Developmental Psychology Final Exam Test Bank
Study Guide and Verified Answers
Comprehensive Examination Review & Master Solution Key
1. According to Jean Piaget, during which stage of cognitive development do children first master
the concept of object permanence?
A. Preoperational stage
B. Concrete operational stage
C. Sensorimotor stage
D. Formal operational stage
Rationale: Object permanence—the understanding that objects continue to exist even
when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched—is a fundamental milestone achieved during
the sensorimotor stage (birth to ~2 years).
2. In Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory, what is the core developmental crisis faced during
adolescence?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Identity vs. Role Confusion
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Rationale: Adolescents (ages 12–18) navigate Identity vs. Role Confusion as they explore
personal values, beliefs, and career goals to establish a cohesive sense of self.
3. Which researcher is best known for developing the "Strange Situation" procedure to assess
infant attachment styles?
A. John Bowlby
B. Harry Harlow
C. Diana Baumrind
D. Mary Ainsworth
Rationale: Mary Ainsworth developed the Strange Situation protocol to systematically
observe attachment relationships between infants and caregivers, categorizing them into
secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant styles.
, 4. According to Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, which system includes direct
settings in which the individual interacts, such as family, school, and peers?
A. Microsystem
B. Mesosystem
C. Exosystem
D. Macrosystem
Rationale: The microsystem is the innermost layer of Bronfenbrenner's ecological model,
comprising the immediate environments and relationships an individual directly engages
with daily.
5. Which of the following parenting styles is characterized by high warmth and high
demandingness/control, leading to the most positive child outcomes?
A. Authoritarian
B. Authoritative
C. Permissive
D. Uninvolved
Rationale: Authoritative parenting combines high responsiveness with clear, reasonable
demands and rules, fostering independence, self-regulation, and high self-esteem in
children.
6. What term did Lev Vygotsky use to describe the range of tasks that a child cannot yet perform
alone, but can accomplish with guidance and encouragement from a more knowledgeable peer or
adult?
A. Conservation zone
B. Scaffolding dynamic
C. Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
D. Assimilation range
Rationale: The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) represents the learning space
between what a learner can do without assistance and what they can achieve with
guidance.
7. During which prenatal stage does the fertilized egg undergo rapid cell division and implant into
the uterine wall?
A. Germinal stage
B. Embryonic stage
C. Fetal stage
D. Blastocystic period
Study Guide and Verified Answers
Comprehensive Examination Review & Master Solution Key
1. According to Jean Piaget, during which stage of cognitive development do children first master
the concept of object permanence?
A. Preoperational stage
B. Concrete operational stage
C. Sensorimotor stage
D. Formal operational stage
Rationale: Object permanence—the understanding that objects continue to exist even
when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched—is a fundamental milestone achieved during
the sensorimotor stage (birth to ~2 years).
2. In Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory, what is the core developmental crisis faced during
adolescence?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Identity vs. Role Confusion
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Rationale: Adolescents (ages 12–18) navigate Identity vs. Role Confusion as they explore
personal values, beliefs, and career goals to establish a cohesive sense of self.
3. Which researcher is best known for developing the "Strange Situation" procedure to assess
infant attachment styles?
A. John Bowlby
B. Harry Harlow
C. Diana Baumrind
D. Mary Ainsworth
Rationale: Mary Ainsworth developed the Strange Situation protocol to systematically
observe attachment relationships between infants and caregivers, categorizing them into
secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant styles.
, 4. According to Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, which system includes direct
settings in which the individual interacts, such as family, school, and peers?
A. Microsystem
B. Mesosystem
C. Exosystem
D. Macrosystem
Rationale: The microsystem is the innermost layer of Bronfenbrenner's ecological model,
comprising the immediate environments and relationships an individual directly engages
with daily.
5. Which of the following parenting styles is characterized by high warmth and high
demandingness/control, leading to the most positive child outcomes?
A. Authoritarian
B. Authoritative
C. Permissive
D. Uninvolved
Rationale: Authoritative parenting combines high responsiveness with clear, reasonable
demands and rules, fostering independence, self-regulation, and high self-esteem in
children.
6. What term did Lev Vygotsky use to describe the range of tasks that a child cannot yet perform
alone, but can accomplish with guidance and encouragement from a more knowledgeable peer or
adult?
A. Conservation zone
B. Scaffolding dynamic
C. Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
D. Assimilation range
Rationale: The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) represents the learning space
between what a learner can do without assistance and what they can achieve with
guidance.
7. During which prenatal stage does the fertilized egg undergo rapid cell division and implant into
the uterine wall?
A. Germinal stage
B. Embryonic stage
C. Fetal stage
D. Blastocystic period
