Developmental Psychology Flashcards

A 4-year-old child is shown two identical glasses with the same amount of water. An adult then pours the water from one glass into a tall, thin glass and asks the child which glass has more water. The child points to the tall, thin glass. According to Jean Piaget's theory, this child's response is characteristic of which stage of cognitive development?

Answer: Preoperational

The child is demonstrating a lack of conservation, which is the understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in appearance. This error, along with centration (focusing on one aspect, like height), is a hallmark of the Preoperational stage (ages 2-7).

In Mary Ainsworth's "Strange Situation" experiment, a toddler shows little distress when their mother leaves the room and actively ignores or avoids her upon her return. The toddler treats the stranger in a similar manner to the mother. This pattern of behavior is indicative of which attachment style?

Answer: Insecure-avoidant attachment

Insecure-avoidant attachment is characterized by a child's tendency to ignore or avoid the caregiver, especially upon reunion. These children show little preference between a caregiver and a stranger and often do not seek comfort when distressed.

A high school student is struggling with complex algebra problems. Their teacher provides initial support by breaking down the problems into smaller steps and demonstrating the first few. As the student gains proficiency, the teacher gradually reduces the amount of support. This teaching strategy is a direct application of which Vygotskian concept?

Answer: Scaffolding

Scaffolding is the process where a more knowledgeable other (like a teacher) provides temporary support to a learner, adjusting the level of help as the learner's competence increases. This support enables the student to master a task within their Zone of Proximal Development.

According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, which of the following is the primary conflict that adolescents (ages 12-18) must resolve?

Answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion

Erikson's fifth stage, Identity vs. Role Confusion, occurs during adolescence. During this period, teenagers explore their independence and develop a sense of self. Successfully navigating this crisis leads to the virtue of fidelity, while failure results in confusion about one's place in the world.

A person argues that while a specific law is unjust, it must be obeyed to maintain social order and prevent chaos. They believe that upholding the law is more important than individual needs in this case. According to Kohlberg's stages of moral development, this reasoning is characteristic of which level?

Answer: Conventional

The conventional level of moral reasoning is characterized by an emphasis on conforming to social rules and maintaining order. This person's reasoning is based on upholding laws and social norms to ensure society functions smoothly, which is the hallmark of the conventional level, specifically Stage 4 (Law and Order orientation).

Which of the following best illustrates the modern understanding of the nature vs. nurture interaction in developmental psychology?

Answer: A child with a genetic predisposition for anxiety is more likely to develop an anxiety disorder after experiencing a traumatic event.

This scenario perfectly illustrates the interactionist perspective, specifically the diathesis-stress model. 'Nature' provides the genetic vulnerability (diathesis), but 'nurture' in the form of an environmental stressor (trauma) triggers the expression of the disorder. Modern psychology, particularly through fields like epigenetics, emphasizes that development arises from this continuous interplay between genes and environment.