Page 1 of 82
PSYC 140 (MODULES 1–8) - DEVELOPMENTAL
(LIFESPAN) PSYCHOLOGY 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS 2026 – 2027 LATEST VERSION SOLVED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
PSYC 140 (Modules 1–8) - Developmental (Lifespan) Psychology
250 Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Portage Learning | Updated for 2026-2027
This comprehensive set of 250 questions covers all eight modules of PSYC 140 at
Portage Learning, spanning the entire human lifespan from prenatal development
through late adulthood. Questions are organized by module and cover major theorists,
developmental stages, research methods, and key concepts in developmental
psychology.
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION & THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS
THEORISTS & MAJOR THEORIES (Questions 1-40)
1. Who is credited with establishing the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig,
Germany, in 1879?
A) William James
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Wilhelm Wundt
D) B.F. Skinner
Answer: C
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt is widely recognized as the "father of psychology" for
establishing the first experimental psychology laboratory in 1879, marking the formal
separation of psychology from philosophy. His work established psychology as a
scientific discipline and laid the foundation for structuralism .
, Page 2 of 82
2. Which early school of psychology focused on breaking down mental processes
into their most basic components?
A) Functionalism
B) Structuralism
C) Behaviorism
D) Psychoanalysis
Answer: B
Rationale: Structuralism, championed by Edward Titchener (a student of Wundt), relied
on introspection to analyze the basic elements or "structures" of conscious thought.
This approach sought to identify the building blocks of consciousness through
systematic self-report of inner experiences .
3. The "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" is a core belief of which
psychological perspective?
A) Evolutionary psychology
B) Gestalt psychology
C) Psychodynamic psychology
D) Cognitive psychology
Answer: B
Rationale: Gestalt psychologists argued that humans naturally perceive complete
figures and forms rather than individual, fragmented parts. This principle emphasizes
that perception is more than the sum of sensory inputs and that the mind organizes
sensory information into meaningful wholes .
4. According to Freud, which part of the personality operates on the pleasure
principle?
A) Id
B) Ego
C) Superego
D) Libido
Answer: A
Rationale: The id is the primitive, instinctual part of personality that operates on the
pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification. It is present from birth and drives
, Page 3 of 82
basic urges such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desire. The ego operates on the reality
principle, and the superego represents internalized moral standards .
5. According to Freud, which part of the personality acts as the moral conscience?
A) Id
B) Ego
C) Superego
D) Libido
Answer: C
Rationale: The superego represents the internalized moral standards and values of
society, acting as the conscience. It develops through interactions with parents and
caregivers and enforces moral rules. The superego strives for perfection and can
produce feelings of guilt when its standards are not met .
6. Which part of Freud's personality structure operates on the reality principle?
A) Id
B) Ego
C) Superego
D) Libido
Answer: B
Rationale: The ego operates on the reality principle, mediating between the id's
demands for immediate gratification, the superego's moral constraints, and the external
world. The ego develops to help the individual function effectively in reality, using reason
and logic to satisfy needs appropriately .
7. Freud's psychosexual stages are considered which type of development?
A) Continuous development
B) Discontinuous development
C) Both continuous and discontinuous
D) Neither continuous nor discontinuous
Answer: B
Rationale: Freud's psychosexual stages are discontinuous—each stage represents a
distinct period with a specific conflict and erogenous zone. One stage ends before
, Page 4 of 82
another begins, and development proceeds through these discrete stages in a fixed
order .
8. In Freud's psychosexual theory, the age range for the oral stage is:
A) Birth to 18 months
B) 18 months to 3 years
C) 3 to 6 years
D) 6 years to puberty
Answer: A
Rationale: The oral stage occurs from birth to approximately 18 months. During this
stage, pleasure is centered on the mouth, and the infant derives satisfaction from
activities such as sucking, biting, and feeding. Fixation at this stage may lead to oral
behaviors in adulthood such as smoking or overeating .
9. The age range for Freud's anal stage is:
A) Birth to 18 months
B) 18 months to 3 years
C) 3 to 6 years
D) 6 years to puberty
Answer: B
Rationale: The anal stage occurs from approximately 18 months to 3 years. During this
stage, pleasure is centered on bowel and bladder control. Conflicts related to toilet
training are central, and fixation can lead to anal-retentive (obsessive, rigid) or anal-
expulsive (messy, disorganized) personality traits .
10. The phallic stage of psychosexual development occurs during what age range?
A) Birth to 18 months
B) 18 months to 3 years
C) 3 to 6 years
D) 6 years to puberty
Answer: C
Rationale: The phallic stage occurs from approximately ages 3 to 6. During this stage,
children become aware of their bodies and develop the Oedipus complex (boys) or
Electra complex (girls), where they experience unconscious desires for the opposite-sex
PSYC 140 (MODULES 1–8) - DEVELOPMENTAL
(LIFESPAN) PSYCHOLOGY 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS 2026 – 2027 LATEST VERSION SOLVED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
PSYC 140 (Modules 1–8) - Developmental (Lifespan) Psychology
250 Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Portage Learning | Updated for 2026-2027
This comprehensive set of 250 questions covers all eight modules of PSYC 140 at
Portage Learning, spanning the entire human lifespan from prenatal development
through late adulthood. Questions are organized by module and cover major theorists,
developmental stages, research methods, and key concepts in developmental
psychology.
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION & THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS
THEORISTS & MAJOR THEORIES (Questions 1-40)
1. Who is credited with establishing the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig,
Germany, in 1879?
A) William James
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Wilhelm Wundt
D) B.F. Skinner
Answer: C
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt is widely recognized as the "father of psychology" for
establishing the first experimental psychology laboratory in 1879, marking the formal
separation of psychology from philosophy. His work established psychology as a
scientific discipline and laid the foundation for structuralism .
, Page 2 of 82
2. Which early school of psychology focused on breaking down mental processes
into their most basic components?
A) Functionalism
B) Structuralism
C) Behaviorism
D) Psychoanalysis
Answer: B
Rationale: Structuralism, championed by Edward Titchener (a student of Wundt), relied
on introspection to analyze the basic elements or "structures" of conscious thought.
This approach sought to identify the building blocks of consciousness through
systematic self-report of inner experiences .
3. The "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" is a core belief of which
psychological perspective?
A) Evolutionary psychology
B) Gestalt psychology
C) Psychodynamic psychology
D) Cognitive psychology
Answer: B
Rationale: Gestalt psychologists argued that humans naturally perceive complete
figures and forms rather than individual, fragmented parts. This principle emphasizes
that perception is more than the sum of sensory inputs and that the mind organizes
sensory information into meaningful wholes .
4. According to Freud, which part of the personality operates on the pleasure
principle?
A) Id
B) Ego
C) Superego
D) Libido
Answer: A
Rationale: The id is the primitive, instinctual part of personality that operates on the
pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification. It is present from birth and drives
, Page 3 of 82
basic urges such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desire. The ego operates on the reality
principle, and the superego represents internalized moral standards .
5. According to Freud, which part of the personality acts as the moral conscience?
A) Id
B) Ego
C) Superego
D) Libido
Answer: C
Rationale: The superego represents the internalized moral standards and values of
society, acting as the conscience. It develops through interactions with parents and
caregivers and enforces moral rules. The superego strives for perfection and can
produce feelings of guilt when its standards are not met .
6. Which part of Freud's personality structure operates on the reality principle?
A) Id
B) Ego
C) Superego
D) Libido
Answer: B
Rationale: The ego operates on the reality principle, mediating between the id's
demands for immediate gratification, the superego's moral constraints, and the external
world. The ego develops to help the individual function effectively in reality, using reason
and logic to satisfy needs appropriately .
7. Freud's psychosexual stages are considered which type of development?
A) Continuous development
B) Discontinuous development
C) Both continuous and discontinuous
D) Neither continuous nor discontinuous
Answer: B
Rationale: Freud's psychosexual stages are discontinuous—each stage represents a
distinct period with a specific conflict and erogenous zone. One stage ends before
, Page 4 of 82
another begins, and development proceeds through these discrete stages in a fixed
order .
8. In Freud's psychosexual theory, the age range for the oral stage is:
A) Birth to 18 months
B) 18 months to 3 years
C) 3 to 6 years
D) 6 years to puberty
Answer: A
Rationale: The oral stage occurs from birth to approximately 18 months. During this
stage, pleasure is centered on the mouth, and the infant derives satisfaction from
activities such as sucking, biting, and feeding. Fixation at this stage may lead to oral
behaviors in adulthood such as smoking or overeating .
9. The age range for Freud's anal stage is:
A) Birth to 18 months
B) 18 months to 3 years
C) 3 to 6 years
D) 6 years to puberty
Answer: B
Rationale: The anal stage occurs from approximately 18 months to 3 years. During this
stage, pleasure is centered on bowel and bladder control. Conflicts related to toilet
training are central, and fixation can lead to anal-retentive (obsessive, rigid) or anal-
expulsive (messy, disorganized) personality traits .
10. The phallic stage of psychosexual development occurs during what age range?
A) Birth to 18 months
B) 18 months to 3 years
C) 3 to 6 years
D) 6 years to puberty
Answer: C
Rationale: The phallic stage occurs from approximately ages 3 to 6. During this stage,
children become aware of their bodies and develop the Oedipus complex (boys) or
Electra complex (girls), where they experience unconscious desires for the opposite-sex
