Ch14 Socioemotional Development In Middle Verified Test Bank

Essentials of Life-Span Development, 6e (Santrock)

Chapter 14 Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood

1) Erikson proposed that middle-aged adults face a significant issue, which he termed

A) intimacy versus isolation.

B) integrity versus despair.

C) generativity versus stagnation.

D) autonomy versus shame and doubt.

2) Which of the following is the seventh stage of Erikson's psychosocial theory?

A) intimacy versus isolation

B) integrity versus despair

C) autonomy versus shame and doubt

D) generativity versus stagnation

3) In Erikson's theory, ________ encompasses adults' desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation.

A) self-actualization

B) generativity

C) self-absorption

D) perpetuity

4) In Erikson's theory, adults strive for generativity to achieve a sense of

A) immortality.

B) recognition.

C) achievement.

D) omniscience.

5) Jared is 50 years old. He has been working in a corporate law firm since the past 25 years. Even though he has been successful in his career, he realizes that he has done nothing for his children. According to Erikson's theory, Jared's realization indicates ________.

A) perpetuity

B) generativity

C) self-actualization

D) stagnation

6) Abdiel has three children. According to Erikson, he has achieved

A) biological generativity.

B) parental generativity.

C) biological stagnation.

D) cultural stagnation.

7) Jacqueline nurtures and guides her children. According to Erik Erikson, she has achieved ________ generativity.

A) biological

B) parental

C) work

D) cultural

8) Guillermo has taught his apprentices all the specialized techniques he has developed over the years as a carpenter. According to Erikson, he has achieved ________ generativity.

A) biological

B) parental

C) work

D) cultural

9) As he looks back at life, Chris realizes that his work was not as important to him as he believed and that he lost too much valuable time with his children. If he could do it over again, he would work less and spend more time with his children. According to Erikson, Chris is experiencing some degree of

A) social rejection.

B) apathy.

C) generativity.

D) stagnation.

10) Saeko has committed herself to the continuation and improvement of society as a whole through her connection and relationship with their children and grandchildren. According to Erikson, she is

A) self-absorbed.

B) generative.

C) stagnant.

D) apathetic.

11) In a longitudinal study of Smith College women, the desire for ________ increased as the participants aged from their thirties to their fifties.

A) generativity

B) self-concept

C) stagnation

D) self-absorption

12) Which of the following statements is true of Erikson's stage of generativity versus stagnation?

A) Universally, research refutes Erikson's theory that generativity is an important dimension of middle age.

B) Generative adults usually refrain from committing themselves to the continuation and improvement of society as a whole.

C) Generative adults develop a positive legacy of the self and then offer it as a gift to the next generation.

D) Adults usually strive to achieve a kind of recognition through legacies.

13) According to Levinson, which of the following should occur at the end of one's teens?

A) a transition from dependence to independence

B) an increase in generativity

C) an increase in feelings of stagnation

D) a transition from conventional to postconventional reasoning

14) According to Levinson, the transition from dependence to independence is marked by the

A) realization of a goal.

B) testing of a dream.

C) free experimentation of a dream.

D) formation of a dream.

15) Jensen is 25 years old, and he will be starting his career as a business analyst. According to Levinson, Jensen is in the ________ phase of adult development.

A) stagnant

B) novice

C) expert

D) generative

16) According to Levinson, which of the following is a major task that needs to be mastered in early adulthood?

A) exploring the possibilities for adult living

B) determining one's goals in life

C) testing one's dreams in the real world

D) becoming independent

17) According to Levinson, identify a major task that must be mastered in early adulthood.

A) reaching the pinnacle of one's career

B) developing a stable life structure

C) focusing on family development

D) forming an image of one's career

18) From about the ages of 28 to 33, a man goes through a transition period in which he must face the more serious question of

A) achieving his independence.

B) forming his dreams.

C) achieving his goals.

D) determining his goals.

19) Kyle just celebrated his 40th birthday. According to Levinson, Kyle has

A) reached a stable point in his career.

B) just started to determine his goals.

C) just formed a dream about his future.

D) just started his career and is focused.

20) According to Levinson, the transition to middle adulthood lasts about ________ years.

A) 2

B) 4

C) 5

D) 7

21) According to Levinson, the transition to middle adulthood requires the adult male come to grips with four major conflicts. Which of the following is one of the major conflicts?

A) being young versus being old

B) being attractive versus being unattractive

C) being extroverted versus being introverted

D) being married versus being single

22) According to Levinson, the transition to middle adulthood requires the adult male come to grips with four major conflicts. One of the major conflicts is

A) being married versus being single.

B) being attractive versus being unattractive.

C) being destructive versus being constructive.

D) being extroverted versus being introverted.

23) According to Levinson, the ________ rests on how effectively an individual reduces the polarities and accepts each of them as an integral part of his or her being.

A) failure of adolescent transition

B) success of the midlife transition

C) success of transition into early adulthood

D) success of transition into late adulthood

24) Daniel Levinson's studies suggest that most adults feel that middle age is a time of

A) crisis.

B) reconsolidation.

C) peace and tranquility.

D) intimacy and social closeness.

25) What did Levinson's research conclude about women in midlife transition?

A) Women have significantly less distress during this process.

B) Women face the midlife transition earlier and with greater difficulty than do men.

C) Women who have children experience an easier time during midlife than those who do not have children.

D) Levinson reported that his stages, transitions, and the crisis of middle age hold for women as well as men.

26) George Vaillant concludes that ________ is a time for detecting parental flaws and discovering the truth about childhood.

A) adolescence

B) late adulthood

C) middle adulthood

D) old age

27) Jenna is reevaluating and recording the facts about her adolescent and adulthood years. According to the Grant Study by George Vaillant, Jenna is most likely in her ________.

A) 40s

B) 50s

C) 60s

D) 30s

28) Which of the following is a major difference between Levinson's and Valliant's views on midlife?

A) Unlike Valliant, Levinson believes that only males experience a midlife crisis.

B) Unlike Levinson, Valliant maintains that only a minority of adults experience a midlife crisis.

C) Levinson maintains that the transition period to midlife is 6 years, while Valliant holds it to be 8 years.

D) Unlike Levinson, Valliant's study was mainly focused on white, middle-aged, male population within the upper SES of society.

29) Adult development experts are virtually unanimous in their belief that midlife crises

A) have been validated.

B) have been exaggerated.

C) have no cross-cultural validity.

D) have been underestimated.

30) Which of the following acts as the focus of stage theories trying to explain midlife?

A) universals of adult personality development

B) gender differences in adult personality development

C) individual variations in adult development

D) cultural variations in adult personality development

31) Which of the following is a shortcoming of stage theories of adult development?

A) They do not adequately address universals of adult personality development.

B) They do not adequately address individual variations in adult development.

C) They place far too much importance on cultural variations in adult development.

D) They place too much importance on individual variations in adult development.

32) According to Lachman, researchers have found that in one-third of the cases in which individuals have reported going through a midlife crisis, the crisis

A) varies between men and women.

B) leads to emotional instability.

C) is related to aging.

D) is triggered by life events.

33) The ________ life-events approach emphasized the manner in which life events that influence an individual's development depends not only on these events but also on mediating factors.

A) contemporary

B) standard

C) cognitive

D) assimilative

34) According to the contemporary life-events approach, one of the factors on which the influence of life events depends is the

A) individual's cognitive capacity.

B) individual's adaptation.

C) individual's personality.

D) individual's race.

35) The life-events approach to understanding adult development has been criticized because it

A) placed too much emphasis on change.

B) ignored the developmental stages adults go through.

C) did not consider the female experience.

D) focused on minor and not major life events.

36) According to the Almeida and Horn's study, which of the following is the difference in the experience of stressors between young adults and middle-aged adults?

A) Unlike middle-aged adults, young adults experienced daily stressors less frequently.

B) Unlike young adults, middle-aged adults experienced less multiple stressors than older adults.

C) Unlike middle-aged adults, young adults were less physically reactive to work stressors.

D) Unlike young adults, middle-aged adults experienced more "overload" stressors.

37) According to Lachman, researchers have found that on average a sense of personal control peaks in ________ and then declines.

A) early adulthood

B) midlife

C) adolescence

D) late adulthood

38) Over which of the following aspects of life do middle-aged adults feel they have the least control?

A) finances

B) sex life

C) work

D) marriage

39) Middle-aged adults feel they have less control over their

A) marriage.

B) finances.

C) work.

D) children.

40) According to research, women and men differ in the way they experience and respond to stressors. When coping with stress, women were more likely than men to

A) try to fix problems themselves.

B) engage in comfort eating.

C) attend a support group meeting.

D) have sex or use pornography.

41) Amanda got divorced after 15 years of marriage. Ever since, she has been experiencing high levels of stress. To cope with stress, Amanda is most likely to

A) attend a support group meeting.

B) have sex or use pornography.

C) take prescription medication.

D) withdraw from social contact.

42) According to research, women and men differ in the way they experience and respond to stressors. When coping with stress, men were more likely than women to

A) read a self-help book.

B) engage in comfort eating.

C) take prescription medication.

D) have sex or use pornography.

43) Darren has a stressful work life. His workload has increased threefold, and he is having a hard time dealing with stress. In such a situation, Darren is most likely to

A) take prescription medication.

B) read a self-help book.

C) attend a support group meeting.

D) seek psychotherapy.

44) Adam has been facing work-related stress lately. The stress is negatively affecting his health. Adam is likely to respond in a

A) composed manner.

B) fight-or-flight manner.

C) stagnant manner.

D) tend-and-befriend pattern.

45) Hannah is grieving the death of her mother, so she is experiencing extreme stress. She is likely to engage in

A) a tend-and-befriend pattern.

B) an aggressive behavior.

C) a fight-or-flight response.

D) social distancing.

46) In the context of stress, which of the following is a difference between a fight-or-flight manner and a tend-and-befriend pattern?

A) A fight-or-flight manner involves becoming aggressive and withdrawing from social contact, whereas a tend-and-befriend pattern involves seeking social alliances with others, especially friends.

B) When women face stress, they are more likely to respond in a fight-or-flight manner, whereas when men experience stress, they are more likely to engage in a tend-and-befriend pattern.

C) A fight-or-flight manner involves seeking psychotherapy or reading a self-help book, whereas a tend-and-befriend pattern involves not admitting to have problems and fixing problems without anyone's help.

D) When older adults face stress, they are more likely to respond in a fight-or-flight manner, whereas when adolescents experience stress, they are more likely to engage in a tend-and-befriend pattern.

47) Gary got divorced after 7 years of marriage. He is highly stressed and is using the fight-or-flight manner to respond to stress. Gary is most likely to

A) withdraw from social contact.

B) be merciful and forgiving.

C) seek social alliances.

D) tend and befriend people.

48) Which of the following supertraits deals with emotional stability and describes an individual as being calm or anxious?

A) conscientiousness

B) extraversion

C) openness

D) neuroticism

49) Which of the following is one of the Big Five factors of personality identified by Costa and McCrae?

A) enthusiasm

B) patience

C) adaptability

D) conscientiousness

50) Which of the following is the conclusion of the study conducted by Costa and McCrae on approximately 1,000 college-educated men and women aged 20 to 96?

A) Considerable stability occurs in the five personality factors.

B) Extraversion is the most unstable personality factor.

C) While extraversion and openness remained stable, agreeableness and conscientiousness varied greatly.

D) The five personality factors were very unstable across different age groups.

51) Which of the following is one of the Big Five factors of personality?

A) generativity

B) extraversion

C) transitivity

D) stagnation

52) A recent study by Specht, Egloff, and Schukle found that ________ showed a continuous increase from early adulthood to late adulthood.

A) agreeableness

B) extraversion

C) conscientiousness

D) openness

53) Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes whether an individual is imaginative or practical?

A) agreeableness

B) extraversion

C) conscientiousness

D) openness to experience

54) Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes whether an individual is independent or conforming.

A) openness to experience

B) extraversion

C) conscientiousness

D) agreeableness

55) Carla is described by her coworkers as highly organized and meticulous. She has a strong sense of self-discipline. According to the Big Five factors of personality, Carla is most likely to score high on

A) openness to experience.

B) extraversion.

C) conscientiousness.

D) agreeableness.

56) Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes a person as either disciplined or impulsive?

A) openness to experience

B) conscientiousness

C) neuroticism

D) agreeableness

57) Becky is careless, impulsive, and disorganized. According to the Big Five personality factors, Becky is most likely to score low on

A) openness to experience.

B) agreeableness.

C) neuroticism.

D) conscientiousness.

58) Chelsea is described as somber and reserved by her coworkers. According to the Big Five factors of personality, Chelsea is most likely to score low on

A) extraversion.

B) openness to experience.

C) conscientiousness.

D) agreeableness.

59) Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes whether an individual is fun-loving or somber.

A) agreeableness

B) openness to experience

C) conscientiousness

D) extraversion

60) Diana is fun-loving, sociable, and affectionate with all her friends and acquaintances. Identify the Big Five personality factor that describes this aspect of Diana's personality.

A) extraversion

B) conscientiousness

C) neuroticism

D) agreeableness

61) Jason's friends describe him as softhearted, trustworthy, and helpful. According to the Big Five factors of personality, Jason is most likely to score high on

A) conscientiousness.

B) openness to experience.

C) agreeableness.

D) extraversion.

62) According to the Big Five factors of personality, which of the following personality supertraits describes an individual as either secure or insecure?

A) neuroticism

B) agreeableness

C) openness

D) extraversion

63) Which of the following Big Five personality factors describes an individual as either self-satisfied or self-pitying?

A) openness

B) agreeableness

C) neuroticism

D) extraversion

64) Most research studies indicate that the greatest change in personality traits occurs in

A) midlife.

B) late midlife.

C) late adulthood.

D) early adulthood.

65) A study by Briley, Domiteaux, and Tucker-Drob (2014) revealed that ________ was related to superior cognitive functioning and IQ across the life span.

A) agreeableness

B) openness

C) extraversion

D) neuroticism

66) According to a study by Donnellan, Larsen-Rife, and Conger (2005), individuals high on ________ were more likely to have satisfying romantic relationships.

A) agreeableness

B) neuroticism

C) extraversion

D) openness

67) According to research, which of the following is a difference between individuals high in conscientiousness and individuals high in neuroticism?

A) Individuals high in conscientiousness are more likely to live longer, whereas individuals high in neuroticism are more likely to die at a younger age.

B) Individuals high in conscientiousness are more likely to be drug dependent, whereas individuals high in neuroticism are more likely to have an alcohol addiction.

C) Individuals high in conscientiousness are successful entrepreneurs, whereas individuals high in neuroticism are successful managers.

D) Individuals high in conscientiousness feel negative emotion than positive emotion in daily life, whereas individuals high in neuroticism experience more lingering positive states.

68) In the Berkeley Longitudinal Studies, which of the following characteristics was generally stable in the life span of an adult?

A) nurturance

B) hostility

C) self-control

D) self-confidence

69) In the Berkeley Longitudinal Studies, which of the following characteristics generally changed the most in the life span of an adult?

A) intellectual orientation

B) nurturance or hostility

C) openness to experience

D) self-confidence

70) Which of the following statements is true of George Vaillant's longitudinal studies of adulthood and aging?

A) Factors such as having good coping skills and being thankful were linked with the "happy-well" category.

B) Only individuals with normal weight were more likely to be alive and happy at 75 to 80 years of age.

C) Intimacy in middle age was more strongly related than generativity whether individuals would have an enduring and happy marriage at 75 to 80 years of age.

D) Wealth and income at age 50 were usually linked with being in the "happy-well" category at 75 to 80 years of age.

71) According to George Vaillant's longitudinal studies, ________ in middle age was more strongly related than intimacy to whether individuals would have an enduring and happy marriage at 75 to 80 years of age.

A) generativity

B) stagnation

C) autonomy

D) assuming a traditional gender role

72) Vaillant's research showed that at age 50, the best predictors of who would be dead at 75 to 80 years of age were

A) chronic depression and cardiovascular disease.

B) diabetes and depression.

C) alcohol abuse and smoking.

D) smoking and obesity.

73) In the longitudinal studies by George Vaillant, one of the factors at age 50 that was linked with being in the "happy-well" category of 75- to 80-year-olds was

A) being future-oriented.

B) being wealthy.

C) having a stable job.

D) having children.

74) The ________ model of personality development states that with time and age people become more adept at interacting with their environment in ways that promote increased stability in personality.

A) cognitive personality

B) cumulative personality

C) humanistic personality

D) integrative personality

75) Middle-aged Americans agree that a major component of their well-being involves

A) physical health.

B) positive relationships.

C) recovering from a midlife crisis.

D) a stable financial situation.

76) What are the two major forms of love?

A) passionate and intimate

B) companionate and consummate

C) romantic and affectionate

D) sexual and noncommittal

77) Cathy and Miguel have been dating for 6 months. Which of the following is likely to be LEAST important in their relationship considering that both are in early adulthood?

A) passion

B) loyalty

C) physical attraction

D) romance

78) Don and Ellie have been married for over 30 years. Which of the following is likely to be MOST important in their relationship?

A) romance

B) passion

C) infatuation

D) security

79) Humberto and Xanat are a middle-aged couple. They have been married for 25 years. They view their marriage as a positive experience. According to a study by Gorchoff, John, and Helson, it is likely that they

A) have a satisfying sexual relationship.

B) feel a high level of physical attraction toward each other.

C) engage in mutual activities.

D) are religious.

80) In a survey conducted by AARP (2004), divorced adults reported that they had generally stayed married and postponed their divorces because of

A) their children.

B) financial problems.

C) religious beliefs.

D) cultural norms.

81) In a survey conducted by AARP (2004), which of the following is a reason cited by middle-aged and older women for their divorce?

A) alcohol or drug abuse

B) falling out of love

C) unemployment

D) difference in values

82) In a survey conducted by AARP (2004), the primary reason middle-aged and older women cited for wanting a divorce was

A) verbal, physical, or emotional abuse.

B) different values and lifestyles.

C) unemployment.

D) falling out of love.

83) In a survey conducted by AARP (2004), one of the reasons middle-aged and older men cited for wanting a divorce was

A) verbal, physical, or emotional abuse.

B) different values and lifestyles.

C) alcohol or drug abuse.

D) unemployment.

84) Angelo and his wife just had their last child move out of the house. He and his wife had lived vicariously through their children, letting their sports activities and various achievements dominate their lives. Now, they may experience ________, which includes a decline in marital satisfaction after children leave the home.

A) life dilemma

B) chronic discontent

C) the empty nest syndrome

D) alienation

85) Which of the following statements is true of the empty nest syndrome?

A) Parents who live vicariously with their children do not experience it.

B) It is more common in middle-aged men than for middle-aged women.

C) It is a common, though minor, problem for most middle-aged adults.

D) It involves a decline in marital satisfaction after children leave the home.

86) Trevor and Michelle's last child has just left home to attend college. According to a study conducted by Gorchoff, John, and Helson in 2008, this will most likely be a time when

A) Trevor and Michelle will grow emotionally distant.

B) Michelle will feel depressed, but Trevor will not.

C) Trevor and Michelle will spend less time together as they both pursue outside interests.

D) Trevor and Michelle will have increased marital satisfaction.

87) Katie, a 30-year-old woman, is working as a freelance writer. Recently, she decided to move in with her parents. However, both Katie and her parents are facing adjustment issues. According to research, which of the following is most likely a common complaint voiced by both Katie and her parents?

A) a lack of social interaction

B) a lack of career development

C) an increased strain on finances

D) a loss of privacy

88) According to a study by Cicirelli in 2009, the majority of sibling relationships in adulthood are

A) close.

B) neutral.

C) apathetic.

D) distant.

89) Which of the following is true of middle-aged and older adults who had poor sibling relationships in childhood?

A) Men are more likely to develop depression by age 50.

B) Women are more likely to develop depression by 40.

C) Both men and women tend to re-bond with their siblings during middle age.

D) Women tend to move away from sibling relationships.

90) Which of the following statements is true of sibling relationships?

A) Siblings who were psychologically distant from each other in childhood tend to be close in adulthood.

B) The majority of sibling relationships in adulthood are apathetic.

C) Sibling relationships rarely persist over the entire life span for most adults.

D) It is rare for sibling closeness to develop for the first time in adulthood.

91) Gerard and his sister were never close when growing up. Now that they are adults, it is most likely that their relationship is

A) neutral.

B) close.

C) distant.

D) improving.

92) Which of the following is a factor that could undermine the influence of increases in longevity on the nature of grandparenting?

A) changing gender roles in child rearing

B) early marriage and childbirth

C) single-parenting and same-sex parents

D) the current trend of delaying childbearing

93) Which of the following is one of the main reasons that grandparents are thrust back into the "parenting" role they thought they had shed?

A) spousal abuse

B) adolescent pregnancies

C) financial problems

D) filling the "empty nest"

94) Which of the following statements is true of grandparents providing full-time care for their grandchildren?

A) At least half of the grandparents who move in with their children are nonimmigrants.

B) The majority of grandparents who move in with their children and grandchildren are in poverty.

C) More grandfathers than grandmothers take care of their grandchildren.

D) The majority of grandparents who move in to take care of their grandchildren also contribute to the family income.

95) Middle adulthood is referred to as the sandwich generation because

A) life is very hectic and families rarely have a full meal together.

B) people expect middle-aged adults to be both wise and mature as well as young and energetic.

C) middle-aged adults are caught in a conflict between caring more for their spouse's parents than their own.

D) middle-aged adults may have to care for their own adolescent children as well as their elderly parents.

96) According to research on intergenerational relationships, in which of the following ways is an adult child most likely to be similar to his or her parents?

A) in politics

B) in lifestyle

C) in gender roles

D) in work orientation

97) Which of the following statements is true of intergenerational relationships?

A) Individuals who had conflicts with their parents in adolescence reported greater closeness with their parents in early adulthood.

B) A similarity between parents and an adult child is most noticeable in religion and politics.

C) Children who spent less time in shared activities with their parents earlier in their lives provided more support to their parents as they became older.

D) Parents who were regular smokers earlier were less likely to have adolescents who became smokers.

98) According to research by Rossi, who among the following were found to have the closest relationships during their adult years?

A) fathers and sons

B) mothers and sons

C) fathers and daughters

D) mothers and daughters

99) In the context of intergenerational relationships, which of the following is a finding of a study by Rossi?

A) Fathers and their sons have a much closer relationship during their adult years than fathers and daughters.

B) Men's relationships across generations are typically closer than other family bonds.

C) Fathers' intergenerational ties are more influential for grandparent-grandchild relationships than mothers'.

D) Married men are more involved with their wives' kin than with their own.

100) Identify the term Erikson assigned to the seventh stage in his life-span theory.

101) Identify the theorist who proposed that middle-aged adults faced the significant issue of generativity versus stagnation.

102) According to Erik Erikson, identify the term that refers to an adult's desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation.

103) Identify the theorist who conducted the "Grant Study" and suggested that only a minority of adults experience a midlife crisis.

104) Identify the theorists who studied adult personality by examining stability and change in the Big Five factors of personality.

105) Identify the main reason the middle-aged and older men cited for their divorce.

106) Identify the term that refers to a decrease in marital satisfaction after children leave home, because parents derive considerable satisfaction from their children.

107) Identify the term that is applied to young adults who return to their parents' homes to live.

108) Identify and discuss the seventh stage of Erik Erikson's life-span view.

109) According to Daniel Levinson, what are the four major conflicts that an adult male should deal with?

110) Based on the contemporary life-events approach to development, describe the factors that influence an individual's development.

111) Describe how middle-aged adults perceive control over what happens to them.

112) Describe how parents undergo adjustments as a result of a child's absence during the launching of the child into adult life.

113) Based on the findings of the Berkeley Longitudinal Studies, what is the major criticism against adult stage theories?

114) Why have middle-aged adults been described as the "sandwich" generation? What is an alternative to this view?