ATI RN
Human Growth and Development Exam 1
1. Professor Higgins is concerned about the findings of a longitudinal study on childhood depression that she conducted between 1985 and 2015 in New York because many of the participants witnessed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Professor Higgins is concerned about __________ effects.
- A. practice
- B. cross-sectional
- C. dropout
- D. cohort
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The concern Professor Higgins has regarding the findings of the longitudinal study is related to cohort effects. Cohort effects occur when a specific group of individuals experience a common event or circumstance that could influence the results of a study. In this case, the participants witnessing the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center could have had a significant impact on their development and mental health outcomes, leading to cohort effects observed in the study. Choice A, 'practice,' is incorrect as it refers to the repeated performance of an activity to improve skill. Choice B, 'cross-sectional,' is incorrect as it involves data collection at a single point in time. Choice C, 'dropout,' is incorrect as it refers to participants leaving a study prematurely.
2. According to operant conditioning theory, __________.
- A. the frequency of a behavior can be increased through punishment, such as disapproval
- B. normal development must be understood in relation to each culture's life situation
- C. the id develops as parents insist that children conform to the values of society
- D. the frequency of a behavior can be increased by following it with a wide variety of reinforcers
Correct answer: D
Rationale: According to operant conditioning theory, the frequency of a behavior can be increased by following it with a wide variety of reinforcers. In operant conditioning, behaviors are shaped through reinforcement, which can be positive (rewarding) or negative (removal of something unpleasant). By providing reinforcement following a behavior, the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future is increased. This supports the notion that the frequency of a behavior can be increased by using reinforcers in operant conditioning. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because operant conditioning focuses on the relationship between behavior and its consequences through reinforcement (positive or negative) to increase the likelihood of the behavior recurring, rather than punishment, cultural influences, or the development of the id based on societal values.
3. Maryann is pregnant and works in a smoke-filled environment. What can you tell her about passive smoking?
- A. The negative effects of smoking are only evident in children born to heavy smokers.
- B. Passive smoking is related to low birth weight, infant death, and childhood respiratory illnesses.
- C. Smoke-filled environments are harmful to expectant mothers, but not to their unborn children.
- D. The effects of passive smoking are not yet known.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Passive smoking, also known as secondhand smoke, can have harmful effects on pregnancies. Research has shown that exposure to smoke-filled environments during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight, infant death, and childhood respiratory illnesses. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke to protect the health of their unborn babies. Choice A is incorrect because passive smoking affects both the mother and the unborn child, not just children born to heavy smokers. Choice C is incorrect as it underestimates the risks of smoke-filled environments on unborn children. Choice D is incorrect as research has already established the harmful effects of passive smoking on pregnancies.
4. When Mateo was born prematurely to Yvonne, a cocaine addict, what can his caregivers expect?
- A. He will be very attentive to the environment
- B. His cries will be abnormally shrill and piercing
- C. He will overcome the harmful effects of drug exposure by age 3
- D. His motor development will be especially rapid during the first year
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Mateo, being born prematurely to a cocaine-addicted mother, is at risk for several health issues. One common effect of prenatal drug exposure is a higher likelihood of sensory and regulatory problems, such as having abnormally shrill and piercing cries. This is a potential outcome that Mateo's caregivers can expect due to his circumstances. Choice A is incorrect as there is no direct correlation between being born prematurely to a cocaine-addicted mother and being very attentive to the environment. Choice C is incorrect as overcoming harmful effects of drug exposure by age 3 is overly optimistic and may not be the case for all children exposed to drugs prenatally. Choice D is incorrect as rapid motor development is not typically associated with prenatal drug exposure.
5. Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen laid the modern foundations for __________.
- A. ethology
- B. social learning theory
- C. psychoanalytic theory
- D. cognitive-developmental theory
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen are considered the founders of ethology, a branch of biology and psychology that focuses on the study of animal behavior in natural environments. Their work laid the modern foundations for ethology, which examines the behavior of animals in relation to their natural habitats and evolutionary history. Choice B, social learning theory, is incorrect as it pertains to a different area of psychology that focuses on how people learn through observing others. Choice C, psychoanalytic theory, is also incorrect as it is a psychological theory developed by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts in determining behavior. Choice D, cognitive-developmental theory, is incorrect as it refers to the work of Jean Piaget in understanding the development of human cognition in children.
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