PSYC101 General Psychology
Final Assessment Review
Module 8 (Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1. Case Study – Lifespan Development (Puberty and Identity):
Marisol, a 14-year-old, suddenly experiences rapid growth, hormonal
changes, and renewed questions about her future—issues that seem to
shake her longstanding self-image.
Question: Which theory best explains the interconnection between
these biological changes and her emerging identity issues?
A. Drive Reduction Theory
B. Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
C. Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory
D. Piaget’s Formal Operational Stage
ANS: B. Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
Rationale: Erikson’s theory posits that adolescents face the crisis of
identity versus role confusion, wherein biological changes during puberty
intertwine with the challenge of forming a coherent sense of self.
---
2. Case Study – Physical Development (Motor Skills in Early Childhood):
In a preschool classroom, teachers observe that James, a 3-year-old, has
begun to refine his grasping and drawing abilities, showing improved
control over his hand–eye coordination compared to his peers.
Question: Which aspect of physical development is most highlighted in
James’s progress?
A. Sensorimotor integration
B. Maturation of fine motor skills
C. Conservation phenomenon
D. Abstract operational thinking
ANS: B. Maturation of fine motor skills
Rationale: The observed improvement in drawing and grasping
exemplifies the maturation and refinement of fine motor skills, a key
©2025
,marker of physical development in early childhood.
---
3. Case Study – Cognitive Development (Piaget’s Conservation):
During an assessment, Emma (age 7) is shown two identical beakers
containing equal amounts of water. After pouring one into a taller,
thinner container, she erroneously believes the tall container holds more
water.
Question: This error is most indicative of a stage in which of Piaget’s
cognitive developmental stages?
A. Sensorimotor Stage
B. Preoperational Stage
C. Concrete Operational Stage
D. Formal Operational Stage
ANS: B. Preoperational Stage
Rationale: Children in the preoperational stage often lack the
understanding of conservation—the realization that quantity remains
constant despite changes in shape or appearance.
---
4. Case Study – Social Development (Attachment Patterns):
During a daycare observation, researchers note that toddlers exhibit
marked distress when separated from their caregiver but are quickly
soothed upon reunion.
Question: Which type of attachment pattern does this behavior best
represent?
A. Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment
B. Avoidant Attachment
C. Secure Attachment
D. Disorganized Attachment
ANS: C. Secure Attachment
©2025
, Rationale: A securely attached child displays both distress on
separation and effective soothing upon reunion, indicating a healthy
bond with the caregiver.
---
5. Case Study – Cognitive Development (Theory of Mind):
At a social play session, 4-year-old Lucas demonstrates the ability to
understand that his friend’s false belief about a hidden toy is different
from his own true belief.
Question: Lucas’s performance best indicates mastery of which
developmental milestone?
A. Object permanence
B. Theory of mind
C. Egocentrism reduction
D. Abstract reasoning
ANS: B. Theory of mind
Rationale: Understanding that others can hold false beliefs is a central
aspect of theory of mind, typically emerging around age 4 or 5.
---
6. Case Study – Lifespan Cognitive Development (Aging):
Mr. Thomas, a 72-year-old retired professor, performs well on vocabulary
tests (crystallized intelligence) but shows slower performance on
complex problem-solving tasks (fluid intelligence).
Question: This pattern primarily demonstrates the differential effects
of aging on which types of cognitive abilities?
A. Fluid versus crystallized intelligence
B. Verbal versus nonverbal intelligence
C. Short-term versus long-term memory
D. Sensory versus perceptual processing
ANS: A. Fluid versus crystallized intelligence
©2025
Final Assessment Review
Module 8 (Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1. Case Study – Lifespan Development (Puberty and Identity):
Marisol, a 14-year-old, suddenly experiences rapid growth, hormonal
changes, and renewed questions about her future—issues that seem to
shake her longstanding self-image.
Question: Which theory best explains the interconnection between
these biological changes and her emerging identity issues?
A. Drive Reduction Theory
B. Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
C. Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory
D. Piaget’s Formal Operational Stage
ANS: B. Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
Rationale: Erikson’s theory posits that adolescents face the crisis of
identity versus role confusion, wherein biological changes during puberty
intertwine with the challenge of forming a coherent sense of self.
---
2. Case Study – Physical Development (Motor Skills in Early Childhood):
In a preschool classroom, teachers observe that James, a 3-year-old, has
begun to refine his grasping and drawing abilities, showing improved
control over his hand–eye coordination compared to his peers.
Question: Which aspect of physical development is most highlighted in
James’s progress?
A. Sensorimotor integration
B. Maturation of fine motor skills
C. Conservation phenomenon
D. Abstract operational thinking
ANS: B. Maturation of fine motor skills
Rationale: The observed improvement in drawing and grasping
exemplifies the maturation and refinement of fine motor skills, a key
©2025
,marker of physical development in early childhood.
---
3. Case Study – Cognitive Development (Piaget’s Conservation):
During an assessment, Emma (age 7) is shown two identical beakers
containing equal amounts of water. After pouring one into a taller,
thinner container, she erroneously believes the tall container holds more
water.
Question: This error is most indicative of a stage in which of Piaget’s
cognitive developmental stages?
A. Sensorimotor Stage
B. Preoperational Stage
C. Concrete Operational Stage
D. Formal Operational Stage
ANS: B. Preoperational Stage
Rationale: Children in the preoperational stage often lack the
understanding of conservation—the realization that quantity remains
constant despite changes in shape or appearance.
---
4. Case Study – Social Development (Attachment Patterns):
During a daycare observation, researchers note that toddlers exhibit
marked distress when separated from their caregiver but are quickly
soothed upon reunion.
Question: Which type of attachment pattern does this behavior best
represent?
A. Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment
B. Avoidant Attachment
C. Secure Attachment
D. Disorganized Attachment
ANS: C. Secure Attachment
©2025
, Rationale: A securely attached child displays both distress on
separation and effective soothing upon reunion, indicating a healthy
bond with the caregiver.
---
5. Case Study – Cognitive Development (Theory of Mind):
At a social play session, 4-year-old Lucas demonstrates the ability to
understand that his friend’s false belief about a hidden toy is different
from his own true belief.
Question: Lucas’s performance best indicates mastery of which
developmental milestone?
A. Object permanence
B. Theory of mind
C. Egocentrism reduction
D. Abstract reasoning
ANS: B. Theory of mind
Rationale: Understanding that others can hold false beliefs is a central
aspect of theory of mind, typically emerging around age 4 or 5.
---
6. Case Study – Lifespan Cognitive Development (Aging):
Mr. Thomas, a 72-year-old retired professor, performs well on vocabulary
tests (crystallized intelligence) but shows slower performance on
complex problem-solving tasks (fluid intelligence).
Question: This pattern primarily demonstrates the differential effects
of aging on which types of cognitive abilities?
A. Fluid versus crystallized intelligence
B. Verbal versus nonverbal intelligence
C. Short-term versus long-term memory
D. Sensory versus perceptual processing
ANS: A. Fluid versus crystallized intelligence
©2025
