LMSW LMSW Human Development Theories Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, which system directly contains the developing child?
- Mesosystem
- Microsystem (Correct answer)
- Exosystem
- Macrosystem
Correct answer: Microsystem
The microsystem is the innermost layer and includes settings in which the child directly participates, such as family, school, and peer groups.
Question 2: Vygotsky's concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is best described as:
- Skills a child can perform independently
- The gap between what a child can do alone and with guidance (Correct answer)
- The maximum potential a child will ever reach
- Developmental milestones fixed by biology
Correct answer: The gap between what a child can do alone and with guidance
The ZPD refers to tasks a child cannot yet accomplish alone but can complete with the support of a more knowledgeable other.
Question 3: In object relations theory, the concept of 'splitting' refers to:
- Repressing traumatic memories into the unconscious
- Projecting one's feelings onto another person
- Viewing people as all-good or all-bad without integration (Correct answer)
- Displacing emotion from one object to another
Correct answer: Viewing people as all-good or all-bad without integration
Splitting is a defense mechanism where a person fails to integrate positive and negative qualities of the self or others, seeing them as entirely good or entirely bad.
Question 4: John Bowlby's attachment theory proposes that infants develop a 'secure base' from which to explore. This concept most directly relates to which developmental outcome?
- Higher IQ scores in childhood
- Autonomy and healthy exploration in later development (Correct answer)
- Avoidance of emotional relationships in adulthood
- Increased dependency on caregivers throughout life
Correct answer: Autonomy and healthy exploration in later development
A secure base allows infants to explore their environment confidently, knowing a caregiver is available, which fosters autonomy and healthy development.
Question 5: Carol Gilligan critiqued Kohlberg's moral development theory primarily because:
- It focused too heavily on emotion over reason
- It was based on samples that excluded women and undervalued care ethics (Correct answer)
- It overemphasized cultural relativism
- It did not account for cognitive development stages
Correct answer: It was based on samples that excluded women and undervalued care ethics
Gilligan argued that Kohlberg's model was androcentric, based on male subjects, and failed to capture the ethics of care more commonly voiced by women.
Question 6: A child who watches an adult behave aggressively and then imitates that behavior is demonstrating which learning theory concept?
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Observational learning (Correct answer)
- Cognitive dissonance
Correct answer: Observational learning
Observational learning, central to Bandura's social learning theory, occurs when a child acquires new behaviors by watching and imitating others.
Question 7: Margaret Mahler's separation-individuation theory describes the 'rapprochement' subphase as characterized by:
- Complete psychological fusion with the mother
- The child's first steps toward physical independence
- The toddler returning to the mother after practicing independence, seeking reassurance (Correct answer)
- Permanent internalization of the caregiver image
Correct answer: The toddler returning to the mother after practicing independence, seeking reassurance
During rapprochement (approximately 15–24 months), the toddler becomes more aware of separateness from the mother and returns to her for emotional refueling while also asserting independence.
LMSW LMSW Human Development Theories Questions and Answers 3
According to Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, which system directly contains the developing child?