2014-2015
PSY 203 Departmental Exam Study Guide
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What is human development? Briefly discuss environment contexts for development.
Differentiate between nature and nurture with regard to development.
What is the difference between a cross-sectional and a longitudinal research design?
Briefly describe the information processing view of human development with regard to gains in
processing capacity.
Explain the importance of social interaction according to Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory.
Outline the phases of prenatal development, noting the major milestones that occur in each phase.
What is Down Syndrome? How does a mother’s age affect the risk of bearing a baby with Down
Syndrome?
What is a teratogen? In which stage of prenatal development is the unborn child most vulnerable
to teratogens?
Differentiate between the cephalocaudal trend and the proximodistal trend in terms of physical
growth and motor control.
List and describe the three basic infant temperaments as described by Thomas and Chess.
Describe the findings of Harry Harlow’s research with baby monkeys.
What is attachment? List and describe patterns of infant attachment studied by Mary Ainsworth.
How does a father’s involvement with a baby affect the child’s development?
Outline and describe the eight psychosocial stages of development proposed by Erik Erikson,
indicating the ages of each stage.
Outline and describe the four stages of cognitive development proposed by Jean Piaget, indicating
the ages of each stage.
What is the difference between assimilation and accommodation?
Differentiate between the nativist, behaviorist, and interactionist perspectives of language
development. What evidence supports each theory?
Outline and explain the three levels of moral development proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg.
Discuss physical changes associated with puberty in both boys and girls.
Which area of the brain is the last to mature in humans?
Discuss sex differences in aggressiveness and verbal and math abilities.
Which age group has the highest ratio of attempted to completed suicides?
Outline the four identity statuses proposed by James Marcia. What are the main two dimensions
considered with the four statuses?
Do the Big Five personality traits tend to change or remain relatively stable through middle
adulthood?
How common is a midlife crisis? What is a midlife transition?
Describe changes in gender identity in midlife.
What is the empty nest period? How do most parents react to it?
At what age does menopause typically occur?
List and describe the three components of personality proposed by Sigmund Freud.
Contrast Erikson’s theory of development with Freud’s theory of development.
Why do students drop out of college?
What is active lifespan?
Describe trends in housing arrangements for older adults. Why do many elders live in their own
homes?
Discuss factors associated with elder maltreatment.
Discuss indirect self-destructive acts that are common with suicide in old age.
2014-2015
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List factors in late adulthood that increase the likelihood of falling.
What is osteoporosis?
What is a kinkeeper? Who usually assumes this role in the family?
Differentiate between problem-centered coping and emotion-centered coping with regard to stress
management.
40. Describe fluid and crystallized intelligence, and discuss changes in these types of intelligence as
people move through adulthood.
41. Do women or men have a longer life expectancy?