HDFS 1351 LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◉ nature. Answer: traits, capacities, limitations each individual inherits
genetically from his/her parents at conception
-biologically based
◉ nurture. Answer: all of the environmental influences that affect an
individual after conception
-this includes everything from the mothers nutrition while pregnant to
the cultural influences of the nation
◉ lifespan perspective. Answer: an approach to the study of human
development that takes into account all phases of life, not just adulthood
or childhood
◉ multidirectional development. Answer: -Developmental change may
be explained as
-Continuous (ex: growing until you reach adult height)
-Stage like (discontinuous - adult business talk vs teen gossip)
-In relation to timing
,-critical period
-sensitive period
◉ Critical period. Answer: a critical time when a particular type of
developmental growth (in the body or behavior) must happen for normal
development to occur, or when harm (such as toxic substance or
destructive event) can occur
◉ Sensitive Period. Answer: a time when a certain type of development
is most likely, although it may still happen later with more difficultly
-ex: language is important to develop over the first few years of life and
if it doesn't happen in a certain time they may have deficits
◉ Multicontextual Development. Answer: Historical context (history-
graded influences)
-cohort effect (when you were born)
-ex: children born today in the technology world have a very different
childhood than someone born in the 1950's
Socioeconomic context
-socioeconomic status (SES)
◉ Socioeconomic status (SES). Answer: A persons position in society as
determined by income, occupation, education, and place of residence
, -how much money ones family makes directly impacts their
development (ex: which neighborhood you live in effects which school
you attend)
◉ Multicultural Development. Answer: -culture
-Social construction
◉ culture. Answer: a system of shared beliefs, norms, behaviors, and
expectations that persist over time and prescribe social behavior and
assumptions
-sociocultural-graded influences
-patterns of behavior passed from one generation to the next (family
experiences effect development)
◉ Social Construction. Answer: An idea that is built on shared
perceptions, not an objective reality
-many age related items (such as childhood, adolescence, yuppie &
senior citizen) are social constructions, connected to biological traits but
strongly influenced by social assumptions
-idea based on shared perceptions of how culture supports
developmental outcomes
◉ Cultural Context. Answer: -Barbara Rogoff studied culture in
Guatamala and America and the affect it had on kids
-you are not aware of your own culture until you see someone else's
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◉ nature. Answer: traits, capacities, limitations each individual inherits
genetically from his/her parents at conception
-biologically based
◉ nurture. Answer: all of the environmental influences that affect an
individual after conception
-this includes everything from the mothers nutrition while pregnant to
the cultural influences of the nation
◉ lifespan perspective. Answer: an approach to the study of human
development that takes into account all phases of life, not just adulthood
or childhood
◉ multidirectional development. Answer: -Developmental change may
be explained as
-Continuous (ex: growing until you reach adult height)
-Stage like (discontinuous - adult business talk vs teen gossip)
-In relation to timing
,-critical period
-sensitive period
◉ Critical period. Answer: a critical time when a particular type of
developmental growth (in the body or behavior) must happen for normal
development to occur, or when harm (such as toxic substance or
destructive event) can occur
◉ Sensitive Period. Answer: a time when a certain type of development
is most likely, although it may still happen later with more difficultly
-ex: language is important to develop over the first few years of life and
if it doesn't happen in a certain time they may have deficits
◉ Multicontextual Development. Answer: Historical context (history-
graded influences)
-cohort effect (when you were born)
-ex: children born today in the technology world have a very different
childhood than someone born in the 1950's
Socioeconomic context
-socioeconomic status (SES)
◉ Socioeconomic status (SES). Answer: A persons position in society as
determined by income, occupation, education, and place of residence
, -how much money ones family makes directly impacts their
development (ex: which neighborhood you live in effects which school
you attend)
◉ Multicultural Development. Answer: -culture
-Social construction
◉ culture. Answer: a system of shared beliefs, norms, behaviors, and
expectations that persist over time and prescribe social behavior and
assumptions
-sociocultural-graded influences
-patterns of behavior passed from one generation to the next (family
experiences effect development)
◉ Social Construction. Answer: An idea that is built on shared
perceptions, not an objective reality
-many age related items (such as childhood, adolescence, yuppie &
senior citizen) are social constructions, connected to biological traits but
strongly influenced by social assumptions
-idea based on shared perceptions of how culture supports
developmental outcomes
◉ Cultural Context. Answer: -Barbara Rogoff studied culture in
Guatamala and America and the affect it had on kids
-you are not aware of your own culture until you see someone else's
