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CLEP Human Growth And Development
Actual Exam Questions And Verified
Answers 2026
nature vs. nurture controversy - correct-answer -it is agreed that both have some
influence in development, but some people think it is more one than the other.
biologically built vs. environment
tabula rasa - correct-answer -this is what the human mind is at birth (according to
the nurture side of the nature versus nurture controversy), like a blank slate that
experience writes on
Discontinuity or Stage Theories - correct-answer -Argues that development
progresses through a series of stages. Each stage involves a specific task. Once the
stage is completed the child moves on to the next stage. The developing person is
changing qualitatively, not quantitatively.
Continuity Theories - correct-answer -Suggest that development is best described
as a steady growth process. Developmental change is described as occurring in
small steps or increments. (Skills and behavior improve but they do not change in
a qualitatively.)
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Child Development vs. Life Span - correct-answer -Some theories of development
argue that development is complete at the end of childhood/adolescence
(Sigmund Freud and Jean Piaget are examples).
Life Span theories of development argue that growth and change continue to
occur throughout the entire life span (Erick Erickson took a life span perspective).
universality vs. context specific - correct-answer -a theory that applies to all
cultures and time periods (such as Piaget proposed for his theory)
Bronfenbrenner is an example of the alternative view which points out that there
are differences in development depending on the culture/environment (such as in
collectivist cultures versus individualistic cultures)
Collectivist cultures - correct-answer -Places greater value on the common good
than individual achievement
Individualistic cultures - correct-answer -values individual achievements and the
pursuit of individual goals
accommodation - correct-answer -by Piaget. modifying an existing scheme
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assimilation - correct-answer -by Piaget. taking new information from the world
and incorporating it into an existing scheme
Scheme - correct-answer -by Piaget. basic thought about the world, objects,
events
disequilibrium - correct-answer -what happens when a child understands the
world in a particular way (their scheme) then sees something happen that can't fit
into that understanding.
constructivism - correct-answer -Piaget's position that argues that children
construct schema (organized patterns of thought or action) based on experiences
they have actively exploring the environment.
Piaget's stages of cognitive development - correct-answer -sensorimotor,
preoperational, concrete operations, formal operations (each stage represents a
qualitatively different way of thinking instead of just acquiring more information
over time)
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sensorimotor stage - correct-answer -0-2 years old. Lacks concept of object
permanence until the end of this stage (understanding that objects continue to
exist even when their presence can't be sensed) & knows what they can do with
their senses.
By the end of this stage they also have symbolic representation (when one thing
stands for another thing) and deferred imitation (imitating a model's behavior
awhile after it was observed). Piaget.
preoperational stage - correct-answer -2-7 years old. They think symbolically (e.g.
language),
are egocentric (have trouble seeing things from others' perspectives),
use transductive reasoning (not reasoning logically about cause and effect),
use animitic thinking (projecting human abilities and traits onto inanimate
objects),
and think semilogically. Piaget.
concrete operations - correct-answer -7-11 years old. Can understand
transformation (an object changing form is still the same object),
reversibility (starting at the conclusion and working back to the start),
conservation (an objects mass, volume, weight, etc. doesn't change because its
appearance changes),
can group things into categories,
and think logically as long as it is not abstract. Piaget.
CLEP Human Growth And Development
Actual Exam Questions And Verified
Answers 2026
nature vs. nurture controversy - correct-answer -it is agreed that both have some
influence in development, but some people think it is more one than the other.
biologically built vs. environment
tabula rasa - correct-answer -this is what the human mind is at birth (according to
the nurture side of the nature versus nurture controversy), like a blank slate that
experience writes on
Discontinuity or Stage Theories - correct-answer -Argues that development
progresses through a series of stages. Each stage involves a specific task. Once the
stage is completed the child moves on to the next stage. The developing person is
changing qualitatively, not quantitatively.
Continuity Theories - correct-answer -Suggest that development is best described
as a steady growth process. Developmental change is described as occurring in
small steps or increments. (Skills and behavior improve but they do not change in
a qualitatively.)
,2|Page
Child Development vs. Life Span - correct-answer -Some theories of development
argue that development is complete at the end of childhood/adolescence
(Sigmund Freud and Jean Piaget are examples).
Life Span theories of development argue that growth and change continue to
occur throughout the entire life span (Erick Erickson took a life span perspective).
universality vs. context specific - correct-answer -a theory that applies to all
cultures and time periods (such as Piaget proposed for his theory)
Bronfenbrenner is an example of the alternative view which points out that there
are differences in development depending on the culture/environment (such as in
collectivist cultures versus individualistic cultures)
Collectivist cultures - correct-answer -Places greater value on the common good
than individual achievement
Individualistic cultures - correct-answer -values individual achievements and the
pursuit of individual goals
accommodation - correct-answer -by Piaget. modifying an existing scheme
,3|Page
assimilation - correct-answer -by Piaget. taking new information from the world
and incorporating it into an existing scheme
Scheme - correct-answer -by Piaget. basic thought about the world, objects,
events
disequilibrium - correct-answer -what happens when a child understands the
world in a particular way (their scheme) then sees something happen that can't fit
into that understanding.
constructivism - correct-answer -Piaget's position that argues that children
construct schema (organized patterns of thought or action) based on experiences
they have actively exploring the environment.
Piaget's stages of cognitive development - correct-answer -sensorimotor,
preoperational, concrete operations, formal operations (each stage represents a
qualitatively different way of thinking instead of just acquiring more information
over time)
, 4|Page
sensorimotor stage - correct-answer -0-2 years old. Lacks concept of object
permanence until the end of this stage (understanding that objects continue to
exist even when their presence can't be sensed) & knows what they can do with
their senses.
By the end of this stage they also have symbolic representation (when one thing
stands for another thing) and deferred imitation (imitating a model's behavior
awhile after it was observed). Piaget.
preoperational stage - correct-answer -2-7 years old. They think symbolically (e.g.
language),
are egocentric (have trouble seeing things from others' perspectives),
use transductive reasoning (not reasoning logically about cause and effect),
use animitic thinking (projecting human abilities and traits onto inanimate
objects),
and think semilogically. Piaget.
concrete operations - correct-answer -7-11 years old. Can understand
transformation (an object changing form is still the same object),
reversibility (starting at the conclusion and working back to the start),
conservation (an objects mass, volume, weight, etc. doesn't change because its
appearance changes),
can group things into categories,
and think logically as long as it is not abstract. Piaget.
