WARRIOR EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Explain epigenetics, and describe the perspective most modern developmentalists take on the
nature-nurture debate. - ANS The study of how environmental factors affect genes and
genetic expression - enhancing, halting, shaping, or altering the expression of genes. Most
modern developmentalists take that there's multiple layers on it, it's one part genetic, and
another part learned by society. It is basically a combination between the two of them, they are
not separate. We are born with specific genetic traits and then your surroundings can influence
in them. You might be prone to get cancer because of family history but you might not develop
it in your life.
Define a critical period and a sensitive period. Explain the difference between the two periods,
and give an example of each. - ANS Critical period: A time when a particular type of
developmental growth (in body or behavior) must happen for normal development to occur.
Sensitive period: A time when a certain type of development is most likely, although it may still
happen later with more difficulty. The difference between the two of them is that in the critical
period something MUST happen for development to occur, if it doesn't happen, development
cannot occur. For example, there is a critical period for limbs to grow inside the uterus, if this is
interrupted, there is no other period where it can occur. And, a sensitive period it is when
something is most likely to happen, but if it doesn't occur in this period, it can happen later.
Example: language learning. Children are most likely to learn a language between the ages of 1
and 3, but if it does not happen during this time, they will learn later in life.
Define cohort, explain its effects, and give an example of one. - ANS People born within the
same historical period. They experience historical events (such as wars), technologies (such as
the smartphones), and cultural shifts (such as women's liberation) at the same ages. One of the
most common effects cohort has on people is change. Cohort marks changes in behavior,
attitudes and beliefs. For example, the group of people who experienced the first generation of
1 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
, cellphones made a change in their behavior and routine. They started using cellphones instead
of letters or beepers.
Describe culture, and explain why researchers interested in human development study
different cultures - ANS A system of shared beliefs, norms, behaviors, and expectations that
persist over time and prescribe social behavior and assumptions. They need to study different
cultures to know why people behave different, have different values and views based on their
cultural background.
Define and discuss the term plasticity as it relates to human development. What factors
influence plasticity in development? Offer at least one example of plasticity that has operated
or is operating in your own life - ANS Plasticity: every individual, and every trait within each
individual, can be altered at any point in the life span, and yet people maintain a certain
durability (as plastic does). Change is ongoing, although neither random nor easy. Plasticity
emphasizes that people can and do change, that predictions are not always accurate. New
behavior depends partly on what has already happened.
The factors that influence plasticity are: nature and nurture, sensitive periods, and genes.
Freud's theory of psychosexual development and Erikson's theory of psychosocial development
are two examples of psychoanalytic theories. Describe two similarities of the theories and two
differences between them - ANS Similarities: 1- Similarly to Freud, Erikson believed that
personality develops in a series of determined stages and that much of people's development
occurred early in life.
2- Both theorists recognize the importance of the unconscious on development.
Differences: 1- Freud focuses more on sexual pleasure sensations centered on a particular part
of the body, while Erikson stages focuses more on social crisis, family, and culture.
2- Freud believed that when an individual is fixated on a certain stage, the problems associated
with that particular stage would be carried out throughout his/her life. Whereas in Erikson's
psychosocial stages, the outcome of a particular stage is not permanent and can be changed by
later experiences.
2 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
ANSWERS
Explain epigenetics, and describe the perspective most modern developmentalists take on the
nature-nurture debate. - ANS The study of how environmental factors affect genes and
genetic expression - enhancing, halting, shaping, or altering the expression of genes. Most
modern developmentalists take that there's multiple layers on it, it's one part genetic, and
another part learned by society. It is basically a combination between the two of them, they are
not separate. We are born with specific genetic traits and then your surroundings can influence
in them. You might be prone to get cancer because of family history but you might not develop
it in your life.
Define a critical period and a sensitive period. Explain the difference between the two periods,
and give an example of each. - ANS Critical period: A time when a particular type of
developmental growth (in body or behavior) must happen for normal development to occur.
Sensitive period: A time when a certain type of development is most likely, although it may still
happen later with more difficulty. The difference between the two of them is that in the critical
period something MUST happen for development to occur, if it doesn't happen, development
cannot occur. For example, there is a critical period for limbs to grow inside the uterus, if this is
interrupted, there is no other period where it can occur. And, a sensitive period it is when
something is most likely to happen, but if it doesn't occur in this period, it can happen later.
Example: language learning. Children are most likely to learn a language between the ages of 1
and 3, but if it does not happen during this time, they will learn later in life.
Define cohort, explain its effects, and give an example of one. - ANS People born within the
same historical period. They experience historical events (such as wars), technologies (such as
the smartphones), and cultural shifts (such as women's liberation) at the same ages. One of the
most common effects cohort has on people is change. Cohort marks changes in behavior,
attitudes and beliefs. For example, the group of people who experienced the first generation of
1 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
, cellphones made a change in their behavior and routine. They started using cellphones instead
of letters or beepers.
Describe culture, and explain why researchers interested in human development study
different cultures - ANS A system of shared beliefs, norms, behaviors, and expectations that
persist over time and prescribe social behavior and assumptions. They need to study different
cultures to know why people behave different, have different values and views based on their
cultural background.
Define and discuss the term plasticity as it relates to human development. What factors
influence plasticity in development? Offer at least one example of plasticity that has operated
or is operating in your own life - ANS Plasticity: every individual, and every trait within each
individual, can be altered at any point in the life span, and yet people maintain a certain
durability (as plastic does). Change is ongoing, although neither random nor easy. Plasticity
emphasizes that people can and do change, that predictions are not always accurate. New
behavior depends partly on what has already happened.
The factors that influence plasticity are: nature and nurture, sensitive periods, and genes.
Freud's theory of psychosexual development and Erikson's theory of psychosocial development
are two examples of psychoanalytic theories. Describe two similarities of the theories and two
differences between them - ANS Similarities: 1- Similarly to Freud, Erikson believed that
personality develops in a series of determined stages and that much of people's development
occurred early in life.
2- Both theorists recognize the importance of the unconscious on development.
Differences: 1- Freud focuses more on sexual pleasure sensations centered on a particular part
of the body, while Erikson stages focuses more on social crisis, family, and culture.
2- Freud believed that when an individual is fixated on a certain stage, the problems associated
with that particular stage would be carried out throughout his/her life. Whereas in Erikson's
psychosocial stages, the outcome of a particular stage is not permanent and can be changed by
later experiences.
2 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
