+ Performance (Latest 2026 Version)
1. A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about Erikson's theory of psychosocial development.
Which statement by a student indicates understanding of the theory?
A. "Each stage must be resolved before moving to the next stage."
B. "Successful resolution of a crisis leads to a virtue or strength."
C. "Development occurs only during childhood and adolescence."
D. "Failure to resolve a crisis cannot be addressed later in life."
Answer: B
Rationale: Erikson's theory proposes that successful resolution of each psychosocial crisis results in the
development of a basic virtue or strength (e.g., hope, will, purpose). While resolution of stages is ideal,
Erikson acknowledged that unresolved crises could be revisited later. Development occurs across the
entire lifespan, not just childhood.
2. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which characteristic is expected in a child in
the preoperational stage?
A. Ability to think abstractly and hypothetically
B. Understanding of conservation and reversibility
C. Egocentric thinking and use of symbolic play
D. Logical reasoning about concrete events
Answer: C
Rationale: The preoperational stage (ages 2-7) is characterized by egocentrism, symbolic thinking, and
pretend play. Abstract thinking develops in the formal operational stage. Conservation and reversibility
,are hallmarks of the concrete operational stage. Logical reasoning about concrete events occurs in the
concrete operational stage.
3. A nurse is caring for a 10-year-old child. According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, which
level of moral reasoning is most typical for this age?
A. Preconventional level
B. Conventional level
C. Postconventional level
D. Autonomous level
Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children (approximately 9-12 years) typically function at the conventional level of
moral development, where they follow rules to gain approval and maintain social order.
Preconventional reasoning is typical of younger children. Postconventional reasoning usually emerges in
adolescence or adulthood, if at all.
4. Which developmental theorist emphasized the role of social interaction and cultural tools in cognitive
development?
A. Jean Piaget
B. Lawrence Kohlberg
C. Lev Vygotsky
D. Sigmund Freud
Answer: C
Rationale: Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes that cognitive development occurs through
social interactions and the use of cultural tools, such as language. He introduced concepts like the zone
of proximal development and scaffolding. Piaget focused on individual cognitive construction; Kohlberg
on moral development; Freud on psychosexual stages.
5. A nurse is reviewing Havighurst's developmental tasks with a community health group. Which task is
appropriate for middle adulthood?
,A. Learning to walk and talk
B. Achieving personal independence
C. Developing adult civic and social responsibility
D. Adjusting to decreasing physical strength and health
Answer: D
Rationale: Havighurst identified "adjusting to decreasing physical strength and health" as a
developmental task of later maturity. However, for middle adulthood (40-65 years), tasks include
achieving adult civic and social responsibility, assisting teenage children to become responsible adults,
and developing adult leisure activities. Option D is more aligned with older adulthood, but among the
choices, it is the closest to middle/late adulthood tasks. Clarification: Option C is actually a task of early
adulthood. For middle adulthood, appropriate tasks include managing a career, maintaining
relationships, and preparing for retirement.
Correction for accuracy: Let me revise this question for clarity.
Revised Question 5: A nurse is reviewing Havighurst's developmental tasks. Which task is most
appropriate for middle adulthood (40-65 years)?
A. Selecting a mate and learning to live with a marriage partner
B. Achieving a feminine or masculine social role
C. Assisting teenage children to become responsible and happy adults
D. Learning to take first steps and speak first words
Answer: C
Rationale: Assisting teenage children to become responsible adults is a key developmental task of
middle adulthood according to Havighurst. Selecting a mate is an early adulthood task. Achieving gender
role is an adolescent task. Learning to walk/talk is an infant task.
6. According to Freud's psychosexual theory, fixation at the anal stage may result in which adult
personality trait?
A. Excessive dependence on others
, B. Orderliness, stubbornness, or messiness
C. Sexual deviance or promiscuity
D. Oral aggression or passivity
Answer: B
Rationale: Freud believed that fixation at the anal stage (18 months-3 years), related to toilet training,
could lead to adult traits of orderliness, stubbornness, or messiness. Oral fixation relates to dependency
or aggression. Phallic stage fixation may influence sexual behaviors.
7. A nurse is applying Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to assess a pediatric client. Which
system includes the child's immediate family and school?
A. Microsystem
B. Mesosystem
C. Exosystem
D. Macrosystem
Answer: A
Rationale: The microsystem includes the immediate environments that directly interact with the child,
such as family, school, and peers. The mesosystem involves connections between microsystems. The
exosystem includes settings that indirectly affect the child (e.g., parent's workplace). The macrosystem
encompasses cultural values and societal norms.
8. Which statement best describes the concept of "scaffolding" in Vygotsky's theory?
A. Allowing a child to explore independently without guidance
B. Providing temporary support to help a child achieve a task just beyond their current ability
C. Reinforcing behaviors through rewards and punishments
D. Encouraging peer competition to stimulate learning
Answer: B
