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ADULT DEVELOPMENT AND AGING, 2ND CANADIAN EDITION
BY WHITBOURNE, WHITBOURNE & KONNERT EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ADULT DEVELOPMENT AND AGING, 2ND CANADIAN EDITION
by Whitbourne, Whitbourne & Konnert
250 Questions with Rationales
Question 1
The biopsychosocial perspective on adult development emphasizes that aging must be
understood through the interaction of which three types of processes?
A) Genetic, environmental, and cultural processes
B) Biological, psychological, and social processes
C) Physical, mental, and spiritual processes
D) Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The biopsychosocial perspective is a foundational
framework of the textbook, emphasizing that aging is best understood through the interaction
of biological, psychological, and social processes . Biological processes include physical
changes; psychological processes include cognitive and emotional functioning; and social
processes include roles, relationships, and cultural contexts.
Question 2
According to the four principles of adult development and aging presented in the
textbook, which principle recognizes that people who live to old age are those who have
managed to avoid or survive threats such as illness and accidents?
A) Changes are continuous over the life span
B) Only the survivors grow old
C) Individuality matters
D) "Normal" aging is different from disease
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Rationale: The correct answer is B. The survivor principle recognizes that people who live to
old age are the ones who managed to outlive the many threats that could have caused their
deaths at earlier ages, including illness, accidents, and lifestyle-related risks . This principle
helps explain why the oldest-old population is a select group.
Question 3
A 70-year-old patient performs better on a vocabulary test than a 25-year-old, but
performs worse on a test of reaction time. This pattern illustrates which concept in
adult development?
A) Primary aging
B) The survivor principle
C) Inter-individual differences
D) Intra-individual differences
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Intra-individual differences refer to variation in
performance within the same individual across different domains . Not all systems develop at
the same rate; intelligence may show gains in some areas (like vocabulary) but losses in
others (like reaction time), demonstrating multidirectionality in aging.
Question 4
A 68-year-old woman becomes a grandmother for the first time. According to the
biopsychosocial perspective, this life event is best classified as which type of age-related
factor?
A) Biological factor
B) Psychological factor
C) Social factor
D) Cognitive factor
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Social factors in the biopsychosocial model include
roles, relationships, and life events that involve others . Becoming a grandparent is a social
role transition. Improving wisdom and conscientiousness are psychological factors, while
losing muscle strength is biological.
Question 5
Which of the following best defines "functional age" as discussed in the textbook?
A) The number of years since birth
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B) The age at which a person retires
C) An individual's competence and ability to perform everyday tasks
D) The age of one's parents at the time of their death
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Functional age refers to an individual's competence and
ability to perform everyday tasks, recognizing that chronological age does not always align
with physical, psychological, or social functioning . Two 80-year-olds may have very
different functional ages.
Question 6
A researcher is studying the aging process and wants to separate age-related changes
that occur due to universal biological processes from those that occur due to disease.
This distinction is best described by which concept?
A) Primary versus secondary aging
B) Chronological versus functional age
C) Normative versus non-normative influences
D) Inter-individual versus intra-individual differences
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Primary aging refers to expected, normal changes over
time due to universal, intrinsic, and progressive alterations in body systems . Secondary aging
refers to age-related changes that are due to disease or impairment and are not inevitable.
This distinction is a key principle in the textbook.
Question 7
An 85-year-old patient is experiencing typical age-related changes in vision and hearing,
but has also developed osteoarthritis. Which statement best describes this situation?
A) Both changes represent primary aging
B) Both changes represent secondary aging
C) The vision and hearing changes are primary aging; the osteoarthritis is secondary aging
D) The vision and hearing changes are secondary aging; the osteoarthritis is primary aging
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Primary aging includes normal, expected changes over
time such as presbyopia (age-related vision changes) and presbycusis (age-related hearing
loss). Secondary aging includes changes due to disease or impairment, such as osteoarthritis,
which are not inevitable consequences of aging .
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Question 8
A 55-year-old man is comparing his life experiences to those of his father at the same
age, noting that he started his career later, married later, and plans to retire later.
These generational differences illustrate which concept?
A) Normative age-graded influences
B) Normative history-graded influences
C) Non-normative influences
D) Primary aging
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Normative history-graded influences are events that
affect everyone within a particular birth cohort (generation) at roughly the same time .
Comparing Baby Boomers to their parents involves examining how historical events and
social conditions unique to each birth cohort shape their developmental experiences.
Question 9
A 75-year-old patient who is in excellent health and has no chronic diseases is
considered to be experiencing which type of aging?
A) Normal aging
B) Pathological aging
C) Successful aging
D) Primary aging
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Successful aging is a concept that emphasizes
maintaining high physical and cognitive functioning, avoiding disease, and remaining
actively engaged with life. The textbook uses "normal" aging to contrast with disease
processes . The patient's excellent health suggests successful aging.
Question 10
Which of the following is an example of a normative age-graded influence on
development?
A) Winning the lottery
B) Entering school at age 5-6
C) Surviving a natural disaster
D) Being offered an early retirement package
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Normative age-graded influences are events and
transitions that are tied to chronological age and are experienced by most people in a
ADULT DEVELOPMENT AND AGING, 2ND CANADIAN EDITION
BY WHITBOURNE, WHITBOURNE & KONNERT EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ADULT DEVELOPMENT AND AGING, 2ND CANADIAN EDITION
by Whitbourne, Whitbourne & Konnert
250 Questions with Rationales
Question 1
The biopsychosocial perspective on adult development emphasizes that aging must be
understood through the interaction of which three types of processes?
A) Genetic, environmental, and cultural processes
B) Biological, psychological, and social processes
C) Physical, mental, and spiritual processes
D) Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The biopsychosocial perspective is a foundational
framework of the textbook, emphasizing that aging is best understood through the interaction
of biological, psychological, and social processes . Biological processes include physical
changes; psychological processes include cognitive and emotional functioning; and social
processes include roles, relationships, and cultural contexts.
Question 2
According to the four principles of adult development and aging presented in the
textbook, which principle recognizes that people who live to old age are those who have
managed to avoid or survive threats such as illness and accidents?
A) Changes are continuous over the life span
B) Only the survivors grow old
C) Individuality matters
D) "Normal" aging is different from disease
, Page 2 of 79
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The survivor principle recognizes that people who live to
old age are the ones who managed to outlive the many threats that could have caused their
deaths at earlier ages, including illness, accidents, and lifestyle-related risks . This principle
helps explain why the oldest-old population is a select group.
Question 3
A 70-year-old patient performs better on a vocabulary test than a 25-year-old, but
performs worse on a test of reaction time. This pattern illustrates which concept in
adult development?
A) Primary aging
B) The survivor principle
C) Inter-individual differences
D) Intra-individual differences
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Intra-individual differences refer to variation in
performance within the same individual across different domains . Not all systems develop at
the same rate; intelligence may show gains in some areas (like vocabulary) but losses in
others (like reaction time), demonstrating multidirectionality in aging.
Question 4
A 68-year-old woman becomes a grandmother for the first time. According to the
biopsychosocial perspective, this life event is best classified as which type of age-related
factor?
A) Biological factor
B) Psychological factor
C) Social factor
D) Cognitive factor
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Social factors in the biopsychosocial model include
roles, relationships, and life events that involve others . Becoming a grandparent is a social
role transition. Improving wisdom and conscientiousness are psychological factors, while
losing muscle strength is biological.
Question 5
Which of the following best defines "functional age" as discussed in the textbook?
A) The number of years since birth
, Page 3 of 79
B) The age at which a person retires
C) An individual's competence and ability to perform everyday tasks
D) The age of one's parents at the time of their death
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Functional age refers to an individual's competence and
ability to perform everyday tasks, recognizing that chronological age does not always align
with physical, psychological, or social functioning . Two 80-year-olds may have very
different functional ages.
Question 6
A researcher is studying the aging process and wants to separate age-related changes
that occur due to universal biological processes from those that occur due to disease.
This distinction is best described by which concept?
A) Primary versus secondary aging
B) Chronological versus functional age
C) Normative versus non-normative influences
D) Inter-individual versus intra-individual differences
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Primary aging refers to expected, normal changes over
time due to universal, intrinsic, and progressive alterations in body systems . Secondary aging
refers to age-related changes that are due to disease or impairment and are not inevitable.
This distinction is a key principle in the textbook.
Question 7
An 85-year-old patient is experiencing typical age-related changes in vision and hearing,
but has also developed osteoarthritis. Which statement best describes this situation?
A) Both changes represent primary aging
B) Both changes represent secondary aging
C) The vision and hearing changes are primary aging; the osteoarthritis is secondary aging
D) The vision and hearing changes are secondary aging; the osteoarthritis is primary aging
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Primary aging includes normal, expected changes over
time such as presbyopia (age-related vision changes) and presbycusis (age-related hearing
loss). Secondary aging includes changes due to disease or impairment, such as osteoarthritis,
which are not inevitable consequences of aging .
, Page 4 of 79
Question 8
A 55-year-old man is comparing his life experiences to those of his father at the same
age, noting that he started his career later, married later, and plans to retire later.
These generational differences illustrate which concept?
A) Normative age-graded influences
B) Normative history-graded influences
C) Non-normative influences
D) Primary aging
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Normative history-graded influences are events that
affect everyone within a particular birth cohort (generation) at roughly the same time .
Comparing Baby Boomers to their parents involves examining how historical events and
social conditions unique to each birth cohort shape their developmental experiences.
Question 9
A 75-year-old patient who is in excellent health and has no chronic diseases is
considered to be experiencing which type of aging?
A) Normal aging
B) Pathological aging
C) Successful aging
D) Primary aging
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Successful aging is a concept that emphasizes
maintaining high physical and cognitive functioning, avoiding disease, and remaining
actively engaged with life. The textbook uses "normal" aging to contrast with disease
processes . The patient's excellent health suggests successful aging.
Question 10
Which of the following is an example of a normative age-graded influence on
development?
A) Winning the lottery
B) Entering school at age 5-6
C) Surviving a natural disaster
D) Being offered an early retirement package
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Normative age-graded influences are events and
transitions that are tied to chronological age and are experienced by most people in a
