Identity Quest
Peer Pressure Power
The Emotional Rollercoaster
Changing Body, Changing Mind
Finding My Path
The Work-Life Juggle
Settling Down (or Not)
Adulting 101
From college to career
Love, Marriage, and the Rest
The Parent Trap
100
14-year-old Marcus notices his hands seem too big for his body, and he keeps tripping over his suddenly larger feet. What normal developmental pattern explains Marcus's experience?
Distal-proximal development, where growth proceeds from the extremities (hands/feet) toward the torso
100
During a health class discussion, students are learning about development timelines. The teacher explains that changes in reproductive organs are called ____, while changes like voice deepening are called ____?
Primary sexual characteristics; Secondary sexual characteristics
100
In your campus debate club, you notice younger members tend to respond immediately with passionate arguments, while senior members take time to construct systematic rebuttals. A cognitive psychologist would explain this represents the developmental progression from this to this type of processing, which typically occurs with age.
What is the progression from intuitive to analytic processing?
100
This identity status is characterized by neither exploring options nor making commitments, leading to aimless drifting and lack of purpose. It's the least mature of Marcia's statuses
What is identity diffusion?
100
In your dorm, the theatre kids hang out together, the athletes stick together, and the music majors form their own group. Your psychology textbook explains this tendency as this principle
What is homophily?
100
During her first year of college, Maria considers the salaries, job demands, and personal interests for different career paths, including nursing and social work. She wants a career that aligns with her values and future goals. Which stage of career development does this represent?
What is Stage Three?
100
As a reserved person, Mia tends to choose quiet environments and friends with similar personalities. This choice of surroundings that reinforce her temperament illustrates which concept?
What is self-selected environments?
100
According to Hazan and Shaver, Laura feels comfortable relying on her partner without fears of abandonment, and she’s okay with them depending on her as well. This is characteristic of which attachment style?
What is secure attachment?
100
When asked about ideal traits in a romantic partner, people commonly list qualities that align with this attachment style. Which style is characterized by kindness, trustworthiness, and understanding?
What is secure attachment?
100
Anna has developed a close circle of friends and is in a committed relationship where both partners share their dreams and fears openly. This successful relationship-building aligns with which positive outcome in Erikson’s sixth stage?
What is intimacy?
100
After years together, Lisa and John no longer feel a strong physical attraction or emotional closeness but stay together for the sake of their family and finances. This type of relationship fits which category in Sternberg’s model?
What is empty love?
200
A medical student is learning about puberty and wants to match parallel changes in secondary sexual characteristics for males and females. What are the main changes in hair growth, body shape, specific developments, and timing that occur in both sexes?
- Hair growth: Pubic and underarm hair becomes coarser and darker in both sexes.
- Body shape changes: Males develop broader shoulders, while females’ hips widen.
- Specific developments: Males grow facial hair and their voices deepen, while females develop breasts.
- Timing: Females typically begin these changes around age 10, while males start later; changes in both sexes take several years to complete.
200
During soccer practice, Sophia normally plays it safe. But when her crush starts watching from the sidelines with friends, she attempts a dangerous play and gets injured. Her coach wants to understand why his usually cautious player took this risk.
The combination of heightened dopamine (reward sensitivity) and oxytocin (social bonding) makes teens especially likely to take risks when seeking peer/social approval
200
In a social psychology experiment, teens are asked to solve puzzles in two conditions: alone in a quiet room versus with peers in a high-energy environment. The researcher notes a significant performance difference between conditions and wants to explain why
This demonstrates how adolescents' cognitive control can be very competent (as shown in the quiet condition), but self-regulation may fail under high stress or high demand situations (noisy peer condition), due to neurological changes specific to the adolescent brain
200
Your brother is trying out different careers through job shadowing, exploring various religions, and experimenting with different friend groups. Erikson would call this period of identity exploration this.
What is psychological moratorium?
200
Marcus grew up in a troubled home but tells his therapist, 'Now that I'm in college, I can finally create my own path and break these cycles.' His optimistic outlook reflects this characteristic of emerging adulthood.
What is the age of possibilities?
200
A 16-year-old student insists that dropping out to become a musician is a perfect plan, while her 35-year-old cousin suggests also getting a degree as backup. This difference shows this type of adult thinking.
What is postformal thought? (Accept also: What is practical/realistic thinking?)
200
Katie’s easygoing nature as a child has influenced her adult personality, which is marked by calmness and adaptability. This development from temperament to broader personality traits demonstrates how personality is formed by integrating temperament with what?
What are cultural and environmental influences?
200
According to Hazan and Shaver’s categories, James is uncomfortable with closeness and has difficulty trusting his partner, often preferring emotional distance. Which attachment style does this behavior reflect?
What is avoidant attachment?
200
According to Hudson et al., if one person’s attachment security changes in a relationship, their partner’s security is likely to shift in the same direction. Which concept does this illustrate?
What is mutual shaping of attachment styles?
200
Sarah feels an intense attraction to John after meeting him at a party. She can’t stop thinking about him, but they’ve only shared brief conversations. This immediate, overwhelming physical attraction fits which type of love?
What is infatuation?
200
At 32, Lisa decides to start a family after establishing her career. This decision aligns with a trend where people are choosing to have children
What is delayed age markers for adulthood (such as marriage and financial independence)?
300
16-year-old Jake knows smoking is dangerous - he even did a school presentation on its risks. Yet he started smoking behind the gym because his new friend group thinks it's cool.
His parents ask, 'Why would he do something he knows is dangerous?
The "mismatch" between his developed limbic system (seeking social rewards) and his still-developing prefrontal cortex (impulse control and decision-making) makes peer approval more compelling than long-term health risks
300
Sarah, 16, spends hours debating with friends about what makes a true friendship and whether love can last forever, while her 10-year-old sister calls these conversations 'boring' and 'pointless.' Why do the sisters have such different reactions?
Sarah has reached the formal operational stage where she can think about abstract concepts like love and friendship, while her younger sister is still in concrete operations and focuses on tangible rather than abstract ideas
300
During a heated argument with your roommate, they immediately snap back with harsh words. Later, when calm, they sit down and logically discuss the issue. These scenarios demonstrate the shift from this to this type of processing.
What is intuitive to analytic thinking?
300
Erikson theorized that teens who don't successfully resolve their identity crisis might end up with one of these two outcomes
What are social isolation and being lost in the crowd?
300
Jack never drank alcohol alone, but started drinking at parties when his new friends cheered and praised him for it. This peer influence process that reinforces problem behavior through approval is called this.
What is deviant peer contagion?
300
Emily finds it easy to analyze complex social interactions in her sociology classes but struggles to solve hypothetical physics problems. Her difficulty in transferring her abstract thinking skills across subjects highlights the influence of what on formal operational thought?
What is experience and education?
300
Maria is known for her organized approach at work, keeping detailed schedules and always meeting deadlines. She prefers a well-structured day over spontaneous plans. Which personality trait best describes Maria’s tendency to act dutifully and show self-discipline?
What is conscientiousness?
300
Hazan and Shaver describe Lily, who often worries that her partner doesn’t truly love her or might leave. She desires a deep connection, sometimes more than her partner wants. Which attachment style does this demonstrate
What is anxious/ambivalent attachment?
300
Michael feels uncertain about who he is and changes his goals frequently. As a result, he finds it challenging to commit in relationships. Erikson would say that his struggle with identity makes it difficult to achieve what kind of relationship?
What is an intimate relationship?
300
Chris initially felt indifferent about his new classmate, Lisa, but after frequently seeing her in the same study group, he finds himself liking her more. This increase in affection from repeated exposure demonstrates which principle?
What is mere exposure?
300
When assigning chores, Kim asks her daughter to help care for her younger sibling, while her son mows the lawn. This division of responsibilities based on child gender exemplifies which factor in parenting?
What is child gender?
400
After getting his driver's license, Carlos texts while driving despite seeing PSAs about its dangers. When friends warn him, he says 'Those accidents happen to other people. I'm really good at multitasking.' What cognitive distortion is Carlos experiencing?
Personal fable - the belief that he is unique and invulnerable to harm, a key aspect of adolescent egocentrism
400
A teen counselor notices that her clients who are heavy social media users are particularly concerned about others judging them. Some check their posts hourly to see how many likes they've gotten. According to recent research, what's significant about this behavior?
Research by Yau & Reich shows the "imaginary audience" isn't entirely imaginary - social media creates an actual audience that really is scrutinizing teens' behavior and appearance
400
Your psychology professor asks why your 12-year-old sister tends to make quicker, more emotional decisions than your 25-year-old cousin. Research shows this age-related pattern is explained by this cognitive model.
What is the Dual-Process Model?
400
Unlike previous generations who often apprenticed in their future careers, today's teens typically develop this type of identity later because most careers require additional education.
What is vocational identity?
400
Sarah lives at home but manages her own schedule, helps with family decisions, and sees her parents' flaws and strengths. Her roommate notes this represents this characteristic that distinguishes emerging adults from self-centered teens
What is self-focus? (Accept also: What is being self-focused but not self-centered?)
400
Millennials are less likely than Baby Boomers and Gen Xers to feel 'engaged' at work, with only 29% reporting engagement. What are Millennials seeking beyond just a paycheck that contributes to this trend?
What is a sense of purpose?
400
Whenever Sarah encounters a minor setback, she becomes very stressed and feels overwhelmed, often interpreting small frustrations as major problems. This reaction is typical of someone who scores high in which personality trait?
What is neuroticism?
400
Sal values his independence and avoids relying on others. He trusts himself but feels uncomfortable with emotional closeness, scoring low in attachment-related anxiety but high in attachment-related avoidance. Which attachment style does this reflect?
What is dismissing attachment?
400
When Sarah sees that her partner shares her love for art and environmental causes, she feels more confident in her interests and values. This phenomenon, where shared beliefs provide mutual reinforcement, is known as what?
What is consensual validation?
400
Emma and Noah share a strong emotional connection, physical attraction, and a commitment to stay together. This blend of all three components of love is seen as ideal in many cultures. Sternberg refers to it as what?
What is consummate love?
400
Although Susan tries to be patient, her fussy baby often cries, leading her to feel less effective in her parenting role. This interaction between Susan and her child is an example of which concept?
What is bidirectional influence?
500
A teen driver has learned 'wet roads are slippery' and 'slippery conditions require slower driving.' When it rains, she automatically slows down. What advanced reasoning pattern is she demonstrating?
Deductive reasoning - starting with general principles about road safety and drawing specific conclusions about how to drive in rain
500
During a debate competition, Kai usually excels at constructing complex arguments. However, when the room gets rowdy and the timer is running low, he starts making hasty, poorly-thought-out points. What cognitive explanation fits this situation?
Executive function competency being compromised under high stress/high mental demand, a particular vulnerability in the adolescent brain
500
'I used to just think I was either smart or dumb, but now I realize I'm good at math but struggle with writing.' This increasingly complex understanding of oneself represents this developing psychological construct
What is self-concept?
500
After experiencing discrimination at his part-time job, James begins reading books about Black history, joins the Black Student Union, and starts attending cultural events. This awakening and exploration represents this stage of ethnic identity development.
What is ethnic identity search?
500
After starting your first job, you realize your parents' career advice wasn't completely wrong OR completely right, but had valid points mixed with outdated ideas. This new understanding represents this mature thought process.
What is dialectical thought? (Accept also: What is postformal thinking?)
500
After finishing high school, Tyler couldn’t find a job and hasn’t pursued further training. His lack of employment or education places him among a group of young people with similar struggles, which experts say can limit future job prospects and economic integration. What is this group called?
What are NEETs?
500
Studies show that adults with this type of attachment tend to experience lower satisfaction in their romantic relationships. Which type of attachment does this describe?
What is insecure attachment?
500
Jack desires close relationships but struggles to trust others or his ability to maintain them. He often avoids intimacy due to his fear of rejection, scoring high on both attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Which attachment style does this indicate?
What is fearful-avoidant attachment?
500
Greg is highly agreeable and conscientious, which helps him stay patient and provide a structured environment for his children. His personality traits illustrate the effect of which parenting factor?
What is parent characteristics?
500
In a high-crime area, Ana feels more stressed and finds herself stricter with her children due to safety concerns. This change in her parenting style highlights the impact of which contextual factor?
What is neighborhood environment?
500
Despite her strong intentions to raise her children differently, Emily often finds herself using the same disciplinary approaches her parents used with her, especially under stress. Her parenting style is further affected by living in a low-income neighborhood, where safety concerns make her more vigilant and less warm with her children. This scenario illustrates the combined impact of which factors on parenting?
What are developmental history and contextual influences (specifically economic hardship and neighborhood environment)?