CHAPTER 1: UNDERSTANDING LIFESPAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. John Tatum
a. generated the first comprehensive theory of lifespan development.
b. was the first African-American psychologist.
c. won three gold medals at the 2009 National Senior Games.
d. was the first black soldier to serve in an all-white unit in World War II.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1 OBJ: 1.1
2. Development is best defined as
a. individual differences in human behavior.
b. systematic changes and continuities from conception to death.
c. the way people change in positive ways across time.
d. the systematic unfolding of genetic potential.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 2 OBJ: 1.1
3. The fact that development often involves continuities speaks to the fact that over time humans
tend to
a. remain the same.
b. become more intelligent.
c. become less active.
d. undergo orderly patterns of change.
, ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
4. The three broad domains explored by developmental psychologists are
a. motor, interpersonal, cognitive.
b. physical, cognitive, psychosocial.
c. personality, motor, learning.
d. interpersonal, maturational, learning.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 2-3 OBJ: 1.1
5. Albert, a developmental psychologist, conducts research on children's emotional reactions to
studying math in school. Albert is concerned with children's _____ development.
a. cognitive
b. maturational
c. physical
d. psychosocial
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
6. Which is best categorized as being in the cognitive domain of development?
a. Physical maturation of the body
b. A changing personality
c. Poor interpersonal skills
d. Language acquisition
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 2 OBJ: 1.1
, 7. Which does NOT belong on a list of key aspects of physical development?
a. Change in motor ability
b. Change in body organ efficiency
c. Change in short-term memory
d. Change in skin tone (e.g., wrinkling)
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 2 OBJ: 1.1
8. Traditionally, growth has been defined as
a. physical changes that occur from conception to maturity.
b. the biological unfolding of genetic potential.
c. positive changes across the lifespan.
d. gains, changes, and losses at each stage of the lifecycle.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
9. _____ aging involves the deterioration of an organism that eventually results in death.
a. Cognitive
b. Psychosocial
c. Behavioral
d. Biological
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
10. _____ aspects of development follow the “gain-stability-loss” model.
a. All
b. Some
, c. No
d. Only physical
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
11. Aging is most accurately defined as involving _____ in the maturing organism.
a. only negative changes
b. only positive changes
c. both negative and positive changes
d. neither positive nor negative changes
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
12. The term age grade refers to
a. a group of individuals who are all the same mental age.
b. a socially defined age group, with culture-specific assigned roles, privileges, and
responsibilities.
c. a universally defined age group, with universal roles, privileges, and responsibilities.
d. a group of children assigned at a specific age to a specific grade in school.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 4 OBJ: 1.1
13. “Senior” discounts on meals available only to individuals over age 55 provide an excellent
example of a(n)
a. age norm.
b. social clock.
c. age grade.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. John Tatum
a. generated the first comprehensive theory of lifespan development.
b. was the first African-American psychologist.
c. won three gold medals at the 2009 National Senior Games.
d. was the first black soldier to serve in an all-white unit in World War II.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1 OBJ: 1.1
2. Development is best defined as
a. individual differences in human behavior.
b. systematic changes and continuities from conception to death.
c. the way people change in positive ways across time.
d. the systematic unfolding of genetic potential.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 2 OBJ: 1.1
3. The fact that development often involves continuities speaks to the fact that over time humans
tend to
a. remain the same.
b. become more intelligent.
c. become less active.
d. undergo orderly patterns of change.
, ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
4. The three broad domains explored by developmental psychologists are
a. motor, interpersonal, cognitive.
b. physical, cognitive, psychosocial.
c. personality, motor, learning.
d. interpersonal, maturational, learning.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 2-3 OBJ: 1.1
5. Albert, a developmental psychologist, conducts research on children's emotional reactions to
studying math in school. Albert is concerned with children's _____ development.
a. cognitive
b. maturational
c. physical
d. psychosocial
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
6. Which is best categorized as being in the cognitive domain of development?
a. Physical maturation of the body
b. A changing personality
c. Poor interpersonal skills
d. Language acquisition
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 2 OBJ: 1.1
, 7. Which does NOT belong on a list of key aspects of physical development?
a. Change in motor ability
b. Change in body organ efficiency
c. Change in short-term memory
d. Change in skin tone (e.g., wrinkling)
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 2 OBJ: 1.1
8. Traditionally, growth has been defined as
a. physical changes that occur from conception to maturity.
b. the biological unfolding of genetic potential.
c. positive changes across the lifespan.
d. gains, changes, and losses at each stage of the lifecycle.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
9. _____ aging involves the deterioration of an organism that eventually results in death.
a. Cognitive
b. Psychosocial
c. Behavioral
d. Biological
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
10. _____ aspects of development follow the “gain-stability-loss” model.
a. All
b. Some
, c. No
d. Only physical
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
11. Aging is most accurately defined as involving _____ in the maturing organism.
a. only negative changes
b. only positive changes
c. both negative and positive changes
d. neither positive nor negative changes
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 3 OBJ: 1.1
12. The term age grade refers to
a. a group of individuals who are all the same mental age.
b. a socially defined age group, with culture-specific assigned roles, privileges, and
responsibilities.
c. a universally defined age group, with universal roles, privileges, and responsibilities.
d. a group of children assigned at a specific age to a specific grade in school.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 4 OBJ: 1.1
13. “Senior” discounts on meals available only to individuals over age 55 provide an excellent
example of a(n)
a. age norm.
b. social clock.
c. age grade.
