CPCE Human Growth and Development 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Carol Gilligan criticized Kohlberg's moral development theory primarily because:
- It relied too heavily on cross-sectional data
- It was based on male samples and undervalued care-based reasoning (Correct answer)
- It ignored religious influences on morality
- It failed to account for cognitive development stages
Correct answer: It was based on male samples and undervalued care-based reasoning
Gilligan argued that Kohlberg's theory was androcentric and that women tend to reason morally through an ethic of care rather than abstract justice.
Question 2: In Piaget's theory, 'assimilation' occurs when a child:
- Modifies an existing schema to fit new information
- Integrates new information into an existing schema (Correct answer)
- Creates an entirely new schema from scratch
- Abandons an old schema in favor of a new one
Correct answer: Integrates new information into an existing schema
Assimilation is the cognitive process of incorporating new information into an already-existing schema without changing that schema.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes 'scaffolding' as used in developmental psychology?
- Permanent structural support provided to learners
- Temporary, adjustable assistance that is gradually removed as competence grows (Correct answer)
- A rigid curriculum designed to advance cognitive stages
- Repetitive drill practice to solidify new skills
Correct answer: Temporary, adjustable assistance that is gradually removed as competence grows
Scaffolding involves providing just enough support to help a learner succeed at a task, then progressively withdrawing assistance as the learner gains independence.
Question 4: According to Ainsworth's Strange Situation studies, a child who explores freely, shows distress when the caregiver leaves, and is quickly comforted upon return exhibits:
- Insecure-avoidant attachment
- Secure attachment (Correct answer)
- Insecure-ambivalent attachment
- Disorganized attachment
Correct answer: Secure attachment
Secure attachment is characterized by using the caregiver as a safe base for exploration and finding comfort in the caregiver's return after separation.
Question 5: The concept of 'generativity vs. stagnation' in Erikson's theory is most associated with which life period?
- Late adolescence
- Early adulthood
- Middle adulthood (Correct answer)
- Late adulthood
Correct answer: Middle adulthood
Erikson placed Generativity vs. Stagnation in middle adulthood, where the key task involves contributing to future generations through parenting, mentoring, or creative work.
Question 6: A child who can arrange objects in order from smallest to largest is demonstrating which Piagetian concrete operational skill?
- Conservation
- Seriation (Correct answer)
- Classification
- Reversibility
Correct answer: Seriation
Seriation is the ability to arrange objects along a quantitative dimension such as length, weight, or size.
Question 7: Which temperament dimension, identified by Thomas and Chess, describes infants who adapt slowly to new situations and tend to withdraw from novelty?
- Easy temperament
- Difficult temperament
- Slow-to-warm-up temperament (Correct answer)
- Inhibited temperament
Correct answer: Slow-to-warm-up temperament
Slow-to-warm-up children show mild, low-intensity reactions to new situations and adapt gradually with repeated exposure.
CPCE Human Growth and Development 3
Carol Gilligan criticized Kohlberg's moral development theory primarily because: