LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT FINAL
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+ FOR 2026
ASSURED EXCEL!!
List and describe the four stages of Piaget's Cognitive Development. What is post-formal
thought? - CORRECT ANSWERSSensorimotor: birth to 2, infant's knowledge of the world is
based on senses and motor skills, by the end of the period child uses mental representation
Preoperational thought: 2-6 years, child learns how to use symbols such as words and numbers
to represent aspects of the world but relates to the world only through his or her perspective
Concrete operational thought: 7- early adolescence, child understands and applies logical
operations to experiences provided they are focused on the here and now
Formal operational thought: adolescence and beyond, adolescent or adult thinks abstractly,
deals with hypothetical situations and speculates about what may be possible
Postformal thought: thinking characterized by recognizing that the correct answer varies from
one situation to another, that solutions should be realistic, that ambiguity and contradictions
are typical, and that subjective factors play roles in thinking
Discuss two different models of occupational choices—that of Holland and the SCCT—and
discuss how these two models may actually work in a complementary fashion. - CORRECT
ANSWERSHolland's personality type theory focuses on skill-set. Asserts that people choose
work based on the fit between their individual traits and occupational interests. Six personality
traits:
1. Realistic
,2. Investigative (thought, analytical approaches, explore, knowledge, ideas, not social) =
biologist, chemist, dentist, vegetarian, programmer
3. Artistic (literary, musical, artistic, emotional, creative, open) = artist, musician, poet, interior
designer, writer
4. Social (train, inform, educate, help, supportive, avoid technical skills, empathy, relationships)
= social work, counseling, police officer, LPN
5. Enterprising (verbally skilled, persuasive, direct, leader, dominant) = lawyer, business
executive, politician, TV producer
6. Conventional (rules and routines, provide order or direct structure, self control, respect
power and status, punctual, orderly) = bank teller, clerk typist, cashier, data entry
Albert Bandura's social cognitive career theory (SCCT): focuses on self-efficacy with respect to
occupation. By means of the self system, individuals exercise control over their thoughts,
feelings, and actions. Among the beliefs with which an individual evaluates the control over
his/her actions and environment, self-efficacy beliefs are the most influential predictor of
human behavior. The level and strength of self-efficacy will determine: whether coping behavior
will be initiated, how much effort will result, and how long the effort will be sustained in the
face of obstacles. Self efficacy is derived from 4 most influential sources:
1. Personal performance (Accomplishments - previous successes or failures) - Most influential
2. Vicarious experience (watching others, modeling, mentoring
3. Verbal persuasion (verbal encouragement or discouragement
4. Physiological and emotional factors (perceptions of stress react
List and describe Erikson's eight stages of Psychosocial Development. - CORRECT ANSWERS1.
Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy): When parents consistently respond to the newborns needs, results
in HOPE.
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3yrs): Understanding that the child can control his/her
actions counteracts with doubt and shame, results in WILL.
, 3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6yrs): Ones initiative may clash with goals of others, results in PURPOSE.
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (school age 5-12): Mastery comes from success and recognition,
accepting of the course of ones life, results in COMPETENCY.
5. Ego Identity vs. Role confusion (adolescence): Exploration of different paths to attain a
healthy identity, results in FIDELITY.
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adult 18-40): Form positive, close relationships with others,
results in LOVE.
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (adulthood 40-65): Caring for others, empathy and concern,
results in CARE.
8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Maturity 65): Older adults are trying to make sense of their lives,
results in WISDOM.
Choose two different biological theories of aging and provide a brief description of each. -
CORRECT ANSWERS1. Programmed theories: biological clock in which cells start to self-destruct.
aging is biologically or genetically programmed and cells start to self-destruct on a biological
clock.
2. Damage or error theories:
a. Wear and tear theory: a theory that suggests that the body (like machine) gradually
deteriorates & finally wears out
b. Cellular theories: explanations of aging that focuses on processes that occur within individual
cells, which may lead to buildup of harmful substances or deterioration of cells over a life time.
Examples of cellular errors/processes:
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+ FOR 2026
ASSURED EXCEL!!
List and describe the four stages of Piaget's Cognitive Development. What is post-formal
thought? - CORRECT ANSWERSSensorimotor: birth to 2, infant's knowledge of the world is
based on senses and motor skills, by the end of the period child uses mental representation
Preoperational thought: 2-6 years, child learns how to use symbols such as words and numbers
to represent aspects of the world but relates to the world only through his or her perspective
Concrete operational thought: 7- early adolescence, child understands and applies logical
operations to experiences provided they are focused on the here and now
Formal operational thought: adolescence and beyond, adolescent or adult thinks abstractly,
deals with hypothetical situations and speculates about what may be possible
Postformal thought: thinking characterized by recognizing that the correct answer varies from
one situation to another, that solutions should be realistic, that ambiguity and contradictions
are typical, and that subjective factors play roles in thinking
Discuss two different models of occupational choices—that of Holland and the SCCT—and
discuss how these two models may actually work in a complementary fashion. - CORRECT
ANSWERSHolland's personality type theory focuses on skill-set. Asserts that people choose
work based on the fit between their individual traits and occupational interests. Six personality
traits:
1. Realistic
,2. Investigative (thought, analytical approaches, explore, knowledge, ideas, not social) =
biologist, chemist, dentist, vegetarian, programmer
3. Artistic (literary, musical, artistic, emotional, creative, open) = artist, musician, poet, interior
designer, writer
4. Social (train, inform, educate, help, supportive, avoid technical skills, empathy, relationships)
= social work, counseling, police officer, LPN
5. Enterprising (verbally skilled, persuasive, direct, leader, dominant) = lawyer, business
executive, politician, TV producer
6. Conventional (rules and routines, provide order or direct structure, self control, respect
power and status, punctual, orderly) = bank teller, clerk typist, cashier, data entry
Albert Bandura's social cognitive career theory (SCCT): focuses on self-efficacy with respect to
occupation. By means of the self system, individuals exercise control over their thoughts,
feelings, and actions. Among the beliefs with which an individual evaluates the control over
his/her actions and environment, self-efficacy beliefs are the most influential predictor of
human behavior. The level and strength of self-efficacy will determine: whether coping behavior
will be initiated, how much effort will result, and how long the effort will be sustained in the
face of obstacles. Self efficacy is derived from 4 most influential sources:
1. Personal performance (Accomplishments - previous successes or failures) - Most influential
2. Vicarious experience (watching others, modeling, mentoring
3. Verbal persuasion (verbal encouragement or discouragement
4. Physiological and emotional factors (perceptions of stress react
List and describe Erikson's eight stages of Psychosocial Development. - CORRECT ANSWERS1.
Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy): When parents consistently respond to the newborns needs, results
in HOPE.
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3yrs): Understanding that the child can control his/her
actions counteracts with doubt and shame, results in WILL.
, 3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6yrs): Ones initiative may clash with goals of others, results in PURPOSE.
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (school age 5-12): Mastery comes from success and recognition,
accepting of the course of ones life, results in COMPETENCY.
5. Ego Identity vs. Role confusion (adolescence): Exploration of different paths to attain a
healthy identity, results in FIDELITY.
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adult 18-40): Form positive, close relationships with others,
results in LOVE.
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (adulthood 40-65): Caring for others, empathy and concern,
results in CARE.
8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Maturity 65): Older adults are trying to make sense of their lives,
results in WISDOM.
Choose two different biological theories of aging and provide a brief description of each. -
CORRECT ANSWERS1. Programmed theories: biological clock in which cells start to self-destruct.
aging is biologically or genetically programmed and cells start to self-destruct on a biological
clock.
2. Damage or error theories:
a. Wear and tear theory: a theory that suggests that the body (like machine) gradually
deteriorates & finally wears out
b. Cellular theories: explanations of aging that focuses on processes that occur within individual
cells, which may lead to buildup of harmful substances or deterioration of cells over a life time.
Examples of cellular errors/processes:
