DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY MIDTERM
NEWEST UPDATE 2026 QUESTIONS FROM ACTUAL
EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD GRADED A+
1. Which theory best explains cognitive development as a result of interaction between
biological maturation and environmental experience?
A) Psychoanalytic theory
B) Behaviorism
C) Cognitive-Developmental Theory (Piaget)
D) Ethological theory
Piaget emphasizes that children actively construct knowledge through interaction with
their environment.
2. In Piaget’s theory, which stage is characterized by object permanence?
A) Preoperational
B) Sensorimotor
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Object permanence develops during the sensorimotor stage (0–2 years).
3. Vygotsky’s concept of the “Zone of Proximal Development” refers to:
A) Skills a child can perform independently
B) Genetic limits of intelligence
C) Difference between what a child can do alone and with help
D) Fixed cognitive abilities at birth
It emphasizes learning through guided assistance.
4. Which term describes development occurring in distinct stages?
A) Continuous development
B) Discontinuous development
C) Plastic development
D) Linear development
Stage theories propose qualitative shifts in thinking.
5. According to Freud, personality develops primarily through:
A) Reinforcement schedules
B) Cognitive conflict
C) Psychosexual stages
D) Social modeling
Freud emphasized unconscious drives and early childhood experiences.
6. Which attachment style is associated with inconsistent caregiving?
A) Secure
B) Avoidant
C) Anxious/ambivalent
D) Disorganized
Inconsistent caregiving leads to uncertainty in the child.
,7. “Stranger anxiety” typically emerges during:
A) Birth
B) 1 month
C) 6–12 months
D) Adolescence
It coincides with attachment formation.
8. Which researcher is most associated with observational learning theory?
A) Piaget
B) Bandura
C) Erikson
D) Skinner
Bandura developed social learning theory.
9. In Erikson’s theory, adolescence is characterized by:
A) Trust vs mistrust
B) Autonomy vs shame
C) Industry vs inferiority
D) Identity vs role confusion
Adolescents develop a sense of self.
10. Which reinforcement schedule produces the highest resistance to extinction?
A) Fixed ratio
B) Fixed interval
C) Variable ratio
D) Continuous reinforcement
Unpredictable rewards strengthen behavior.
11. The concept of conservation appears in which Piaget stage?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Children understand quantity remains constant despite changes in form.
12. Which type of attachment is most adaptive?
A) Avoidant
B) Anxious
C) Disorganized
D) Secure attachment
Associated with better emotional regulation.
13. Which is NOT a characteristic of formal operational thinking?
A) Abstract reasoning
B) Hypothetical thinking
C) Systematic problem-solving
D) Egocentrism in thinking
Egocentrism declines earlier in development.
14. The “still-face experiment” primarily studies:
A) Memory development
B) Language acquisition
C) Infant social interaction and attachment
, D) Motor development
It examines caregiver-infant communication.
15. According to Kohlberg, moral reasoning develops through:
A) Conditioning
B) Emotional attachment
C) Stages of moral development
D) Genetic programming
Reasoning evolves from preconventional to postconventional.
16. Preoperational thinking is characterized by:
A) Logical reasoning
B) Abstract thought
C) Egocentrism and centration
D) Scientific reasoning
Children focus on one aspect of a situation.
17. Which behavior best demonstrates “scaffolding”?
A) Punishing mistakes
B) Ignoring errors
C) Providing structured support that is gradually removed
D) Allowing independent trial and error only
Support is adjusted to learner ability.
18. Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment demonstrated:
A) Genetic influence on aggression
B) Classical conditioning
C) Modeling of aggressive behavior
D) Cognitive conflict
Children imitate observed behavior.
19. Which of the following is an example of classical conditioning?
A) Rewarding good grades
B) Fear response to a neutral stimulus paired with shock
C) Learning by observation
D) Insight learning
Association between stimuli leads to learning.
20. Which stage follows Erikson’s “identity vs role confusion”?
A) Industry vs inferiority
B) Trust vs mistrust
C) Intimacy vs isolation
D) Generativity vs stagnation
Young adulthood focuses on relationships.
21. Language development is most rapid during:
A) Adolescence
B) Adulthood
C) Early childhood
D) Late adulthood
Critical period for language acquisition.
22. Which theorist emphasized moral development based on justice reasoning?
A) Freud
NEWEST UPDATE 2026 QUESTIONS FROM ACTUAL
EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD GRADED A+
1. Which theory best explains cognitive development as a result of interaction between
biological maturation and environmental experience?
A) Psychoanalytic theory
B) Behaviorism
C) Cognitive-Developmental Theory (Piaget)
D) Ethological theory
Piaget emphasizes that children actively construct knowledge through interaction with
their environment.
2. In Piaget’s theory, which stage is characterized by object permanence?
A) Preoperational
B) Sensorimotor
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Object permanence develops during the sensorimotor stage (0–2 years).
3. Vygotsky’s concept of the “Zone of Proximal Development” refers to:
A) Skills a child can perform independently
B) Genetic limits of intelligence
C) Difference between what a child can do alone and with help
D) Fixed cognitive abilities at birth
It emphasizes learning through guided assistance.
4. Which term describes development occurring in distinct stages?
A) Continuous development
B) Discontinuous development
C) Plastic development
D) Linear development
Stage theories propose qualitative shifts in thinking.
5. According to Freud, personality develops primarily through:
A) Reinforcement schedules
B) Cognitive conflict
C) Psychosexual stages
D) Social modeling
Freud emphasized unconscious drives and early childhood experiences.
6. Which attachment style is associated with inconsistent caregiving?
A) Secure
B) Avoidant
C) Anxious/ambivalent
D) Disorganized
Inconsistent caregiving leads to uncertainty in the child.
,7. “Stranger anxiety” typically emerges during:
A) Birth
B) 1 month
C) 6–12 months
D) Adolescence
It coincides with attachment formation.
8. Which researcher is most associated with observational learning theory?
A) Piaget
B) Bandura
C) Erikson
D) Skinner
Bandura developed social learning theory.
9. In Erikson’s theory, adolescence is characterized by:
A) Trust vs mistrust
B) Autonomy vs shame
C) Industry vs inferiority
D) Identity vs role confusion
Adolescents develop a sense of self.
10. Which reinforcement schedule produces the highest resistance to extinction?
A) Fixed ratio
B) Fixed interval
C) Variable ratio
D) Continuous reinforcement
Unpredictable rewards strengthen behavior.
11. The concept of conservation appears in which Piaget stage?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Children understand quantity remains constant despite changes in form.
12. Which type of attachment is most adaptive?
A) Avoidant
B) Anxious
C) Disorganized
D) Secure attachment
Associated with better emotional regulation.
13. Which is NOT a characteristic of formal operational thinking?
A) Abstract reasoning
B) Hypothetical thinking
C) Systematic problem-solving
D) Egocentrism in thinking
Egocentrism declines earlier in development.
14. The “still-face experiment” primarily studies:
A) Memory development
B) Language acquisition
C) Infant social interaction and attachment
, D) Motor development
It examines caregiver-infant communication.
15. According to Kohlberg, moral reasoning develops through:
A) Conditioning
B) Emotional attachment
C) Stages of moral development
D) Genetic programming
Reasoning evolves from preconventional to postconventional.
16. Preoperational thinking is characterized by:
A) Logical reasoning
B) Abstract thought
C) Egocentrism and centration
D) Scientific reasoning
Children focus on one aspect of a situation.
17. Which behavior best demonstrates “scaffolding”?
A) Punishing mistakes
B) Ignoring errors
C) Providing structured support that is gradually removed
D) Allowing independent trial and error only
Support is adjusted to learner ability.
18. Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment demonstrated:
A) Genetic influence on aggression
B) Classical conditioning
C) Modeling of aggressive behavior
D) Cognitive conflict
Children imitate observed behavior.
19. Which of the following is an example of classical conditioning?
A) Rewarding good grades
B) Fear response to a neutral stimulus paired with shock
C) Learning by observation
D) Insight learning
Association between stimuli leads to learning.
20. Which stage follows Erikson’s “identity vs role confusion”?
A) Industry vs inferiority
B) Trust vs mistrust
C) Intimacy vs isolation
D) Generativity vs stagnation
Young adulthood focuses on relationships.
21. Language development is most rapid during:
A) Adolescence
B) Adulthood
C) Early childhood
D) Late adulthood
Critical period for language acquisition.
22. Which theorist emphasized moral development based on justice reasoning?
A) Freud
