Human Growth and Development Flashcards

Carol Gilligan criticized Kohlberg's moral development theory primarily because:

Answer: It was based on male samples and undervalued care-based reasoning

Gilligan argued that Kohlberg's theory was androcentric and that women tend to reason morally through an ethic of care rather than abstract justice.

In Piaget's theory, 'assimilation' occurs when a child:

Answer: Integrates new information into an existing schema

Assimilation is the cognitive process of incorporating new information into an already-existing schema without changing that schema.

Which of the following best describes 'scaffolding' as used in developmental psychology?

Answer: Temporary, adjustable assistance that is gradually removed as competence grows

Scaffolding involves providing just enough support to help a learner succeed at a task, then progressively withdrawing assistance as the learner gains independence.

According to Ainsworth's Strange Situation studies, a child who explores freely, shows distress when the caregiver leaves, and is quickly comforted upon return exhibits:

Answer: Secure attachment

Secure attachment is characterized by using the caregiver as a safe base for exploration and finding comfort in the caregiver's return after separation.

The concept of 'generativity vs. stagnation' in Erikson's theory is most associated with which life period?

Answer: Middle adulthood

Erikson placed Generativity vs. Stagnation in middle adulthood, where the key task involves contributing to future generations through parenting, mentoring, or creative work.

A child who can arrange objects in order from smallest to largest is demonstrating which Piagetian concrete operational skill?

Answer: Seriation

Seriation is the ability to arrange objects along a quantitative dimension such as length, weight, or size.

Which temperament dimension, identified by Thomas and Chess, describes infants who adapt slowly to new situations and tend to withdraw from novelty?

Answer: Slow-to-warm-up temperament

Slow-to-warm-up children show mild, low-intensity reactions to new situations and adapt gradually with repeated exposure.