Praxis Family and Consumer Sciences
(5122 ) questions and verified answers
( detailed & elaborated) ACTUAL
EXAM 2026 TEST!!
Individuation is the process through which a person comes to think of himself or herself as a distinct
person despite being a member of a family. - CORRECT ANSWERS Children at first identify
entirely with the mores, norms, and values of their family; it is only after prolonged exposure to other
people outside the home that a child will begin to question his or her upbringing and perhaps modify his
or her belief system. A fully individualized person is able to maintain a coherent personality without
renouncing membership in a family with which he or she may have some disagreement.
Agrarian societies are more likely to live with their extended families. - CORRECT ANSWERS
An extended family is comprised of more than one adult couple. For instance, it might include a man
and a woman, their children, and their grandchildren. Agrarian societies in which people tend the same
land for their entire lives are more conducive to the maintenance of the extended family. This is in part
because it is more difficult for a large group to move around together. In modern, industrial, urban, and
nomadic societies, it is more common for people to be grouped together in nuclear families (one adult
couple and their children)
Financial Stability is NOT necessary for a person to commit emotionally to a marriage. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Despite money being a main issue for divorce, it is more important for partners to
have good self-esteem, empathy, a feeling of permanence in the relationship, and strong personal
identities. Solid marriages weather the inevitable hard times with a mixture of humor, empathy, and
habit. The idea of empathy is particularly important in marriage because it implies that each partner
may not fully understand the other. Nevertheless, a loving spouse with try to help whenever possible.
Having a child between the ages of 2 and 4 has little to no effect on job satisfaction. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Research suggests that parents often feel some strain as they occupy multiple
roles, but this is offset by the enjoyment they derive from their work. Having a newborn, on the other
hand, has a noticeably damaging effect on job satisfaction. The demands of caring for a newborn, as well
as the desire to spend as much time as possible with this new child, make it unpleasant to be away from
home for any reason. Flexible scheduling, high wages, and intellectual challenge are all directly
correlated with job satisfaction.
,Accepting that the marriage is over is the first step a person should take after divorce. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Psychologists estimate that it takes most people at least two years to accept
divorce entirely. Until this is reached, the divorcee should not initiate a new relationship. The best way
to complete the process of acceptance is to establish an individual identity. This may include developing
a balance between being single and being a parent. It is appropriate to plan for the future, but people
should be aware that it is impossible to predict what they will want once they have fully processed the
finality of the divorce.
Sibling rivalry is most pronounced in same-sex siblings within three years of age. - CORRECT ANSWERS
In the first eight to ten years of life, siblings tend to alternate between cooperation and competition. As
they grow older, they will often spend little time together for a few years, but during adolescence will
gradually develop empathy for one another. Most research suggests that adult relationships between
siblings simply exaggerate the tone of the relationship of the youth; that is, good relationships get better
and bad relationships get worse.
Married women typically earn a lower wage than single women. - CORRECT ANSWERS This is
an exception to the general trend, which is that married people are healthier, wealthier, and more
content than their single counterparts. Married men are less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, and less
likely to become depressed. Married women are healthier and more likely to report satisfaction with
their home lives. One reason why married women may earn less money is that they are more likely to be
raising children, and therefore less focused on professional development. Despite reports about the
decline of marriage, an overwhelming majority of Americans will marry at least once during their lives.
Accepting a stepparent is hardest for adolescent girls. - CORRECT ANSWERS The bond
between a stepparent, particularly a stepfather, and an adolescent girl takes the longest to form. One
possible reason for this phenomenon is that stepfathers tend to be less engaged with stepdaughters
than with stepsons. The effect of remarriage on children is much the same as divorce because it involves
a fundamental restructuring of the family concept. Nevertheless, stepparents who work to engage with
their stepchildren can develop positive relationships over time.
Both the content and the style of family communication are important. - CORRECT ANSWERS
The members of a family should work on communicating positively. The decisions made by families tend
to reinforce the status quo in the interest of conformity and conflict avoidance. For reasons both genetic
and environmental, the members of families are likely to struggle with the same sorts of problems in
life. Despite a general tendency toward stability and consistency, families inevitably change in response
,to the aging of each member and to pressures from the environment. Finally, it is a central tenet of
family science that it is impossible to understand a family member without understanding the family as
a whole.
According to John Gottman, humor is the best response to criticism by a spouse. - CORRECT ANSWERS
When the criticized partner responds to criticism by deflecting or soothing the other person, tempers
are quelled and the partnership remains strong. Gottman's research suggests that there is a classic
pattern of degenerating communication in an unsuccessful relationship. The pattern begins with
criticism that is not directed at a certain behavior, but at the other person as a whole. In other words,
the criticism of unsuccessful couples tends to lean toward character assassination. Eventually, these
negative interactions lead to contempt, in which one partner openly disparages and disrespects the
other. The inevitable response to contempt is defensiveness, followed by stonewalling or a total lack of
communication. When couples stop communicating, the relationship is not likely to endure.
The greatest amount of variation between people of the same age is found during early adolescence. -
CORRECT ANSWERS The onset of puberty may occur at any time over the span of five years,
though it typically occurs earlier in females than in males. The changes brought on by puberty are
monumental and can cause rapid changes in personality, physical development, and emotional maturity.
Teachers need to be aware of these changes, particularly when working with middle-school children.
Family and consumer science teachers may need to act as liaisons between parents and their children,
as family relationships can become strained during early adolescence.
When two children have a dispute and agree to settle it according to their mother's opinion, they are
engaging in arbitration. - CORRECT ANSWERS In arbitration, two conflicting parties agree to
rely on the advice of a supposedly impartial third party. Sometimes, the parties will also establish
guidelines for the way a decision is to be reached. In parenting, it can be difficult to settle a dispute with
arbitration, since children are unlikely to honor a decision that goes against their interest. Conciliation is
a method of settling disputes in which the conflicting parties are simply asked to meet and converse,
with the idea that a resolution will naturally occur as a result of this meeting. In mediation, the
conflicting parties decide to enlist the aid of an impartial third party as they attempt to settle their
differences. The parties in mediation do not agree to follow the advice of the third party. In negotiation,
two parties try to agree on terms that are acceptable to both. Negotiation in family life is a bit like
compromise. A restorative justice system is where the person who has been wronged gets some kind of
compensation from the wrongdoer. When the parents force one sibling to apologize to the other, they
are essentially using restorative justice.
, In general, when a mother works, her children have more self-esteem. - CORRECT ANSWERS
There is no one reason for this phenomenon, although one can speculate that girls might be inspired by
the positive example of a successful working mother. The daughters of working mothers tend to be
more independent, and they are likely to have a more egalitarian view of gender relations. When the
sons of working mothers are unsupervised, their performance in school tends to decline. It is important
for both parents to have a positive attitude about maternal employment, and it is especially important
for husbands to support their wives in ways that can be perceived positively by children.
During times of conflict, family members will take sides to consolidate power. - CORRECT ANSWERS
Although this process is natural, it can become problematic if the groups last for too long or create a
permanent imbalance of power. The idea that family life is a series of actions and reactions is an
assumption of Milan systematic family therapy. This approach to family therapy emphasizes patterns of
behavior that lock family members into their roles, therefore inhibiting their personal growth.
Behavioral family therapists assume that bad behavior persists when it is reinforced. These therapists
strive to show family members how they may be inadvertently rewarding the very behavior they seek to
discourage. Object relations family therapists assume that ill will in a family is often a result of negative
projection. In other words, the members of a family may attribute their own negative characteristics to
their family members.
One drawback of inpatient treatment for alcoholism is that it is expensive. - CORRECT ANSWERS
Inpatient programs are not often covered by health insurance, forcing the family to pay out of pocket.
The efficacy of these programs is well established, estimating 70% of participants to stay sober for at
least five years. Many of these programs include the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step model. Patients
cannot drink while enrolled since they are on the property. The inpatient programs require the personal
commitment of the patient.
According to Piaget's model, the ability to imagine the mental lives of others emerges during the
preoperational stage. - CORRECT ANSWERS The preoperational stage is the second of the
four stages and occurs between 2 and 7 years old. This ability is called sympathy. The first stage in the
Piaget model is sensorimotor, which lasts from birth until about age 2. During this time, the sense
organs become activated, and the child learns about object permanence. In the third stage, known as
concrete operational, the child improves his or her cognition and realizes that objects with different
shapes may have the same volume. This stage occurs between the ages of 7 and 12. In the formal
operational stage, the capacity for abstract thought is developed. When this stage occurs (and it does
not for every person), it typically occurs after age 12.
(5122 ) questions and verified answers
( detailed & elaborated) ACTUAL
EXAM 2026 TEST!!
Individuation is the process through which a person comes to think of himself or herself as a distinct
person despite being a member of a family. - CORRECT ANSWERS Children at first identify
entirely with the mores, norms, and values of their family; it is only after prolonged exposure to other
people outside the home that a child will begin to question his or her upbringing and perhaps modify his
or her belief system. A fully individualized person is able to maintain a coherent personality without
renouncing membership in a family with which he or she may have some disagreement.
Agrarian societies are more likely to live with their extended families. - CORRECT ANSWERS
An extended family is comprised of more than one adult couple. For instance, it might include a man
and a woman, their children, and their grandchildren. Agrarian societies in which people tend the same
land for their entire lives are more conducive to the maintenance of the extended family. This is in part
because it is more difficult for a large group to move around together. In modern, industrial, urban, and
nomadic societies, it is more common for people to be grouped together in nuclear families (one adult
couple and their children)
Financial Stability is NOT necessary for a person to commit emotionally to a marriage. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Despite money being a main issue for divorce, it is more important for partners to
have good self-esteem, empathy, a feeling of permanence in the relationship, and strong personal
identities. Solid marriages weather the inevitable hard times with a mixture of humor, empathy, and
habit. The idea of empathy is particularly important in marriage because it implies that each partner
may not fully understand the other. Nevertheless, a loving spouse with try to help whenever possible.
Having a child between the ages of 2 and 4 has little to no effect on job satisfaction. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Research suggests that parents often feel some strain as they occupy multiple
roles, but this is offset by the enjoyment they derive from their work. Having a newborn, on the other
hand, has a noticeably damaging effect on job satisfaction. The demands of caring for a newborn, as well
as the desire to spend as much time as possible with this new child, make it unpleasant to be away from
home for any reason. Flexible scheduling, high wages, and intellectual challenge are all directly
correlated with job satisfaction.
,Accepting that the marriage is over is the first step a person should take after divorce. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Psychologists estimate that it takes most people at least two years to accept
divorce entirely. Until this is reached, the divorcee should not initiate a new relationship. The best way
to complete the process of acceptance is to establish an individual identity. This may include developing
a balance between being single and being a parent. It is appropriate to plan for the future, but people
should be aware that it is impossible to predict what they will want once they have fully processed the
finality of the divorce.
Sibling rivalry is most pronounced in same-sex siblings within three years of age. - CORRECT ANSWERS
In the first eight to ten years of life, siblings tend to alternate between cooperation and competition. As
they grow older, they will often spend little time together for a few years, but during adolescence will
gradually develop empathy for one another. Most research suggests that adult relationships between
siblings simply exaggerate the tone of the relationship of the youth; that is, good relationships get better
and bad relationships get worse.
Married women typically earn a lower wage than single women. - CORRECT ANSWERS This is
an exception to the general trend, which is that married people are healthier, wealthier, and more
content than their single counterparts. Married men are less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, and less
likely to become depressed. Married women are healthier and more likely to report satisfaction with
their home lives. One reason why married women may earn less money is that they are more likely to be
raising children, and therefore less focused on professional development. Despite reports about the
decline of marriage, an overwhelming majority of Americans will marry at least once during their lives.
Accepting a stepparent is hardest for adolescent girls. - CORRECT ANSWERS The bond
between a stepparent, particularly a stepfather, and an adolescent girl takes the longest to form. One
possible reason for this phenomenon is that stepfathers tend to be less engaged with stepdaughters
than with stepsons. The effect of remarriage on children is much the same as divorce because it involves
a fundamental restructuring of the family concept. Nevertheless, stepparents who work to engage with
their stepchildren can develop positive relationships over time.
Both the content and the style of family communication are important. - CORRECT ANSWERS
The members of a family should work on communicating positively. The decisions made by families tend
to reinforce the status quo in the interest of conformity and conflict avoidance. For reasons both genetic
and environmental, the members of families are likely to struggle with the same sorts of problems in
life. Despite a general tendency toward stability and consistency, families inevitably change in response
,to the aging of each member and to pressures from the environment. Finally, it is a central tenet of
family science that it is impossible to understand a family member without understanding the family as
a whole.
According to John Gottman, humor is the best response to criticism by a spouse. - CORRECT ANSWERS
When the criticized partner responds to criticism by deflecting or soothing the other person, tempers
are quelled and the partnership remains strong. Gottman's research suggests that there is a classic
pattern of degenerating communication in an unsuccessful relationship. The pattern begins with
criticism that is not directed at a certain behavior, but at the other person as a whole. In other words,
the criticism of unsuccessful couples tends to lean toward character assassination. Eventually, these
negative interactions lead to contempt, in which one partner openly disparages and disrespects the
other. The inevitable response to contempt is defensiveness, followed by stonewalling or a total lack of
communication. When couples stop communicating, the relationship is not likely to endure.
The greatest amount of variation between people of the same age is found during early adolescence. -
CORRECT ANSWERS The onset of puberty may occur at any time over the span of five years,
though it typically occurs earlier in females than in males. The changes brought on by puberty are
monumental and can cause rapid changes in personality, physical development, and emotional maturity.
Teachers need to be aware of these changes, particularly when working with middle-school children.
Family and consumer science teachers may need to act as liaisons between parents and their children,
as family relationships can become strained during early adolescence.
When two children have a dispute and agree to settle it according to their mother's opinion, they are
engaging in arbitration. - CORRECT ANSWERS In arbitration, two conflicting parties agree to
rely on the advice of a supposedly impartial third party. Sometimes, the parties will also establish
guidelines for the way a decision is to be reached. In parenting, it can be difficult to settle a dispute with
arbitration, since children are unlikely to honor a decision that goes against their interest. Conciliation is
a method of settling disputes in which the conflicting parties are simply asked to meet and converse,
with the idea that a resolution will naturally occur as a result of this meeting. In mediation, the
conflicting parties decide to enlist the aid of an impartial third party as they attempt to settle their
differences. The parties in mediation do not agree to follow the advice of the third party. In negotiation,
two parties try to agree on terms that are acceptable to both. Negotiation in family life is a bit like
compromise. A restorative justice system is where the person who has been wronged gets some kind of
compensation from the wrongdoer. When the parents force one sibling to apologize to the other, they
are essentially using restorative justice.
, In general, when a mother works, her children have more self-esteem. - CORRECT ANSWERS
There is no one reason for this phenomenon, although one can speculate that girls might be inspired by
the positive example of a successful working mother. The daughters of working mothers tend to be
more independent, and they are likely to have a more egalitarian view of gender relations. When the
sons of working mothers are unsupervised, their performance in school tends to decline. It is important
for both parents to have a positive attitude about maternal employment, and it is especially important
for husbands to support their wives in ways that can be perceived positively by children.
During times of conflict, family members will take sides to consolidate power. - CORRECT ANSWERS
Although this process is natural, it can become problematic if the groups last for too long or create a
permanent imbalance of power. The idea that family life is a series of actions and reactions is an
assumption of Milan systematic family therapy. This approach to family therapy emphasizes patterns of
behavior that lock family members into their roles, therefore inhibiting their personal growth.
Behavioral family therapists assume that bad behavior persists when it is reinforced. These therapists
strive to show family members how they may be inadvertently rewarding the very behavior they seek to
discourage. Object relations family therapists assume that ill will in a family is often a result of negative
projection. In other words, the members of a family may attribute their own negative characteristics to
their family members.
One drawback of inpatient treatment for alcoholism is that it is expensive. - CORRECT ANSWERS
Inpatient programs are not often covered by health insurance, forcing the family to pay out of pocket.
The efficacy of these programs is well established, estimating 70% of participants to stay sober for at
least five years. Many of these programs include the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step model. Patients
cannot drink while enrolled since they are on the property. The inpatient programs require the personal
commitment of the patient.
According to Piaget's model, the ability to imagine the mental lives of others emerges during the
preoperational stage. - CORRECT ANSWERS The preoperational stage is the second of the
four stages and occurs between 2 and 7 years old. This ability is called sympathy. The first stage in the
Piaget model is sensorimotor, which lasts from birth until about age 2. During this time, the sense
organs become activated, and the child learns about object permanence. In the third stage, known as
concrete operational, the child improves his or her cognition and realizes that objects with different
shapes may have the same volume. This stage occurs between the ages of 7 and 12. In the formal
operational stage, the capacity for abstract thought is developed. When this stage occurs (and it does
not for every person), it typically occurs after age 12.
