MC Master of Counseling: Human Development and Lifespan 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Daniel Levinson's theory of adult development, the midlife transition typically occurs between which ages?
- 25–30
- 35–40
- 40–45 (Correct answer)
- 50–55
Correct answer: 40–45
Levinson identified the midlife transition as occurring between ages 40–45, a period when individuals often re-examine their life structure, values, and goals.
Question 2: Carol Gilligan criticized Kohlberg's moral development theory primarily because:
- It placed too much emphasis on cultural and contextual factors
- It was based on studies of males and failed to adequately represent female moral reasoning (Correct answer)
- It ignored religious and spiritual influences on moral judgment
- It overemphasized emotional factors at the expense of cognitive reasoning
Correct answer: It was based on studies of males and failed to adequately represent female moral reasoning
Gilligan argued that Kohlberg's theory was gender-biased, having been developed from research exclusively with males and therefore neglecting women's ethic of care in moral reasoning.
Question 3: In Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, the microsystem refers to:
- Broad cultural values and societal institutions that influence development
- The immediate environments in which a person has direct, face-to-face interactions (Correct answer)
- The interconnections and relationships between a person's immediate environments
- The historical context and time period in which a person develops
Correct answer: The immediate environments in which a person has direct, face-to-face interactions
The microsystem is the innermost layer of Bronfenbrenner's model, comprising the direct settings—such as family, school, and peer groups—where individuals actively participate.
Question 4: According to Kübler-Ross's model of grief, which of the following correctly lists the five stages in order?
- Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance (Correct answer)
- Anger, Denial, Depression, Bargaining, Acceptance
- Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Acceptance, Depression
- Bargaining, Denial, Anger, Depression, Acceptance
Correct answer: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
Kübler-Ross described five stages of grief proceeding as Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance, though individuals may move through them in a non-linear fashion.
Question 5: Which developmental theorist proposed 'generativity vs. stagnation' as the key psychosocial conflict of middle adulthood?
- Jean Piaget
- Albert Bandura
- Erik Erikson (Correct answer)
- Lev Vygotsky
Correct answer: Erik Erikson
Erikson's seventh stage, generativity vs. stagnation, addresses the middle adult's concern with contributing to future generations through parenting, mentoring, or productive work.
Question 6: James Marcia expanded Erikson's identity work by proposing four identity statuses. Which status describes an adolescent actively exploring options but not yet making a commitment?
- Identity diffusion
- Identity foreclosure
- Identity moratorium (Correct answer)
- Identity achievement
Correct answer: Identity moratorium
Identity moratorium describes the state of active exploration and questioning without yet having made a commitment to a specific identity.
Question 7: Which theory of aging proposes that older adults make adaptive choices by selecting priority goals, optimizing existing abilities, and compensating for losses?
- Disengagement theory
- Activity theory
- Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) theory (Correct answer)
- Socioemotional selectivity theory
Correct answer: Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) theory
Paul Baltes's SOC theory describes successful aging as strategically selecting fewer goals, optimizing remaining resources, and developing compensatory strategies for age-related losses.
MC Master of Counseling: Human Development and Lifespan 2
According to Daniel Levinson's theory of adult development, the midlife transition typically occurs between which ages?