PSYC 140 Final Exam | Lifespan Developmental
Psychology Exam Q&A | Portage Learning
1. What is the primary focus of lifespan developmental psychology?
A) Changes that occur only during childhood and adolescence
B) Physical, cognitive, and socioemotional changes from conception to
death
C) Only the biological changes that occur with aging
D) Changes that occur only during the prenatal period
Correct Answer: Physical, cognitive, and socioemotional changes from
conception to death
Rationale: Lifespan developmental psychology examines patterns of
growth, change, and stability in behavior that occur throughout the entire
life span, from conception to death. It encompasses physical, cognitive,
and socioemotional dimensions.
2. According to modern developmental psychology, which of the following
is a key characteristic of lifespan development?
A) It ends at adolescence
B) It is unidirectional and always positive
C) It is lifelong, multidirectional, and multidimensional
D) It only involves biological changes
Correct Answer: It is lifelong, multidirectional, and multidimensional
Rationale: Lifespan development is lifelong, multidirectional (involving
both growth and decline), multidimensional (involving physical, cognitive,
and socioemotional changes), and multidisciplinary. It does not end at
adolescence and involves more than just biological changes.
,3. Which of the following is NOT one of the major domains of
developmental change?
A) Physical
B) Social
C) Cognitive
D) Spiritual
Correct Answer: Spiritual
Rationale: The major types of developmental change are physical, social,
cognitive, and emotional. "Spiritual" is not typically classified as one of the
core domains in developmental psychology.
4. Why is the field of developmental psychology considered
"multidisciplinary"?
A) It only involves one type of scientific study
B) It draws on knowledge from various fields such as psychology, biology,
and sociology
C) It only studies one period of the lifespan
D) It is focused solely on educational practices
Correct Answer: It draws on knowledge from various fields such as
psychology, biology, and sociology
Rationale: The field is multidisciplinary because professionals from
various fields, such as psychology, biology, sociology, and education, may
study or apply principles in lifespan development.
5. In the nature vs. nurture debate, what does "nature" refer to?
A) The environmental influences on an individual
B) The genetic and biological disposition of an individual
C) The cultural norms of a society
,D) The educational background of a person
Correct Answer: The genetic and biological disposition of an individual
Rationale: In developmental psychology, "nature" refers to the genetic
and biological disposition of an individual. It encompasses the hereditary
factors that influence development.
6. In the nature vs. nurture debate, what does "nurture" refer to?
A) The genetic inheritance from parents
B) The biological makeup of a person
C) The environmental influences on an individual
D) The innate personality traits
Correct Answer: The environmental influences on an individual
Rationale: "Nurture" refers to the environmental influences on an
individual, including upbringing, culture, and life experiences. It
encompasses all external factors that shape development.
7. According to Freud's psychosexual theory, which stage occurs from
birth to 18 months?
A) Phallic stage
B) Anal stage
C) Oral stage
D) Latency stage
Correct Answer: Oral stage
, Rationale: According to Freud, the oral stage occurs from birth to
approximately 18 months. During this stage, the infant's primary source of
pleasure and interaction is through the mouth.
8. According to Freud, what is a primary critique of his psychosexual
theory?
A) It focuses too much on development across the entire lifespan
B) It relies on a diverse and representative research sample
C) It lacks a lifespan approach, focusing primarily on early childhood
D) It overemphasizes the role of social relationships
Correct Answer: It lacks a lifespan approach, focusing primarily on early
childhood
Rationale: A major critique of Freud's theory is that it lacks a lifespan
approach, as he focused primarily on early childhood and did not
adequately address development across the entire lifespan.
9. Which theorist is most associated with classical conditioning,
demonstrated through experiments with dogs?
A) B.F. Skinner
B) Ivan Pavlov
C) John Watson
D) Albert Bandura
Correct Answer: Ivan Pavlov
Rationale: Ivan Pavlov is known for his classical conditioning experiments
with dogs, demonstrating that a neutral stimulus could come to elicit a
reflexive response when paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
10. What was B.F. Skinner's position on free will?
Psychology Exam Q&A | Portage Learning
1. What is the primary focus of lifespan developmental psychology?
A) Changes that occur only during childhood and adolescence
B) Physical, cognitive, and socioemotional changes from conception to
death
C) Only the biological changes that occur with aging
D) Changes that occur only during the prenatal period
Correct Answer: Physical, cognitive, and socioemotional changes from
conception to death
Rationale: Lifespan developmental psychology examines patterns of
growth, change, and stability in behavior that occur throughout the entire
life span, from conception to death. It encompasses physical, cognitive,
and socioemotional dimensions.
2. According to modern developmental psychology, which of the following
is a key characteristic of lifespan development?
A) It ends at adolescence
B) It is unidirectional and always positive
C) It is lifelong, multidirectional, and multidimensional
D) It only involves biological changes
Correct Answer: It is lifelong, multidirectional, and multidimensional
Rationale: Lifespan development is lifelong, multidirectional (involving
both growth and decline), multidimensional (involving physical, cognitive,
and socioemotional changes), and multidisciplinary. It does not end at
adolescence and involves more than just biological changes.
,3. Which of the following is NOT one of the major domains of
developmental change?
A) Physical
B) Social
C) Cognitive
D) Spiritual
Correct Answer: Spiritual
Rationale: The major types of developmental change are physical, social,
cognitive, and emotional. "Spiritual" is not typically classified as one of the
core domains in developmental psychology.
4. Why is the field of developmental psychology considered
"multidisciplinary"?
A) It only involves one type of scientific study
B) It draws on knowledge from various fields such as psychology, biology,
and sociology
C) It only studies one period of the lifespan
D) It is focused solely on educational practices
Correct Answer: It draws on knowledge from various fields such as
psychology, biology, and sociology
Rationale: The field is multidisciplinary because professionals from
various fields, such as psychology, biology, sociology, and education, may
study or apply principles in lifespan development.
5. In the nature vs. nurture debate, what does "nature" refer to?
A) The environmental influences on an individual
B) The genetic and biological disposition of an individual
C) The cultural norms of a society
,D) The educational background of a person
Correct Answer: The genetic and biological disposition of an individual
Rationale: In developmental psychology, "nature" refers to the genetic
and biological disposition of an individual. It encompasses the hereditary
factors that influence development.
6. In the nature vs. nurture debate, what does "nurture" refer to?
A) The genetic inheritance from parents
B) The biological makeup of a person
C) The environmental influences on an individual
D) The innate personality traits
Correct Answer: The environmental influences on an individual
Rationale: "Nurture" refers to the environmental influences on an
individual, including upbringing, culture, and life experiences. It
encompasses all external factors that shape development.
7. According to Freud's psychosexual theory, which stage occurs from
birth to 18 months?
A) Phallic stage
B) Anal stage
C) Oral stage
D) Latency stage
Correct Answer: Oral stage
, Rationale: According to Freud, the oral stage occurs from birth to
approximately 18 months. During this stage, the infant's primary source of
pleasure and interaction is through the mouth.
8. According to Freud, what is a primary critique of his psychosexual
theory?
A) It focuses too much on development across the entire lifespan
B) It relies on a diverse and representative research sample
C) It lacks a lifespan approach, focusing primarily on early childhood
D) It overemphasizes the role of social relationships
Correct Answer: It lacks a lifespan approach, focusing primarily on early
childhood
Rationale: A major critique of Freud's theory is that it lacks a lifespan
approach, as he focused primarily on early childhood and did not
adequately address development across the entire lifespan.
9. Which theorist is most associated with classical conditioning,
demonstrated through experiments with dogs?
A) B.F. Skinner
B) Ivan Pavlov
C) John Watson
D) Albert Bandura
Correct Answer: Ivan Pavlov
Rationale: Ivan Pavlov is known for his classical conditioning experiments
with dogs, demonstrating that a neutral stimulus could come to elicit a
reflexive response when paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
10. What was B.F. Skinner's position on free will?
