,Test Bank A Topical Approach to Lifespan Development 11th
Edition John W. Santrock ISBN 9781265179380 Questions and
Answers A+
Questions 1–50: Introduction, Theory & Research
1. Which statement best describes lifespan development?
A. Development ends when a person reaches adulthood
B. Development involves changes and continuities throughout life
C. Development occurs only because of biological maturation
D. Development is identical for all individuals
Answer: B
Rationale: Lifespan development examines changes and continuities from
conception through death and recognizes substantial individual differences.
2. Which characteristic of lifespan development emphasizes that development
occurs throughout the entire life course?
A. Multidimensionality
B. Plasticity
C. Lifelong development
D. Contextuality
Answer: C
Rationale: A lifespan perspective views development as a lifelong process
beginning before birth and continuing through late adulthood.
3. Which developmental domain involves changes in thinking, memory,
language, and problem solving?
A. Physical development
B. Cognitive development
,C. Socioemotional development
D. Moral development
Answer: B
Rationale: Cognitive development concerns mental processes such as attention,
memory, language, reasoning, and problem solving.
4. Which example best represents socioemotional development?
A. Growth in height
B. Development of long-term memory
C. Formation of friendships
D. Increased lung capacity
Answer: C
Rationale: Socioemotional development includes changes in emotions,
personality, relationships, and social interactions.
5. What does the term “plasticity” refer to in lifespan development?
A. Development occurring only during childhood
B. The capacity for developmental change
C. Genetic determination of behavior
D. The absence of environmental influences
Answer: B
Rationale: Plasticity refers to the potential for change in development, although
this potential may vary across characteristics and ages.
6. Which factor represents a biological influence on development?
A. Parenting style
B. Peer acceptance
C. Genetic inheritance
D. School environment
, Answer: C
Rationale: Genes and biological maturation are major biological influences on
development.
7. Which concept describes the interaction between genetic factors and
environmental experiences?
A. Nature-nurture interaction
B. Reflex conditioning
C. Chronological aging
D. Social comparison
Answer: A
Rationale: Development results from complex interactions between biological
inheritance and environmental experiences.
8. Which researcher is most closely associated with the theory of cognitive
development involving stages such as sensorimotor and formal operational
thought?
A. Erik Erikson
B. Jean Piaget
C. John Bowlby
D. B. F. Skinner
Answer: B
Rationale: Piaget proposed a four-stage theory of cognitive development.
9. According to Piaget, what is assimilation?
A. Changing an existing schema to fit new information
B. Incorporating new information into an existing schema
C. Forgetting previously learned information
D. Learning through punishment
Edition John W. Santrock ISBN 9781265179380 Questions and
Answers A+
Questions 1–50: Introduction, Theory & Research
1. Which statement best describes lifespan development?
A. Development ends when a person reaches adulthood
B. Development involves changes and continuities throughout life
C. Development occurs only because of biological maturation
D. Development is identical for all individuals
Answer: B
Rationale: Lifespan development examines changes and continuities from
conception through death and recognizes substantial individual differences.
2. Which characteristic of lifespan development emphasizes that development
occurs throughout the entire life course?
A. Multidimensionality
B. Plasticity
C. Lifelong development
D. Contextuality
Answer: C
Rationale: A lifespan perspective views development as a lifelong process
beginning before birth and continuing through late adulthood.
3. Which developmental domain involves changes in thinking, memory,
language, and problem solving?
A. Physical development
B. Cognitive development
,C. Socioemotional development
D. Moral development
Answer: B
Rationale: Cognitive development concerns mental processes such as attention,
memory, language, reasoning, and problem solving.
4. Which example best represents socioemotional development?
A. Growth in height
B. Development of long-term memory
C. Formation of friendships
D. Increased lung capacity
Answer: C
Rationale: Socioemotional development includes changes in emotions,
personality, relationships, and social interactions.
5. What does the term “plasticity” refer to in lifespan development?
A. Development occurring only during childhood
B. The capacity for developmental change
C. Genetic determination of behavior
D. The absence of environmental influences
Answer: B
Rationale: Plasticity refers to the potential for change in development, although
this potential may vary across characteristics and ages.
6. Which factor represents a biological influence on development?
A. Parenting style
B. Peer acceptance
C. Genetic inheritance
D. School environment
, Answer: C
Rationale: Genes and biological maturation are major biological influences on
development.
7. Which concept describes the interaction between genetic factors and
environmental experiences?
A. Nature-nurture interaction
B. Reflex conditioning
C. Chronological aging
D. Social comparison
Answer: A
Rationale: Development results from complex interactions between biological
inheritance and environmental experiences.
8. Which researcher is most closely associated with the theory of cognitive
development involving stages such as sensorimotor and formal operational
thought?
A. Erik Erikson
B. Jean Piaget
C. John Bowlby
D. B. F. Skinner
Answer: B
Rationale: Piaget proposed a four-stage theory of cognitive development.
9. According to Piaget, what is assimilation?
A. Changing an existing schema to fit new information
B. Incorporating new information into an existing schema
C. Forgetting previously learned information
D. Learning through punishment
