CPSY 3301 MIDTERM #2 EXAM QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026
-Contentment (Happiness, interest)
-Distress (anger, fear, disgust)
-Most evidence is inferred from facial expressions
-Adults can hide their emotions - Answers Describe and give examples of the components of
emotion. What evidence is there that young infants can experience emotions? Do these emotions
differ from those of adults?
Advantages
- High rater credibility (raters correctly identify child's true emotions
- Most indirect evidence of showing emotion
- Cross-Cultural studies indicate high similarities across cultures. (Except fear and surprise in non-
industrialized areas)
Disadvantages:
- May not be valid across all contexts and ages
- Does not consider physiological indicators and brain activity (heart rate) - Answers Discuss the
advantages and disadvantages of using facial expressions as indicators of emotional states in
newborns and adults.
-Theory of Gradual Differentiation: The view that infants are born only with general emotional
reactions, which differentiate into basic emotions over the first 2 years.
-Differential Emotions Theory: The view that basic emotions are innate and emerge in their adult
form, either at birth or on a biologically determined timetable
-Ontogenetic Adaptations: Refers to a trait or behavior that has evolved because it contributes to
survival and normal development; in one view, infant emotions are ontogenetic adaptations. -
Answers Differentiate between the three main theories of emotional development. How is emotional
expression an important social skill for infants?
- Temperament: Behavioral consistencies that appear early in life, that are frequently emotional in
nature.
- Nature:
1. Differences appear early, innate dispositions
2. Heritability: Evidence from twin studies
- Nurture:
1. Only modest stability over time (can change).
2. Temperament is influenced by caregiving - Answers Define temperament and distinguish between
nature and nurture views on temperament.
- Procedure: Interviewed mothers about their infants. Then, followed the 141 infants from infancy
into adulthood.
- Dimensions are not all distinct from each other, temperament "types" are more distinct.
- Temperament traits have modest stability over time - Answers Describe the general procedure used
in Thomas & Chess' New York Longitudinal Study, and describe the 9 dimensions of temperament
derived from this study. Discuss the stability of temperament traits.
- Easy: Positive mood, fast adaptation, low-moderate activity, low intensity of reactions. ("flexible"
~40%)
- Difficult: Negative mood, slow adaptation, high activity, intense reactions, highly sensitive.
("spirited" ~10%)
- Slow-to-warm-up: Withdrawal, slow adaptation, low moderate activity, mild reactions ("shy" ~15%)
- Implications: 70% of difficult children develop behavioral problems by school age
- Goodness-of-fit model: Fit between temperament and caregiving predicts developmental outcomes
- Answers How would you describe a child with an easy, difficult, or slow-to-warm-up temperament
type? What are the implications of these temperament types for later behavior? Be sure to include a
description of the goodness-of-fit model in your answer.
- Changed over time: Current studies display that dimensions found in NYLS study are not very distinct
from each other.
- Temperament is only moderately stable over time (caregiving, culture can affect)
- Role of cognition: Rothbart emphasized individual differences in Reactivity and self-regulation -
Answers How has scientific understanding of temperament changed over time? Be sure to consider
environmental influences, stability over time, and the role of cognition.
, excitability, responsively or arousal of emotions, behavior and brain systems differs - Answers
Reactivity
How effective a person's neural and behavioral processes modulate reactivity. - Answers Self-
regulation
Mirror Testing
- 3 months: no recognition
- Under 15 months: Treat reflection as another child
- 24 months: Recognizes reflection as self. - Answers What are some indications of the new sense of
self that develops at the end of infancy? What evidence would indicate that a 2-year-old has
developed a "sense of self"?
- Self is mirrored in reactions of others (Kind caretaker makes us feel positive.
- How parents interact with children gets incorporated into self concept. - Answers Looking-Glass self
- Internalizing thought (instead of saying everything that comes to mind)
- Development of memory (especially autobiographical/personal memories)
- Self-Conscious emotions - Answers Cognitive changes while developing sense of self
Self-conscious emotions: Emotions such as embarrassment, pride, shame, guilt and envy. Develop at 8
months with infants' growing consciousness of self. - Answers What are self-conscious emotions, and
how do they differ from primary emotions? Describe evidence suggesting that infants have a sense of
right and wrong.
-Attachment: Enduring emotional tie between caregiver and child.
-Two functions:
1. Alleviate distress
2. Promote exploration
- Signs of attachment emerge at 6-12 months (universal) (cross-cultural evidence
Signs:
1. Separation Anxiety
2. Stranger Anxiety
3. Secure Base Behavior
4. Comfort Level (Seeking greeting behavior) - Answers Define attachment and describe the signs of
attachment in infants. At what age do these signs usually emerge? What evidence do we have that
attachment is universal?
- Procedure: Series of separations and reunions with caregiver. Escalation levels of stress, observing
signs of attachment.
- 4 Categories:
1. Secure: Uses caregiver as secure base, goes to parent upon return, effectively soothed by parent
(~65%)
2. Insecure: (3 subcategories)
a. Avoidant: Less responsive/slow to greet parents, react similarly to stranger as parent (~20%)
b. Resistant: Reduced exploration, seeks proximity but not readily soothed (~10%)
c. Disorganized: Confused, contradictory behavior (~5%)(Associated with develp. disorders, abuse)
* First three are all examples of organized attachment categories. - Answers Describe the "strange
situation" used to assess patterns of attachment. Describe the 4 categories of attachment. What kinds
of behaviors characterize each type of attachment? How might culture influence infants' behavior in
the "strange situation"?
- Psychoanalytic theory: Relationship with mother provides model for all other relationships. Baby
becomes attached to bother because she satisfies needs (hunger).
- Behaviorism: Caregiver meets infants' basic needs (Feeding, stress relief). Infants become attached
through reinforcement.
- Both wrong
- Harlow Study: Babies had cloth mom and wire mom, fed by wire mom. Used cloth mom as secure
base. Shows that we are biologically prepared to form close comforting relationships and feeding is
NOT primary basis for attachment. - Answers What is the origin of attachment according to
psychoanalytic theory (Freud, Erikson) and behaviorist theory? Describe Harlow's research on
monkeys, and the findings.
- Attachment is a coordinated set of behaviors that promotes proximity with a caregiver.
- Related to evolutionary history, if not for attachment human species would not survive (long period
of immaturity)
-Contentment (Happiness, interest)
-Distress (anger, fear, disgust)
-Most evidence is inferred from facial expressions
-Adults can hide their emotions - Answers Describe and give examples of the components of
emotion. What evidence is there that young infants can experience emotions? Do these emotions
differ from those of adults?
Advantages
- High rater credibility (raters correctly identify child's true emotions
- Most indirect evidence of showing emotion
- Cross-Cultural studies indicate high similarities across cultures. (Except fear and surprise in non-
industrialized areas)
Disadvantages:
- May not be valid across all contexts and ages
- Does not consider physiological indicators and brain activity (heart rate) - Answers Discuss the
advantages and disadvantages of using facial expressions as indicators of emotional states in
newborns and adults.
-Theory of Gradual Differentiation: The view that infants are born only with general emotional
reactions, which differentiate into basic emotions over the first 2 years.
-Differential Emotions Theory: The view that basic emotions are innate and emerge in their adult
form, either at birth or on a biologically determined timetable
-Ontogenetic Adaptations: Refers to a trait or behavior that has evolved because it contributes to
survival and normal development; in one view, infant emotions are ontogenetic adaptations. -
Answers Differentiate between the three main theories of emotional development. How is emotional
expression an important social skill for infants?
- Temperament: Behavioral consistencies that appear early in life, that are frequently emotional in
nature.
- Nature:
1. Differences appear early, innate dispositions
2. Heritability: Evidence from twin studies
- Nurture:
1. Only modest stability over time (can change).
2. Temperament is influenced by caregiving - Answers Define temperament and distinguish between
nature and nurture views on temperament.
- Procedure: Interviewed mothers about their infants. Then, followed the 141 infants from infancy
into adulthood.
- Dimensions are not all distinct from each other, temperament "types" are more distinct.
- Temperament traits have modest stability over time - Answers Describe the general procedure used
in Thomas & Chess' New York Longitudinal Study, and describe the 9 dimensions of temperament
derived from this study. Discuss the stability of temperament traits.
- Easy: Positive mood, fast adaptation, low-moderate activity, low intensity of reactions. ("flexible"
~40%)
- Difficult: Negative mood, slow adaptation, high activity, intense reactions, highly sensitive.
("spirited" ~10%)
- Slow-to-warm-up: Withdrawal, slow adaptation, low moderate activity, mild reactions ("shy" ~15%)
- Implications: 70% of difficult children develop behavioral problems by school age
- Goodness-of-fit model: Fit between temperament and caregiving predicts developmental outcomes
- Answers How would you describe a child with an easy, difficult, or slow-to-warm-up temperament
type? What are the implications of these temperament types for later behavior? Be sure to include a
description of the goodness-of-fit model in your answer.
- Changed over time: Current studies display that dimensions found in NYLS study are not very distinct
from each other.
- Temperament is only moderately stable over time (caregiving, culture can affect)
- Role of cognition: Rothbart emphasized individual differences in Reactivity and self-regulation -
Answers How has scientific understanding of temperament changed over time? Be sure to consider
environmental influences, stability over time, and the role of cognition.
, excitability, responsively or arousal of emotions, behavior and brain systems differs - Answers
Reactivity
How effective a person's neural and behavioral processes modulate reactivity. - Answers Self-
regulation
Mirror Testing
- 3 months: no recognition
- Under 15 months: Treat reflection as another child
- 24 months: Recognizes reflection as self. - Answers What are some indications of the new sense of
self that develops at the end of infancy? What evidence would indicate that a 2-year-old has
developed a "sense of self"?
- Self is mirrored in reactions of others (Kind caretaker makes us feel positive.
- How parents interact with children gets incorporated into self concept. - Answers Looking-Glass self
- Internalizing thought (instead of saying everything that comes to mind)
- Development of memory (especially autobiographical/personal memories)
- Self-Conscious emotions - Answers Cognitive changes while developing sense of self
Self-conscious emotions: Emotions such as embarrassment, pride, shame, guilt and envy. Develop at 8
months with infants' growing consciousness of self. - Answers What are self-conscious emotions, and
how do they differ from primary emotions? Describe evidence suggesting that infants have a sense of
right and wrong.
-Attachment: Enduring emotional tie between caregiver and child.
-Two functions:
1. Alleviate distress
2. Promote exploration
- Signs of attachment emerge at 6-12 months (universal) (cross-cultural evidence
Signs:
1. Separation Anxiety
2. Stranger Anxiety
3. Secure Base Behavior
4. Comfort Level (Seeking greeting behavior) - Answers Define attachment and describe the signs of
attachment in infants. At what age do these signs usually emerge? What evidence do we have that
attachment is universal?
- Procedure: Series of separations and reunions with caregiver. Escalation levels of stress, observing
signs of attachment.
- 4 Categories:
1. Secure: Uses caregiver as secure base, goes to parent upon return, effectively soothed by parent
(~65%)
2. Insecure: (3 subcategories)
a. Avoidant: Less responsive/slow to greet parents, react similarly to stranger as parent (~20%)
b. Resistant: Reduced exploration, seeks proximity but not readily soothed (~10%)
c. Disorganized: Confused, contradictory behavior (~5%)(Associated with develp. disorders, abuse)
* First three are all examples of organized attachment categories. - Answers Describe the "strange
situation" used to assess patterns of attachment. Describe the 4 categories of attachment. What kinds
of behaviors characterize each type of attachment? How might culture influence infants' behavior in
the "strange situation"?
- Psychoanalytic theory: Relationship with mother provides model for all other relationships. Baby
becomes attached to bother because she satisfies needs (hunger).
- Behaviorism: Caregiver meets infants' basic needs (Feeding, stress relief). Infants become attached
through reinforcement.
- Both wrong
- Harlow Study: Babies had cloth mom and wire mom, fed by wire mom. Used cloth mom as secure
base. Shows that we are biologically prepared to form close comforting relationships and feeding is
NOT primary basis for attachment. - Answers What is the origin of attachment according to
psychoanalytic theory (Freud, Erikson) and behaviorist theory? Describe Harlow's research on
monkeys, and the findings.
- Attachment is a coordinated set of behaviors that promotes proximity with a caregiver.
- Related to evolutionary history, if not for attachment human species would not survive (long period
of immaturity)
