Chapter 38. Theoretical Models of Personality Development
1. According to Erikson's developmental theory, when planning care for a 47-year-old
client, which developmental task should the nurse identify as appropriate for this
client?
a. To develop a basic trust in others
b. To achieve a sense of self-confidence and recognition from others
c. To reflect back on life events to derive pleasure and meaning
d. To achieve established life goals and consider the welfare of future generations
Answer: D
At age 47, the client is in Erikson's generativity versus stagnation stage, where the
developmental task is to achieve established life goals and consider the welfare of
future generations. Developing basic trust (A) is an infancy task. Achieving self-
confidence and recognition (B) belongs to an earlier developmental stage. Reflecting
back on life events for meaning (C) is the task of ego integrity versus despair,
associated with late adulthood, not middle age.
2. A 21-year-old client is admitted to the hospital following a suicide attempt and states,
"No one will ever love a loser like me." According to Erikson's theory of personality
development, the nurse recognizes a deficit in which developmental stage?
a. Trust versus mistrust
b. Initiative versus guilt
, c. Intimacy versus isolation
d. Ego integrity versus despair
Answer: C
At 21, the client is in the intimacy versus isolation stage, and the statement reflects a
failure to develop the capacity to feel loved and connected to others. Trust versus
mistrust (A) applies to infancy. Initiative versus guilt (B) applies to early childhood. Ego
integrity versus despair (D) is a late-adulthood stage unrelated to this client's age and
concern.
3. The nurse observes a 3-year-old client willingly sharing candy with a sibling.
According to Peplau, which psychological stage of development should the nurse
recognize that this child has completed?
a. Learning to count on others
b. Learning to delay satisfaction
c. Identifying oneself
d. Developing skills in participation
Answer: B
Willingly sharing candy demonstrates the child has learned to delay satisfaction, a
Peplau stage in which the child learns that immediate personal desires can be
postponed for the benefit of a relationship. Learning to count on others (A) relates to
earlier trust-building with caregivers. Identifying oneself (C) involves developing a
, sense of individual identity. Developing skills in participation (D) relates to cooperative
engagement in structured activities, typically at an older age.
4. When a client brings a 9-month-old child to the day-care center, the child smiles and
reaches for the day-care caregiver. The nurse should recognize that, according to
Mahler's developmental theory, this child's development is at which phase?
a. The autistic phase
b. The symbiotic phase
c. The differentiation subphase of the separation–individuation phase
d. The rapprochement subphase of the separation–individuation phase
Answer: C
The differentiation subphase begins with the child's initial physical movements away
from the mothering figure, and a primary recognition of separateness begins —
consistent with a 9-month-old reaching toward another caregiver. The autistic phase
(A) applies to the first weeks of life, when the infant is focused solely on survival needs.
The symbiotic phase (B) applies to early infancy, when the infant has not yet
differentiated self from mother. The rapprochement subphase (D) applies to children
age 16 to 24 months, when the child develops security in knowing they are loved and
won't be abandoned — too old for this scenario.
5. A 12-year-old client becomes hysterical every time when striking out in a ball game,
falling down while roller-skating, or losing board or card games. Using Peplau's
interpersonal theory, the nurse should identify that the client needs improvement in
1. According to Erikson's developmental theory, when planning care for a 47-year-old
client, which developmental task should the nurse identify as appropriate for this
client?
a. To develop a basic trust in others
b. To achieve a sense of self-confidence and recognition from others
c. To reflect back on life events to derive pleasure and meaning
d. To achieve established life goals and consider the welfare of future generations
Answer: D
At age 47, the client is in Erikson's generativity versus stagnation stage, where the
developmental task is to achieve established life goals and consider the welfare of
future generations. Developing basic trust (A) is an infancy task. Achieving self-
confidence and recognition (B) belongs to an earlier developmental stage. Reflecting
back on life events for meaning (C) is the task of ego integrity versus despair,
associated with late adulthood, not middle age.
2. A 21-year-old client is admitted to the hospital following a suicide attempt and states,
"No one will ever love a loser like me." According to Erikson's theory of personality
development, the nurse recognizes a deficit in which developmental stage?
a. Trust versus mistrust
b. Initiative versus guilt
, c. Intimacy versus isolation
d. Ego integrity versus despair
Answer: C
At 21, the client is in the intimacy versus isolation stage, and the statement reflects a
failure to develop the capacity to feel loved and connected to others. Trust versus
mistrust (A) applies to infancy. Initiative versus guilt (B) applies to early childhood. Ego
integrity versus despair (D) is a late-adulthood stage unrelated to this client's age and
concern.
3. The nurse observes a 3-year-old client willingly sharing candy with a sibling.
According to Peplau, which psychological stage of development should the nurse
recognize that this child has completed?
a. Learning to count on others
b. Learning to delay satisfaction
c. Identifying oneself
d. Developing skills in participation
Answer: B
Willingly sharing candy demonstrates the child has learned to delay satisfaction, a
Peplau stage in which the child learns that immediate personal desires can be
postponed for the benefit of a relationship. Learning to count on others (A) relates to
earlier trust-building with caregivers. Identifying oneself (C) involves developing a
, sense of individual identity. Developing skills in participation (D) relates to cooperative
engagement in structured activities, typically at an older age.
4. When a client brings a 9-month-old child to the day-care center, the child smiles and
reaches for the day-care caregiver. The nurse should recognize that, according to
Mahler's developmental theory, this child's development is at which phase?
a. The autistic phase
b. The symbiotic phase
c. The differentiation subphase of the separation–individuation phase
d. The rapprochement subphase of the separation–individuation phase
Answer: C
The differentiation subphase begins with the child's initial physical movements away
from the mothering figure, and a primary recognition of separateness begins —
consistent with a 9-month-old reaching toward another caregiver. The autistic phase
(A) applies to the first weeks of life, when the infant is focused solely on survival needs.
The symbiotic phase (B) applies to early infancy, when the infant has not yet
differentiated self from mother. The rapprochement subphase (D) applies to children
age 16 to 24 months, when the child develops security in knowing they are loved and
won't be abandoned — too old for this scenario.
5. A 12-year-old client becomes hysterical every time when striking out in a ball game,
falling down while roller-skating, or losing board or card games. Using Peplau's
interpersonal theory, the nurse should identify that the client needs improvement in
