CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
DEVELOPMENT EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience - ANSWER -studies the relationship between
changes in the brain and the developing child's cognitive processing and behavior
patterns
Vgotsky's Socioculture Theory - ANSWER -focuses on how culture (values, beliefs,
customs and skills) is transmitted to the next generation - believes social interaction is
vital for cognitive development
Ecological Systems Theory - ANSWER -views the child as developing within a complex
system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment -
Meso, Exo, and Macro (see pictures in notes)
Dynamic Systems - ANSWER -says that the child's mind, body, physical and social
worlds form an integrated system that guides mastery of new skills - this system is
constantly in motion
Down Syndrome - ANSWER -results from problems with the 21st chromosome
(sometimes called trisomy 21) - the most common chromosomal disorder -
consequences include: mental retardation, memory and speech problems, limited
vocabulary, and slow motor development; also have distinct physical features (short,
stocky and a flattened face with almond shaped eyes) - at higher risk if the mom is older
Sex Chromosome Abnormalities - ANSWER -problems with the X or Y chromosomes
such as XYY syndrome, XXX syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and Turner syndrome
Family Influences on Development - ANSWER -direct: two-person relationships
indirect: third parties (co-parenting)
Schools Influences on Development - ANSWER -children spend an average of 14,000
hours in school by high school graduation - parent-school contact supports development
at all ages
ex. children with high involved parents achieve especially well
Range of Reaction - ANSWER -each person's unique, genetically determined response
to the environment
ex. intellectual ranges
, Canalization - ANSWER -the tendency of heredity to restrict the development of some
characteristics to just one or a few outcomes - a behavior that is strongly canalized
develops similarly in a wide range of environments
Genetic-environment Correlation - ANSWER -our genes influence the environments to
which we are exposed (changes with age) - Passive (no control) and Evocative
(heredity) correlation; Active (seek environments that fit them - niche-picking) correlation
Three Basic Issues - ANSWER -is development continuous or discontinuous?
is there one course of development for all children or many courses of development?
nature or nurture?
Resilient Children - ANSWER -signs of resilient (ability to adapt effectively) children:
person characteristics, a warm parental relationship, social support outside the
immediate family, and community resources and opportunities
Modeling - ANSWER -also known as observational learning or imitation; part of social
learning theory by Bandura
ex. a baby claps her hands after her mother does; a teenager dresses like her friends
Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory Stages - ANSWER -Sensorimotor (birth-2 yrs.),
Pre-operational (2-7 yrs.), Concrete Operational (7-11 yrs.), Formal Operational (11 yrs.
+)
Equilibrium - ANSWER -a balance Piaget thought children achieved between internal
structures and information they encounter in their everyday worlds
Information Processing - ANSWER -a perspective where the human mind might also be
viewed as a symbol-manipulating system through which information flows
ex. information flow chart
Environmental Influences on Gene Expression - ANSWER -genetic-enviornment
correlation is viewed as driven by genes (children's genetic make-up evoke causes
them to receive, evoke, or seek experiences that actualize their inborn tendencies) -
parents and other caring adults can uncouple unfavorable genetic-enviornment
correlations
ex. twins who displayed aggressive behavior could be positively affected by mothers
who practiced good, positive parenting
Third Month - ANSWER -at the end of the first trimester - when the organs, muscles,
and nervous system start to become organized and connected; body changing positions
becomes frequent; when the sex of the fetus can be determined and when the heart
beat can be heard via stethoscope
DEVELOPMENT EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience - ANSWER -studies the relationship between
changes in the brain and the developing child's cognitive processing and behavior
patterns
Vgotsky's Socioculture Theory - ANSWER -focuses on how culture (values, beliefs,
customs and skills) is transmitted to the next generation - believes social interaction is
vital for cognitive development
Ecological Systems Theory - ANSWER -views the child as developing within a complex
system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment -
Meso, Exo, and Macro (see pictures in notes)
Dynamic Systems - ANSWER -says that the child's mind, body, physical and social
worlds form an integrated system that guides mastery of new skills - this system is
constantly in motion
Down Syndrome - ANSWER -results from problems with the 21st chromosome
(sometimes called trisomy 21) - the most common chromosomal disorder -
consequences include: mental retardation, memory and speech problems, limited
vocabulary, and slow motor development; also have distinct physical features (short,
stocky and a flattened face with almond shaped eyes) - at higher risk if the mom is older
Sex Chromosome Abnormalities - ANSWER -problems with the X or Y chromosomes
such as XYY syndrome, XXX syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and Turner syndrome
Family Influences on Development - ANSWER -direct: two-person relationships
indirect: third parties (co-parenting)
Schools Influences on Development - ANSWER -children spend an average of 14,000
hours in school by high school graduation - parent-school contact supports development
at all ages
ex. children with high involved parents achieve especially well
Range of Reaction - ANSWER -each person's unique, genetically determined response
to the environment
ex. intellectual ranges
, Canalization - ANSWER -the tendency of heredity to restrict the development of some
characteristics to just one or a few outcomes - a behavior that is strongly canalized
develops similarly in a wide range of environments
Genetic-environment Correlation - ANSWER -our genes influence the environments to
which we are exposed (changes with age) - Passive (no control) and Evocative
(heredity) correlation; Active (seek environments that fit them - niche-picking) correlation
Three Basic Issues - ANSWER -is development continuous or discontinuous?
is there one course of development for all children or many courses of development?
nature or nurture?
Resilient Children - ANSWER -signs of resilient (ability to adapt effectively) children:
person characteristics, a warm parental relationship, social support outside the
immediate family, and community resources and opportunities
Modeling - ANSWER -also known as observational learning or imitation; part of social
learning theory by Bandura
ex. a baby claps her hands after her mother does; a teenager dresses like her friends
Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory Stages - ANSWER -Sensorimotor (birth-2 yrs.),
Pre-operational (2-7 yrs.), Concrete Operational (7-11 yrs.), Formal Operational (11 yrs.
+)
Equilibrium - ANSWER -a balance Piaget thought children achieved between internal
structures and information they encounter in their everyday worlds
Information Processing - ANSWER -a perspective where the human mind might also be
viewed as a symbol-manipulating system through which information flows
ex. information flow chart
Environmental Influences on Gene Expression - ANSWER -genetic-enviornment
correlation is viewed as driven by genes (children's genetic make-up evoke causes
them to receive, evoke, or seek experiences that actualize their inborn tendencies) -
parents and other caring adults can uncouple unfavorable genetic-enviornment
correlations
ex. twins who displayed aggressive behavior could be positively affected by mothers
who practiced good, positive parenting
Third Month - ANSWER -at the end of the first trimester - when the organs, muscles,
and nervous system start to become organized and connected; body changing positions
becomes frequent; when the sex of the fetus can be determined and when the heart
beat can be heard via stethoscope
