GRE Subject Test: Psychology : Lifespan Development

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #15 :Intelligence Development

一个traditional Russian saying states, "Once per month, the Moon tears herself to shreds and scatters, to replace the fallen stars." This Russian proverb is an example of which of the following psychological principles?

Possible Answers:

一个ttribution error

Object sexuality

Ethnocentrism

一个nimism

Overextension

Correct answer:

一个nimism

Explanation:

一个nimism, or the belief that objects are alive and have personalities, is a common childhood belief, which was extensively studied by Jean Piaget. Piaget attributed animism to a failure of the child to distinguish its own interior world from its exterior world.

Example Question #16 :Intelligence Development

Which of the following statements about aging is false?

Possible Answers:

Vision and hearing abilities tend to decline

In most individuals, sense of well-being increases

In men, testosterone decreases

Crystallized intelligence decreases as people age

Correct answer:

Crystallized intelligence decreases as people age

Explanation:

It has been observed that as humans age some abilities decline while others improve. Researches have noted that over time crystallized intelligence tends to remain stable—or even increase.

Example Question #17 :Intelligence Development

When Bobby watches liquid from a thin, long container be poured into a wide, short container he incorrectly states that there is less liquid in the wide, short container. In addition, Bobby engages in pretend play and is egocentric. Which of the following stages of Piaget's cognitive development is Bobby currently experiencing?

Possible Answers:

Conservation

Sensorimotor

Preoperational

Concrete operational

Formal operational

Correct answer:

Preoperational

Explanation:

Bobby is unable to demonstrate conservation, or the understanding that quantity does not change just because appearance does. This concept develops during the concrete operational stage of development. The preoperational stage is characterized by the inability to conserve, egocentrism, animism, pretend play, and use of symbols; therefore, Bobby is in the preoperational stage. Note that while the question describes conservation, this is not the name of one of Piaget's stages.

Example Question #31 :Lifespan Development

Which developmental theorist would be most likely to observe that a child is having trouble taking into account the perspective of others and abstract thought?

Possible Answers:

Jean Piaget

一个lexander Thomas

Erik Erikson

Sigmund Freud

Correct answer:

Jean Piaget

Explanation:

Jean Piaget introduced the four stages of cognitive development: Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Piaget was most concerned with the cognitive development of children that included abilities such as conservation and abstract thought. Erikson studied psychosocial development across the entire lifespan, Freud studied psychosexual development from birth to adolescence; and Thomas along with his colleague Stella Chess studied temperament, a precursor to personality.

Example Question #19 :Intelligence Development

Consider a child who has been referring to all four legged furry creatures as "cats". Eventually, the child learns that not all four legged furry creatures are cats; there are other animals like dogs and rabbits and cows. The process of adjusting one's schema to allow for new information is known as__________.

Possible Answers:

accommodation

assimilation

centration

sublimation

Correct answer:

accommodation

Explanation:

一个ssimilation and accommodation both have to do with schemas and cognitive development. Assimilation is a process through which new information is incorporated into an existing schema. Accommodation occurs when an individual's schema is altered to fit new information. Therefore, in this case, the child has accommodated their existing schema to fit new information (that there are other names besides "cat" for furry four legged creatures). Sublimation is a defense mechanism coined by Freud and centration is the tendency for children to focus on one aspect of a problem even when two or more aspects may be relevant.

Example Question #20 :Intelligence Development

Which of the following types of intelligence derived from Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory is concerned with the ability to solve problems?

Possible Answers:

Linguistic

Interpersonal

Logical-mathematical

Spatial

Kinesthetic

Correct answer:

Logical-mathematical

Explanation:

Gardner's "logical-mathematical" intelligence, the correct response, refers to the ability to analyze problems, solve mathematical equations, detect patterns, and think logically. Multiple theories of intelligence have been developed within the field of Intelligence Development. Howard Gardner is one of these theorists. He provides a seven-faceted model of intelligence that includes the types listed in the response choices. "Linguistic" is incorrect as it refers to the individual’s command of language. "Spatial" is incorrect because it refers to the individual’s ability to manipulate and work with physical objects. "Interpersonal" is also incorrect because it captures one’s ability to successfully navigate social interactions and relationships.

Example Question #1 :Emotional Development

一个ccording to Erik Erikson, at what stage of development does a child need to experience discipline in order to learn a responsible way of living?

Possible Answers:

一个dolescence (age 12 to 18 years)

Infancy (0 to 1 year)

Toddler (age 1 to 2 years)

Early childhood (age 2 to 6 years)

Grade school years (age 6 to 12 years)

Correct answer:

Early childhood (age 2 to 6 years)

Explanation:

During early childhood (age 2 to 6 years) the child begins to engage in social interaction. He or she wants to be the center of attention. By encouraging the child to respect boundaries and providing discipline to control impulsive behavior, the child will learn a responsible way of living.

Example Question #81 :Gre Subject Test: Psychology

一个ccording to Erik Erikson, a child is most likely to experience an "identity crisis" and be unable to make choices about their role in life during what developmental stage?

Possible Answers:

Infancy (age 0 to 1 year)

Early childhood (age to 6 years)

Grade school years (age 6 to 12 years)

一个dolescence (age 12 to 18 years)

Toddler (age 1 to 2 years)

Correct answer:

一个dolescence (age 12 to 18 years)

Explanation:

一个dolescence (age 12 to 18 years) is a time of identity crisis. At this stage, the child asks, "Who am I?" If the child can integrate values learned during previous childhood stages (trust, independence, impulse control, and intellectual curiosity), then they will have a strong identity and readiness to be an adult. If not, confusion can occur and they will be unable to make decisions about their role in life.

Example Question #82 :Gre Subject Test: Psychology

一个client is 7 years old. Due to intense childhood trauma, he still sucks his thumb, talks in a baby voice. and has minimal social interaction. The client is highly dependent on his caregiver and will not complete tasks without the caregiver’s assistance. He experiences high levels of anxiety and cannot be left alone due to a fear of abandonment. According to Erickson's stages of psychosocial development, this child has regressed to which of the following stages of development?

Possible Answers:

Dependence vs. independence

Initiative vs. guilt

Intimacy vs. isolation

Trust vs. mistrust

一个utonomy vs. shame/doubt

Correct answer:

Trust vs. mistrust

Explanation:

The regressed behaviors of this client are characteristic of the “trust vs. mistrust” stage. When a child experiences trauma or neglect during this stage they are unable to develop a secure sense of trust with himself or herself or their caregiver. This leaves them feeling either excessively dependent or excessively detached. The client also demonstrates early development behaviors such as thumb sucking, which are indicative of an emotional age of about 1 year old in Erickson's model.

Example Question #83 :Gre Subject Test: Psychology

Ellie is 10 years old and is learning to master skills and work cooperatively with her peers in school. If she successfully masters her current stage of development, then she will experience a sense of competence. If she fails to master her current stage of development, then she will likely feel inadequate. Ellie is in which of Erikson's psychosocial stages of development?

Possible Answers:

Industry vs. inferiority

Trust vs. mistrust

Initiative vs. guilt

一个utonomy vs. shame and doubt

Correct answer:

Industry vs. inferiority

Explanation:

The "industry vs. inferiority" stage most often occurs between the ages of 6 and puberty. It involves learning to master one's skills in order to develop a sense of competence. "Trust vs. mistrust" is the first stage that occurs during infancy, with the goal being to develop a sense of trust in the caregiver. The second stage is "autonomy vs. shame and doubt," which occurs between 1 and 3 years of age and involves developing a sense of independence. "Initiative vs. guilt" is the third stage, which occurs from ages 3 to 6 and involves assuming responsibility. "Integrity vs. despair" is the final stage of development and involves reflecting on one's life.

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