LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Massage therapy for infants has been very successful in promoting weight gain and
social interaction, and in decreasing distress in low-birth-weight infants. Based upon
developmental research, what is the best explanation for this? - Answer-Touch is the
best developed sense at birth and therefore the most effective avenue for soothing and
regulating the newborn.
Brenda and Louise are twin sisters who each married 20 years ago. Brenda and her
husband run a small piano tuning business. They have had a small, loyal customer
base, and their modest but adequate income has not changed over time. Louise and
her husband each work for a corporation, and their incomes have steadily increased
over the last 20 years allowing them to increase their standard of living. Assuming that
Brenda and Louise began their married lives equally happy, and based on their income
histories alone, what would you predict about the subjective well-being of Brenda and
Louise today? - Answer-Louise and Brenda are probably still about equally happy.
Daniel is very extraverted. He admits that he is not comfortable unless surrounded by
other people, and he energetically pursues activities that require the company of others.
His cousin Bill, about the same age, is very introverted. Bill is self-reflective and prefers
more solitary pursuits. Regardless of their personality characteristics, which of the
following is likely to contribute most to their long-term happiness? - Answer-They are
good friends who are willing to help each other in difficult times.
Which of the following tends to assure that work experiences will be linked to positive
well-being? - Answer-Feeling that one is making competent progress toward
challenging goals.
For most mental illnesses and behavioral disorders, like alcoholism and clinical
depression, the genetic contribution can best be described as - Answer-polygenic.
Symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) include - Answer-widely spaced eyes and
flattened nose.
Children who suffer severe protein and calorie shortages at any age may experience
stunted growth, a protuberant belly, and extreme apathy. This severe starvation
syndrome is called - Answer-kwashiorkor.
Of the following, which is the most accurate example of coaction? - Answer-Genes that
are related to a specific disorder may be expressed phenotypically only in a certain kind
of environment.
,Robert and Nadine both have been laid off. The couple has inadequate access to food
or health care. When they realize that Nadine is pregnant, they feel desperate, and they
talk to a social worker at a local clinic about their situation. The social worker is able to
provide them with referrals to a food outlet, but she is unable to find a prenatal care
clinic that provides free services in their neighborhood. Considering the effects of
multiple risk factors, what is the most likely potential value of the social worker's efforts?
- Answer-The fewer risk factors the better, so their unborn child is likely to be better off
even with the limited help the social worker provided.
At 50 years old, Andrew is an important source of support for his younger sister who
has a serious disability. As a computer engineer, Andrew has made a practice of
designing computer devices that help his sister and others in her situation interact with
the wider world. Andrew sees his work as important in the lives of other people.
Andrew's view of his life is an example of - Answer-situational meaning.
One thing that both Eastern and Western religions share is that they promote - Answer-
the regulation of negative or destructive emotions.
Sylvia and Joanne are both members of a support group for new widows. Sylvia has
been deeply religious for most of her adult life. She prays daily and attends weekly
services. Joanne is not religious, but she has engaged in daily mindful meditation
practice for many years. Both women seem equally devastated by the unexpected
deaths of their husbands. What can you predict about how they will recover from their
losses? - Answer-Sylvia and Joanne are both likely to benefit from their daily
contemplative practices.
Anna is a 44-year-old divorced mother of two teenagers. Anna's father, who lives alone
in a nearby suburb, has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. Anna needs to take
her father to and from medical appointments while she tries to manage the demands of
her own full-time job. She goes to the employee assistance counselor at work for help in
coping with the demands of her situation. The counselor understands that the demands
on Anna are too great given her available resources, a phenomenon called - Answer-
role strain.
Anna must care for children as well as a sick loved one on a day-to-day basis. She also
needs to keep her job. This situation places her under considerable stress. Coping of
this type is called coping with - Answer-daily hassles.
Kindling-behavioral sensitization describes - Answer-a process of increasing sensitivity
to stressful triggers.
Tyrone is a 35-year-old advertising executive. Lately, he has been experiencing some
physical symptoms, like shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping. He explains to a
counselor that he has been having more difficulty dealing with his work and family
responsibilities. A comprehensive intake interview reveals that Tyrone's mother suffered
, from a diagnosed affective disorder. This piece of information might indicate the
presence of - Answer-a diathesis.
Jason experienced the death of a close relative due to an act of violence. He comes to
counseling to get help dealing with the grief and pain of this experience. After some
time, Jason adjusts, and he demonstrates improvements in psychological functioning
that exceed his level of adjustment prior to this traumatic event. This is an example of -
Answer-posttraumatic growth.
Paula is a client who demonstrates highly anxious tendencies. She broods over
perceived mistakes, worries about how others view her, and feels that she never meets
her own high expectations in ways that satisfy her. Her counselor can conclude that
Paula probably also has which of these other characteristics? - Answer-High levels of
sensitivity to stress.
Laboratory studies have provided evidence for which of the following statements with
regard to emotional reactivity? - Answer-Positive affectivity is related to higher levels of
left prefrontal cortical activity.
Ernest is 42 years old and has been out of work for two months. He lost his position as
a program manager when his company merged with another larger company. He made
a great deal of money during his time as manager and saved quite a bit, so finances are
not an immediate concern. He has not been actively looking for work, and he feels
sluggish, sleeps much more than he did in the past, and spends most of his time
watching TV. Based on conservation of resources theory, how would you interpret his
behavior? - Answer-Ernest is experiencing the effects of loss of status following the
termination.
A positive emotional style - Answer-can be cultivated by everyone.
Researchers believe that the key characteristic that explains the therapeutic benefits of
cognitive therapy is - Answer-replacing dysfunctional thinking with more functional
thoughts.
Which of the following statements is most accurate with regard to Piaget's theory? -
Answer-Piaget firmly believed that children who were at a particular stage of cognitive
development had the same level of understanding in all areas, such as understanding
causality, morality, agency, etc.
Mrs. Harmon, the mother of 18-month-old Bryce, is concerned that Bryce has not
learned to speak very well. He has a limited vocabulary and seems content to point to
the things he wants. Mrs. Harmon has read several child development books which
indicate that Bryce should be in the stage of language learning. Mrs. Harmon fears that
Bryce is not keeping up developmentally. Based on your understanding of the timing of
developmental stages, what would be your best advice? - Answer-Developmental
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Massage therapy for infants has been very successful in promoting weight gain and
social interaction, and in decreasing distress in low-birth-weight infants. Based upon
developmental research, what is the best explanation for this? - Answer-Touch is the
best developed sense at birth and therefore the most effective avenue for soothing and
regulating the newborn.
Brenda and Louise are twin sisters who each married 20 years ago. Brenda and her
husband run a small piano tuning business. They have had a small, loyal customer
base, and their modest but adequate income has not changed over time. Louise and
her husband each work for a corporation, and their incomes have steadily increased
over the last 20 years allowing them to increase their standard of living. Assuming that
Brenda and Louise began their married lives equally happy, and based on their income
histories alone, what would you predict about the subjective well-being of Brenda and
Louise today? - Answer-Louise and Brenda are probably still about equally happy.
Daniel is very extraverted. He admits that he is not comfortable unless surrounded by
other people, and he energetically pursues activities that require the company of others.
His cousin Bill, about the same age, is very introverted. Bill is self-reflective and prefers
more solitary pursuits. Regardless of their personality characteristics, which of the
following is likely to contribute most to their long-term happiness? - Answer-They are
good friends who are willing to help each other in difficult times.
Which of the following tends to assure that work experiences will be linked to positive
well-being? - Answer-Feeling that one is making competent progress toward
challenging goals.
For most mental illnesses and behavioral disorders, like alcoholism and clinical
depression, the genetic contribution can best be described as - Answer-polygenic.
Symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) include - Answer-widely spaced eyes and
flattened nose.
Children who suffer severe protein and calorie shortages at any age may experience
stunted growth, a protuberant belly, and extreme apathy. This severe starvation
syndrome is called - Answer-kwashiorkor.
Of the following, which is the most accurate example of coaction? - Answer-Genes that
are related to a specific disorder may be expressed phenotypically only in a certain kind
of environment.
,Robert and Nadine both have been laid off. The couple has inadequate access to food
or health care. When they realize that Nadine is pregnant, they feel desperate, and they
talk to a social worker at a local clinic about their situation. The social worker is able to
provide them with referrals to a food outlet, but she is unable to find a prenatal care
clinic that provides free services in their neighborhood. Considering the effects of
multiple risk factors, what is the most likely potential value of the social worker's efforts?
- Answer-The fewer risk factors the better, so their unborn child is likely to be better off
even with the limited help the social worker provided.
At 50 years old, Andrew is an important source of support for his younger sister who
has a serious disability. As a computer engineer, Andrew has made a practice of
designing computer devices that help his sister and others in her situation interact with
the wider world. Andrew sees his work as important in the lives of other people.
Andrew's view of his life is an example of - Answer-situational meaning.
One thing that both Eastern and Western religions share is that they promote - Answer-
the regulation of negative or destructive emotions.
Sylvia and Joanne are both members of a support group for new widows. Sylvia has
been deeply religious for most of her adult life. She prays daily and attends weekly
services. Joanne is not religious, but she has engaged in daily mindful meditation
practice for many years. Both women seem equally devastated by the unexpected
deaths of their husbands. What can you predict about how they will recover from their
losses? - Answer-Sylvia and Joanne are both likely to benefit from their daily
contemplative practices.
Anna is a 44-year-old divorced mother of two teenagers. Anna's father, who lives alone
in a nearby suburb, has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. Anna needs to take
her father to and from medical appointments while she tries to manage the demands of
her own full-time job. She goes to the employee assistance counselor at work for help in
coping with the demands of her situation. The counselor understands that the demands
on Anna are too great given her available resources, a phenomenon called - Answer-
role strain.
Anna must care for children as well as a sick loved one on a day-to-day basis. She also
needs to keep her job. This situation places her under considerable stress. Coping of
this type is called coping with - Answer-daily hassles.
Kindling-behavioral sensitization describes - Answer-a process of increasing sensitivity
to stressful triggers.
Tyrone is a 35-year-old advertising executive. Lately, he has been experiencing some
physical symptoms, like shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping. He explains to a
counselor that he has been having more difficulty dealing with his work and family
responsibilities. A comprehensive intake interview reveals that Tyrone's mother suffered
, from a diagnosed affective disorder. This piece of information might indicate the
presence of - Answer-a diathesis.
Jason experienced the death of a close relative due to an act of violence. He comes to
counseling to get help dealing with the grief and pain of this experience. After some
time, Jason adjusts, and he demonstrates improvements in psychological functioning
that exceed his level of adjustment prior to this traumatic event. This is an example of -
Answer-posttraumatic growth.
Paula is a client who demonstrates highly anxious tendencies. She broods over
perceived mistakes, worries about how others view her, and feels that she never meets
her own high expectations in ways that satisfy her. Her counselor can conclude that
Paula probably also has which of these other characteristics? - Answer-High levels of
sensitivity to stress.
Laboratory studies have provided evidence for which of the following statements with
regard to emotional reactivity? - Answer-Positive affectivity is related to higher levels of
left prefrontal cortical activity.
Ernest is 42 years old and has been out of work for two months. He lost his position as
a program manager when his company merged with another larger company. He made
a great deal of money during his time as manager and saved quite a bit, so finances are
not an immediate concern. He has not been actively looking for work, and he feels
sluggish, sleeps much more than he did in the past, and spends most of his time
watching TV. Based on conservation of resources theory, how would you interpret his
behavior? - Answer-Ernest is experiencing the effects of loss of status following the
termination.
A positive emotional style - Answer-can be cultivated by everyone.
Researchers believe that the key characteristic that explains the therapeutic benefits of
cognitive therapy is - Answer-replacing dysfunctional thinking with more functional
thoughts.
Which of the following statements is most accurate with regard to Piaget's theory? -
Answer-Piaget firmly believed that children who were at a particular stage of cognitive
development had the same level of understanding in all areas, such as understanding
causality, morality, agency, etc.
Mrs. Harmon, the mother of 18-month-old Bryce, is concerned that Bryce has not
learned to speak very well. He has a limited vocabulary and seems content to point to
the things he wants. Mrs. Harmon has read several child development books which
indicate that Bryce should be in the stage of language learning. Mrs. Harmon fears that
Bryce is not keeping up developmentally. Based on your understanding of the timing of
developmental stages, what would be your best advice? - Answer-Developmental
