Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Anissa Taun Rogers
Question Bank
10/08/2009
Chapter 11
Multiple Choice
1. One of the most troublesome changes that occur in middle adulthood (at least in
the U.S.) is
a. The lack of adequately funded retirement
b. The changes in physical appearance (p289)
c. The empty nest syndrome
d. Age discrimination
2. With regard to cognitive capacity in middle adulthood, one can expect to
experience:
a. Decrease in cognitive performance
b. Decrease in problem solving skills
c. Minimal decline if any (p290)
d. Decreased creativity
3. Patterns of behavior that, in combination with the environment, are shaping
forces in people’s lives at any given time refers to:
a. Life structures (p291)
b. Personality
c. Emotions
d. Self-esteem
4. According to Levinson’s theory of adult development, life structures
a. Are set when an individual is a child and rarely change
b. May shift and adjust as people gain new experiences (p291)
c. Are patterns of critical thinking
d. Exclude the environment
5. Levinson’s theory of adult development includes all of the following stages
EXCEPT:
a. Early adult transition
b. Middle adult transition
c. Adolescent transition (p291)
d. Late adult transition
6. With regard to menopause, most women experience
a. Anxiety
b. Depression
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Anissa Taun Rogers
Question Bank
10/08/2009
c. A welcomed relief
d. All of the above (p294)
7. The male climacteric refers to a period when many men
a. Reevaluate their careers & relationships (p296)
b. Tend to be cautious about taking new risks
c. Realize they are no longer young and stop trying
d. All of the above
8. The psychological process associated with the male climacteric is often referred to
as:
a. Depression
b. The midlife crisis (p296)
c. Youth-seeking behavior
d. Life structures
9. All the following are diseases that commonly occur in middle adulthood EXCEPT:
a. Diabetes
b. Hypertension
c. Heart disease
d. Presbycus (p298)
10. Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic blacks have ______ prevalence rates of
diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites.
a. Double (p300)
b. Comparable
c. Inconsequential
d. Research into this issue is inconclusive
11. Many critics argue the leading reason for divorce is:
a. The notion of “romantic love” (p302)
b. Conflict over finances
c. Marrying too young
d. Having too many children
12. In Sternberg’s theory of love, commitment refers to the type of love in which
a. There are no elements of closeness (p303)
b. There is a combination of all the elements of love
c. There is a lack of all the elements of love
d. The couple genuinely likes each other
13. The type of love that is a combination of passionate and commitment love is:
a. Romantic love
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Anissa Taun Rogers
Question Bank
10/08/2009
b. Companionate love
c. Fatuous love (p304)
d. Intimacy
14. Although divorce does not carry the stigma that it once did,
a. Women generally are the ones who suffer the most financially
b. Divorced men exhibit higher rates of suicide
c. Divorced men have shorter life spans
d. All the above (p305)
15. Research on the empty nest syndrome suggests there is…
a. A decrease in marital satisfaction
b. An increase in marital satisfaction
c. Minimal impact on marital satisfaction
d. Inconclusive research (p305)
16. The sandwich generation refers to those individuals who:
a. Are both parents and caretakers of their parents (p306)
b. Are caring for both biological and step children
c. Are middle aged
d. Have an excess of disposable income
17. Jobs that fill the gap between the time individuals stop full-time employment but
before they fully retire are referred to as:
a. Part-time jobs
b. Bridge jobs (p308)
c. Transition jobs
d. Recreational jobs
18. Compared to men, women’s employment patterns tend to be more:
a. Stable
b. Erratic
c. Varied (p309)
d. Predictable
19. Which of the following are considered ageist beliefs of middle-aged and elderly
people?
a. They are not sexual
b. They are not intelligent
c. They are not capable
d. All the above (p311)
20. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, passed in 1967,
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Anissa Taun Rogers
Question Bank
10/08/2009
a.
b.
c.
d.
Insures age discrimination will soon be a thing of the past
Only applies if you work for the federal government
Doesn’t cover anyone over the age of 80
May have even less of an impact on reducing age discrimination today
because there is no mandatory age of retirement (p311)
21. Disengagement theory
a. May actually reinforce beliefs that people lose their usefulness as they age
(p312)
b. Strengthens the idea that older adults are valuable members of our society
c. Explains how some older adults disengage from their children
d. None of the above
Short Answer
22. What are some of the issues present in middle adulthood with which social
workers might assist individuals? (p288)
23. Describe how a social worker could use Erikson’s theory of psychosocial
development to assist a client in middle adulthood who has suffered an injury and
can no longer work. (p290)
24. With regard to the early adult transition stage of Levinson’s theory of adult
development, what developmental tasks would a social worker want to assess
have been mastered? (p291-292)
25. Discuss the major criticism of Levinson’s theory of adult development. (p292)
26. Discuss the U.S. cultural response to a woman who has experienced menopause.
(p294-295)
27. What would Levinson’s theory say about the male climacteric? (p296)
28. Use systems theory to explain the challenges families might encounter when
remarriage occurs. (p305)
29. Describe how the media perpetuates the stereotypes and myths of aging. (p312)