Physical Development

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AP Psychology › Physical Development

Questions 1 - 10
1

Lawrence Kohlberg is known for the levels of moral thinking hypothesis. Which of the following levels focuses on obtaining social approval?

Conventional

Preconventional

Postconventional

Preoperational

Formal operational

Explanation

Kohlberg's three levels of moral thinking include preconventional, conventional, and postconventional.

From around the age of 9 until early adolescence Kohlberg believed that a child entered into the conventional phase of morality. At this time, the child would have switched its focus from following rules for self-interest to obeying laws to achieve social approval.

The other options, “preoperational” and “formal operational,” would be incorrect as they are stages from Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

2

Which type of gene will cause its coded trait, or phenotype, to appear every time the gene is present?

Dominant allele

Recessive allele

Dominant gene

Active allele

Recessive gene

Explanation

Genes frequently come in different varieties, known as alleles. Certain alleles can be dominant to others, such that the presence of a dominant allele masks the presence of a recessive allele. Every time a dominant allele is present in an individual's genome, that individual will display the trait coded by the dominant form of the gene.

Note that there is no such thing as a "dominant gene" or "recessive gene." Take, for example, the gene that codes for eye color. One does not say that the gene for eye color is dominant or recessive; this suggests that presence of a "recessive eye color gene" would result in no eye color whatsoever. In contrast, one can say that the allele for blue eyes is recessive to the allele for brown eyes, such that an individual with both forms of the allele will always display brown eyes. Note that eye color is, in reality, far more complex that this explanation would suggest.

3

Which of these reflexes is thought to have developed in order for an infant to breastfeed?

Rooting

Babkin

Moro

Tonic neck

Withdrawing

Explanation

The rooting reflex is an infant's tendency to turn his/her head toward something that touches his/her cheek. This allows the baby to find the nipple during breastfeeding.

4

Which of the following sets of symptoms most closely resembles fetal alcohol syndrome?

Delayed development, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, and distinct facial features

Infertility, low muscle mass, and breast development in males

Infertility, learning disabilities, and short stature in females

Difficulty with communication, social interactions, and stereotyped interests

Uncontrolled movements, difficulties with thinking and understanding, and emotional issues

Explanation

Fetal alcohol syndrome can occur in children born to mothers who drink alcohol heavily during pregnancy. Symptoms can include distinct facial features, developmental delays, low birth weight, learning disabilities, and hyperactivity. Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder that can include uncontrollable movements, cognitive decline, and emotional problems. Autism spectrum disorder involves problems associated with communication, social interactions, and the presence of stereotyped or obsessive interests and behaviors. Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome are both chromosomal disorders. Turner syndrome is only present in females and involves the presence of one X chromosome. Symptoms include delayed puberty, infertility, intellectual disability, heart and joint problems, and short stature. Klinefelter syndrome is only present in males and involves the addition of an X chromosome. Symptoms can include low testosterone, delayed puberty, infertility, difficulty sustaining attention, and distinct facial features.

5

When does the Moro reflex occur?

When an infant feels like he is falling

When a toddler beckons for his bottle

When a teenager's phone is taken away

When an infant smiles at his parents

When a toddler holds his head up straight

Explanation

The Moro reflex occurs in infants up to 6 months old. This reflex occurs when infants feel like they are falling, and specifically involves the infant spreading and unspreading his arms while crying out for help.

6

It's been observed that as teens mature there is a continuous development of the frontal lobes. Which of the following best describes what this process entails?

It allows improved judgment, long term planning, and impulse control

It allows for heightening senses such as sight and hearing

It allows for better hormonal distribution throughout the body

It promotes the functions of the limbic system

It inhibits the limbic system

Explanation

As the frontal lobe continues to develop there's a rapid growth in brain cells branching to other cells. The creation of pathways and connections betters communication between cells and different regions of the brain. There is also a notable increase in myelin. As the fatty tissue around axons increases, so does the rate of neurotransmission. Together, this allows for better judgment and impulse control as it expands on higher order mental processes and personality.

Teens engage in risky and impulsive behaviors because the development of the frontal lobes lags behind the limbic system, which handles emotions. The development of the frontal lobes is not concerned with maintaining the functions of the limbic system.

The frontal lobes are not concerned with hormonal distribution, which is controlled by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

Frontal lobe development is not associated with senses such as sight and hearing because different areas of the brain control those functions.

7

Infants have a particular, innate reflex known as the "startle" reflex. This is also called _________.

the Moro reflex

rooting

the Babinski reflex

grasping

None of these answers are correct

Explanation

The Moro reflex is an involuntary type of reflex (response to stimulation) during which a baby will respond to loss of support by spreading out his/her arms (abduction), unspreading the arms (adduction), then usually crying. Another common name for this reaction is the startle reflex.

8

During brain development, which cortical area develops last?

Association areas

Frontal lobes

Neurons

Occipital lobe

Brainstem

Explanation

During natal development, the brain begins to form many nerve cells. The developing cortex overproduces neurons. As a result, the child is left with the most neurons it will ever have in its lifetime. From ages 3 to 6, the most rapid development occurs in the frontal lobes. This is responsible for enabling the rational behavior that causes preschoolers to be able to focus their attention and control their behavior. The association areas are the last to develop. These areas are linked to cognition, memory, and language. As these areas develop, language, memory, and the ability to think increase at a rapid rate. The occipital lobe is responsible for vision; therefore, it would be expected that the occipital lobe would develop before the association areas. The brainstem is responsible for motor control and background processes. Motor control plays a huge part in infancy and motor development (e.g. walking) is complete within the first year of life.

9

Which of the following disorders can occur in infants?

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

Conduct disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Parkinson's disorder

Alzheimer's disorder

Explanation

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a collection of cognitive abnormalities in young children caused by a mother's heavy drinking during pregnancy. In severe cases of FAS, there may be severe physical deficiencies as well.

10

During prenatal development, a zygote is formed when an egg is fertilized. Within the first few weeks, the zygote will undergo multiple cellular divisions. At this time, all cells in the zygote are identical. Eventually, these cells will begin to differentiate. Which of the following best describes what the outer cells of the zygote will differentiate into?

Placenta

Embryo

Fetus

Genetic material

Brain cell

Explanation

At 10 days after conception, cellular differentiation of the zygote will begin. This forms a blastocyst (ball of cells) with an outer covering. The outer covering will continue to develop separately from the inner cells to become a membrane responsible for protecting and nourishing the developing fetus. These cells will eventually become the placenta; therefore, the inner zygotic cells will become the embryo. Eventually, the embryo will progress to the fetal stage. This will occur 9 weeks post-conception. A zygote already contains all the genetic information provided by the sperm and egg. As a result, the inner cells would not become chromosomes.

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