PSYC 140 Developmental Lifespan Psychology | Portage Learning | Academic Year
2026/2027 | Comprehensive Examination — Modules 1–8 & Final | 120 Verified
Questions and Correct Answer Rationales
1. Clues to the important roles both nature and nurture play in development is seen in
infants as they begin to gain the ability to actively perceive the distance from themselves
to objects in the environment. This ability is also known as what term? - ANSWERS-depth
perception
2. Brad is very possessive of his girlfriend Lana. He suspects that other men are attracted to
her and feels jealous of them. Which of the following, according to evolutionary theory,
might best explain jealousy? - ANSWERS-Jealousy is a psychological adaptation that
increases vigilance.
3. In the TED video, VS Ramachandran: The neurons that shaped civilization, what prevents
us from feeling an empathy touch message as being an actual touch of ourselves? -
ANSWERS-The sense receptors in our own skin are not activated when see someone else
being touched.
4. Randy has a box of Smarties candies. Randy leaves the room, and while he is away,
Michelle plays a trick on him. She removes the Smarties and replaces them with rocks.
Their son, Zeven, notices this, and starts laughing knowing that his Dad, Randy, will be
tricked! Zeven has mastered: - ANSWERS-a theory of mind
5. In the TED video, How Do Pain Relievers Work? - George Zaidan nociceptor pain
sensitivity - ANSWERS-can be altered by exposure to certain chemicals.
6. As people age, there are changes in cognitive function, personality, social relationships,
and other areas. ____________ use life milestones, membership in cohorts, and exposure
to historical events to understand aging. - ANSWERS-Life course theories
7. In the TED video, VS Ramachandran on your mind, how does Ramachandran say we can
treat a paralyzed phantom limb pain? - ANSWERS-use a mirror box to create the illusion
that the phantom limb is moving.
8. Which of the following best explains the concept of levels of awareness? - ANSWERS-
Awareness is a continuum that includes both high and low awareness.
9. Billy is having difficulty focusing on his medication instructions as he keeps thinking of
what ingredients he needs next for the lunch he is making himself. Billy's difficulty is likely
due to deficiency in what? - ANSWERS-inhibitory functioning
10. Fitness in evolutionary psychology refers to: - ANSWERS-reproductive success
11. According to Baumrind, the __________ parenting style is marked by high expectations
and control combined with high warmth and responsiveness. - ANSWERS-authoritative
, 12. To image electrical activity of neurons firing in the brain researchers use _________ which
attaches electrodes to the outside of a person's head. - ANSWERS-
electroencephalogram (EEG)
13. Lonnie needs to make a long business trip back to of Minnesota but is uncertain of when
to leave. According to the weather report, there is a big storm starting that he may
encounter. The cost of deciding to leave later will make him late for his meeting but the
cost to leave too early might put him in a car accident on the slippery roads. Which theory
would predict that because of evolution, Lonnie would choose the less costly or
dangerous option and leave later in the day to avoid the storm? - ANSWERS-error
management theory
14. Chase is a baby with a slow-to-warm-up temperament. When his parents take him to a
new environment (e.g. A new friend's house), they let him have time to adjust and don't
force him to interact too quickly. This match between Chase's temperament and his
environment is called __________. - ANSWERS-goodness of fit
15. The ________ of the brain houses the motor cortex and areas responsible for judgment,
decisions and planning. - ANSWERS-frontal lobe
16. As he grows up, Jonah puts on weight each year. At his annual checkup his doctor informs
him that, at age 10, he weighs 22% more than he did at age seven. What kind of change
does this reflect? - ANSWERS-quantitative
17. According to Piaget, the developmental processes that explain children's cognitive
development are measured by: - ANSWERS-how children reason, with fundamental
changes tin thinking occurring in each stage
18. The nerves that are responsible for converting tactile stimuli into electrical signals that
the brain can understand are called __________ receptors. - ANSWERS-mechano
19. Which part of the brain is associated with physical movement and automatic reflexes: -
ANSWERS-the cerebellum
20. Which factor is not one of Rowe and Kahn's three criteria of successful aging? -
ANSWERS-a career with financial success
21. In general, Ann's mother expects her to be home by 9pm. However, she permitted an
exception to this rule when Ann requested permission to come home late in order to see
her friend off to the airport. What style of parenting did Ann's mother exhibit? - ANSWERS-
authoritative
22. Jessie is 7 years old. She has schemas for fish and mammals. When she hears that
dolphins are mammals, she initially rejects the information. But when she learns they
must breathe air at the surface, they are warm blooded, give live birth, and nurse their
young, she changes her mind. Which process is Jessie using? - ANSWERS-
accommodation
2026/2027 | Comprehensive Examination — Modules 1–8 & Final | 120 Verified
Questions and Correct Answer Rationales
1. Clues to the important roles both nature and nurture play in development is seen in
infants as they begin to gain the ability to actively perceive the distance from themselves
to objects in the environment. This ability is also known as what term? - ANSWERS-depth
perception
2. Brad is very possessive of his girlfriend Lana. He suspects that other men are attracted to
her and feels jealous of them. Which of the following, according to evolutionary theory,
might best explain jealousy? - ANSWERS-Jealousy is a psychological adaptation that
increases vigilance.
3. In the TED video, VS Ramachandran: The neurons that shaped civilization, what prevents
us from feeling an empathy touch message as being an actual touch of ourselves? -
ANSWERS-The sense receptors in our own skin are not activated when see someone else
being touched.
4. Randy has a box of Smarties candies. Randy leaves the room, and while he is away,
Michelle plays a trick on him. She removes the Smarties and replaces them with rocks.
Their son, Zeven, notices this, and starts laughing knowing that his Dad, Randy, will be
tricked! Zeven has mastered: - ANSWERS-a theory of mind
5. In the TED video, How Do Pain Relievers Work? - George Zaidan nociceptor pain
sensitivity - ANSWERS-can be altered by exposure to certain chemicals.
6. As people age, there are changes in cognitive function, personality, social relationships,
and other areas. ____________ use life milestones, membership in cohorts, and exposure
to historical events to understand aging. - ANSWERS-Life course theories
7. In the TED video, VS Ramachandran on your mind, how does Ramachandran say we can
treat a paralyzed phantom limb pain? - ANSWERS-use a mirror box to create the illusion
that the phantom limb is moving.
8. Which of the following best explains the concept of levels of awareness? - ANSWERS-
Awareness is a continuum that includes both high and low awareness.
9. Billy is having difficulty focusing on his medication instructions as he keeps thinking of
what ingredients he needs next for the lunch he is making himself. Billy's difficulty is likely
due to deficiency in what? - ANSWERS-inhibitory functioning
10. Fitness in evolutionary psychology refers to: - ANSWERS-reproductive success
11. According to Baumrind, the __________ parenting style is marked by high expectations
and control combined with high warmth and responsiveness. - ANSWERS-authoritative
, 12. To image electrical activity of neurons firing in the brain researchers use _________ which
attaches electrodes to the outside of a person's head. - ANSWERS-
electroencephalogram (EEG)
13. Lonnie needs to make a long business trip back to of Minnesota but is uncertain of when
to leave. According to the weather report, there is a big storm starting that he may
encounter. The cost of deciding to leave later will make him late for his meeting but the
cost to leave too early might put him in a car accident on the slippery roads. Which theory
would predict that because of evolution, Lonnie would choose the less costly or
dangerous option and leave later in the day to avoid the storm? - ANSWERS-error
management theory
14. Chase is a baby with a slow-to-warm-up temperament. When his parents take him to a
new environment (e.g. A new friend's house), they let him have time to adjust and don't
force him to interact too quickly. This match between Chase's temperament and his
environment is called __________. - ANSWERS-goodness of fit
15. The ________ of the brain houses the motor cortex and areas responsible for judgment,
decisions and planning. - ANSWERS-frontal lobe
16. As he grows up, Jonah puts on weight each year. At his annual checkup his doctor informs
him that, at age 10, he weighs 22% more than he did at age seven. What kind of change
does this reflect? - ANSWERS-quantitative
17. According to Piaget, the developmental processes that explain children's cognitive
development are measured by: - ANSWERS-how children reason, with fundamental
changes tin thinking occurring in each stage
18. The nerves that are responsible for converting tactile stimuli into electrical signals that
the brain can understand are called __________ receptors. - ANSWERS-mechano
19. Which part of the brain is associated with physical movement and automatic reflexes: -
ANSWERS-the cerebellum
20. Which factor is not one of Rowe and Kahn's three criteria of successful aging? -
ANSWERS-a career with financial success
21. In general, Ann's mother expects her to be home by 9pm. However, she permitted an
exception to this rule when Ann requested permission to come home late in order to see
her friend off to the airport. What style of parenting did Ann's mother exhibit? - ANSWERS-
authoritative
22. Jessie is 7 years old. She has schemas for fish and mammals. When she hears that
dolphins are mammals, she initially rejects the information. But when she learns they
must breathe air at the surface, they are warm blooded, give live birth, and nurse their
young, she changes her mind. Which process is Jessie using? - ANSWERS-
accommodation
