Q&A Hero

Q: Which is not a risk factor for sexual abuse? A. living apart from one's parents B. living in a major city C. being raised in poverty D. having parents who abuse alcohol or other drugs

Q: Fourteen-year-old Sarah began "acting out" behaviors that her teacher had never observed in her before, such as a decline in self-esteem, sexual promiscuity, and risky behavior. Sarah's teacher suspects that Sarah is: A. pregnant. B. fighting with her boyfriend. C. a victim of sexual abuse. D. questioning her sexual orientation.

Q: Amy, a 15-year-old, lost her virginity to her boyfriend last night. Which of the following is Amy least likely to say? A. "I'm in love!" B. "I'm so worriedwhat if I'm pregnant!" C. "I'm so glad I'm no longer a virgin!" D. "I'm so excited!"

Q: Generalizing from the text, Marge is most likely to have her first sexual encounter with a: A. younger partner. B. classmate. C. casual acquaintance. D. steady boyfriend.

Q: Michael and Kayla are concerned because they noticed their 10-year-old son, Tom, engaging in sex play with a male friend. They ask a psychologist what she thinks. What did she probably say? A. "Tom is probably homosexual." B. "Tom has been sexually abused." C. "Same-sex play among young adolescents is common." D. "Tom needs to get counseling for this unusual behavior."

Q: Which of the following statements about sexual orientation in adolescence is false? A. Males are more likely than females to engage in same-sex activity during adolescence. B. Approximately 2 to 5% of adolescents identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. C. Researchers have been able to identify consistent predictors for adolescents who will later identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. D. The majority of gay, lesbian, or bisexual adults engaged in heterosexual activity during adolescence.

Q: Todd would rather date men than women. This refers to Todd's: A. gender identity. B. sexual orientation. C. sex-role behavior. D. homophobia.

Q: Bill is a very feminine man. Based on this sex-role behavior, one would predict that Bill is probably: A. homosexual. B. heterosexual. C. bisexual. D. There is no connection between sex-role behavior and sexual orientation.

Q: Because Andrea is a lesbian, she is more likely to exhibit what types of behaviors? A. feminine behaviors. B. masculine behaviors. C. androgynous behaviors. D. There is no connection between sex-role behavior and sexual preference.

Q: Amy is a "straight" 16-year-old adolescent. Kelly, also 16, has discovered that she has homosexual interests. Which girl is most confused about her gender identity because of her sexual orientation? A. Amy. B. Kelly. C. Amy and Kelly are likely to be equally confused because gender identity is separate from sexual orientation. D. Neither Amy nor Kelly will be confused about their gender, because they understand their sexual orientations.

Q: Studies suggest which of the following are antecedents of homosexuality? A. biological factors B. social factors C. the interaction between biological and social factors D. All of the above

Q: Which adults are most likely to describe their fathers as distant and rejecting? A. heterosexual males B. heterosexual females C. both gay and lesbian adults D. lesbians

Q: Date rape is when a young person is forced to have sex when he or she does not want to. Sexual coercion and date rape are more likely to occur when: A. a girl plays hard to get with her boyfriend. B. there is a large (3 or more years) age difference between a girl and her partner. C. a stranger attacks and sexually assaults a teenager. D. the teen's parents utilize an authoritarian style of parenting.

Q: Professor Snapes is conducting research on sexual harassment of adolescents. He is likely to learn all of the following, except: A. sexual harassment is widespread within American public schools. B. a significant number of adolescents report having been sexually harassed by their teachers. C. school-based programs aimed at reducing sexual harassment have had long-term success. D. the majority of adolescents who have been sexually harassed had themselves harassed others.

Q: Early sexuality for males is tinged with elements of ________, whereas for females it is more linked to feelings of _______________. A. intimacy; recreation B. recreation; intimacy C. enjoyment; guilt D. guilt; enjoyment

Q: Generalizing from the text, if Nicky's parents want to slow down her sexual involvement, which of her parents should talk to her about sex? A. her mother. B. her father. C. Both of her parents should talk to her at the same time. D. Neither of her parents should talk to her about sex.

Q: Which of the following is not a good predictor of whether adolescents will engage in sexual activity? A. the adolescent's opportunity to have sex B. parent-adolescent communication C. having sexually active friends D. use of alcohol and other drugs

Q: What family factor appears to predict adolescent sexual involvement, especially among girls? A. household composition B. mother's employment C. number of siblings D. parenting styles

Q: According to the text, who is more likely to be sexually active: Ingrid, who lives in a single-parent home, or Leanne, who lives in a two-parent home? A. Ingrid. B. Leanne. C. Ingrid, but only immediately following her parents' divorce. D. Both girls are equally likely to be sexually active.

Q: Which of the following is least likely to explain why growing up in a single-parent home affects girls' sexual behavior more than boys' sexual behavior? A. Social influences on sexual behavior are weaker for girls than for boys, thereby leading to fewer restraints on girls' sexual activities. B. Single mothers may be dating, thereby inadvertently acting as role models of sexual activity for their adolescent daughters. C. Girls are more likely than boys to look outside the family for warmth and support. D. There may be a genetic link inherited from the girls' fathers that increases daughters' sexual behavior.

Q: An analysis of "virginity pledges" that encourage adolescents to promise to abstain from premarital sex has found that: A. pledging works equally well for adolescents of all ages. B. pledging has little effect in schools in which few students take the pledge. C. pledging works well in schools in which nearly everyone takes the pledge. D. pledging has little effect on all adolescents' sexual activity.

Q: The sexual ______ of males and females may be similar, but the sexual _____ of males and females is quite different. A. behavior; socialization B. socialization; behavior C. attitudes; experiences D. experiences; attitudes

Q: According to research by Small & Luster, which adolescent is most likely to engage in early sexual activity? A. Chelsea, an adolescent that lives in a low SES/disadvantaged neighborhood. B. Ryan, an adolescent that has many antisocial peers. C. Frank, an adolescent that has completely disengaged from school. D. The adolescent most likely to engage in early sexual activity is one that has a combination of the above risk factors.

Q: Research on risk factors for adolescent sexual activity has found all of the following, except: A. lack of parental support is a risk factor for boys but not for girls. B. as the number of risk factors increases, the percentage of sexually experienced adolescents increases. C. the same risk factors that predict sexual activity for whites also predict sexual activity among ethnic minority adolescents. D. efforts aimed at predicting adolescent sexual activity must focus on more than one risk factor.

Q: Which of the following statements about boys' first sexual experience is false? A. A boy's first sexual experience is usually through masturbation. B. Boys typically view sex as recreation. C. A boy's first sexual partner is likely to be someone he's in love with. D. Boys are more likely than girls to keep sex and intimacy separate.

Q: Which of the following is the most likely scenario for adolescent sexual activity? A. It takes place in the boy's home on a weekday after school. B. It takes place in the back of the boy's car on a weekend evening. C. It takes place in the girl's home on a weekend evening. D. It takes place at a friend's home on a weekday after school.

Q: In addition to parental supervision, what else might help decrease the probability of adolescent sexual activity? A. insisting that adolescents come home right after school B. having adolescents participate in after-school programs C. having their fathers talk to them about the dangers of sexual involvement D. providing them with books on the risks of sexual involvement

Q: Of particular importance in determining the increased sexual responses of males and females are levels of: A. progesterone. B. estrogen. C. ACTH. D. androgens.

Q: For adolescent boys, which of the following is the most important factor in determining the onset of sexual intercourse? A. increased levels of androgens B. availability of birth control C. the attitudes of friends toward sexual activity D. receiving sex education in school

Q: For adolescent girls, which of the following is the most important factor in determining the onset of sexual intercourse? A. increased levels of androgens B. availability of birth control C. the attitudes of friends toward sexual activity D. receiving sex education in school

Q: Research assessing parent-adolescent communication about sex has found all of the following, except: A. although parents may indicate that they talked to their adolescents about a topic, such as sexually transmitted diseases, their adolescents are likely to say they have not. B. parents believe that if they express their disapproval of sexual activity, their adolescents will not be sexually active. C. parent-adolescent communication about sex significantly lowers adolescents' likelihood of being sexually active. D. parent-adolescent communication about contraception lowers the rate of risky sex.

Q: Experts who accept that sex is part of life for the average American teenager believe that all of the following create difficulties for our society, except: A. providing inadequate sex education. B. beginning sex education too early. C. limiting access to effective contraception. D. not dealing with the issue directly.

Q: Jeannette, a 17-year-old, has decided to engage in sexual intercourse with her boyfriend. Tammy, also 17, has decided to abstain from sex until she is older. Which adolescent is more likely to experience psychological disturbances? A. Jeannette. B. Tammy. C. Neither Tammy nor Jeannette, because they have made mature decisions. D. Sexual activity during late adolescence is not associated with psychological disturbance.

Q: Tim and Carol are upset because they recently discovered that their 13-year-old daughter has already engaged in sexual intercourse. What other types of problems should they anticipate? A. drug and alcohol problems B. low interest in academics C. tolerance of deviant behavior D. All of the above

Q: Boys' initial interest in sex is motivated by ________ hormones, whereas girls' initial interest in sex is motivated by _______. A. testosterone; estrogen B. androgen; estrogen C. androgen; androgens and estrogen D. estrogen; testosterone

Q: According to national surveys, sexual activity among adolescents is occurring ______ it has in past decades. A. later than B. earlier than C. at the same time as D. earlier for boys but later for girls than

Q: Current research suggests that sexual intercourse during the high school years: A. has been slowly but steadily decreasing over the past decade. B. is part of the normative experience of adolescence in America. C. is higher among adolescents in the United States than in other industrialized countries. D. is higher for girls than for boys.

Q: Approximately what percentage of American adolescents have had sexual intercourse before the end of their sophomore year of high school? A. 40% B. 60% C. 10% D. 75%

Q: Which adolescent is most likely to engage in sexual intercourse at the youngest age? A. Laurence, a Black adolescent B. Michael, an Asian American adolescent C. Danny, a European American adolescent D. Jesse, a Hispanic adolescent

Q: Ann, a 17-year-old, is still a virgin. What race/ ethnicity is Ann likely to be? A. Black B. Asian American C. Native American D. White

Q: As compared with females whose first intercourse occurs after age 18, those who engage in sexual intercourse at a younger age are likely to report that: A. they were sexually curious. B. they were in love with their partner. C. their first sexual experience was involuntary. D. their sex partner was approximately the same age.

Q: ______ is the peak month for adolescents in a serious relationship to have their first intercourse. A. January B. March C. September D. December

Q: The most common reasons that 14- to 15-year-olds give for abstaining from sex are: A. fear of disease and fear of pregnancy. B. parental and religious restrictions. C. concerns about their reputation and parental disapproval. D. negative attitudes about the physical aspects of sexual intercourse.

Q: The greatest increase in the prevalence of premarital intercourse has been among which group? A. males B. females C. minority males D. females from higher socioeconomic backgrounds

Q: Tamara, a late adolescent, often experiences intense feelings of anxiety. How would Sullivan explain this? (HINT: think about the developmental progression of these feelings). How does Sullivan's theory build on Erikson's theory?

Q: The closeness that intimacy brings to friendships also increases the likelihood of conflict in those relationships. Address the differences between close and casual friendships in the types of conflicts experienced in both forms of friendship, differences in conflict resolution, and differences between boys' and girls' conflicts with their friends.

Q: Describe the extent to which intimacy with peers replaces intimacy with parents over the course of adolescence. Does it completely replace intimacy with parents, or does it supplement this kind of intimacy?

Q: According to the textbook, which of the following statements is not true: A. the impact of close friends on development must take into account the characteristics of these friends B. being popular is less important than genuinely having friends C. having a lot of friends is more important than having good friendships D. adolescents who have intimate friendships typically have better mental health than their peers who do not

Q: The head of a local youth group in your community has asked you to talk to teens and their parents about "the evolution of romance during adolescence," and to include in your talk how this process may differ for heterosexual girls and boys and for sexual-minority youth. What will you tell them?

Q: Provide at least two reasons why the nature of an individual's early attachment relationships during infancy continues to have an influence on the capacity to form satisfying intimate relationships during adolescence and adulthood.

Q: As the older sibling of a 13-year-old sister, you want to help her enjoy her adolescent years, and particularly the adventure of romance that is likely to unfold for her. Having read about the development of romantic relationships during adolescence, you now feel you are in a better position to talk to her about some potential issues, such as the effects of early dating and the increase of violence in dating relationships. What will you tell her?

Q: According to the textbook, which of the following statements about dating is true? A. as adolescents develop, dating shifts from a focus on bonding to a focus on infatuation B. adolescents who have been exposed to high levels of conflict or violence in their family are more likely to have tender and supportive relationships with friends C. across the board, dating is associated with better mental health and well-being than no dating at all D. social activities with the opposite sex begin in early adolescence

Q: Which of the following is most important for adolescent development? A. having an intimate relationship with someone B. being popular C. having a lot of friends D. having a few good friendships

Q: Which of the following statements concerning sexual-minority youth is false? A. the progression through the phases of dating and romance is as similar for them as for heterosexual adolescents B. the stigmas attached to homosexuality complicate the development of intimate relations C. these youngsters often pursue sexual activity outside the context of a dating relationship to avoid harassment by peers D. for sexual-minority youth, development of close, nonsexual friendships with same-sex peers may be hampered by their peers' homophobia

Q: Who is most likely to be less socially mature, less imaginative, less achievement-oriented, and more superficial, and is more likely than same-sex peers to exhibit problem behaviors? A. Amber, who started dating seriously at age 14 B. Becky, who started dating casually at age 14 C. Karin, who started dating seriously at age 16 D. Donald, who started dating seriously at age 16

Q: Delaying serious involvement in dating relationships until age _____ appears to be the most favorable pattern for healthy psychosocial development. A. 13 B. 15 C. 16 D. 17

Q: Based on the research you read about in the textbook, which of the following statements about dating and relationships is not true? A. opposites attract B. "birds of a feather flock together" C. romance, relationships, and romance have powerful impacts on adolescents' emotional states D. adolescents with problems who date peers whose mental health is good show improvements in their psychological functioning over time

Q: The most common trigger of the first episode of major depression is: A. parents' divorce. B. failing in school. C. the breakup of a romantic relationship. D. dating violence.

Q: Which one of the adolescents below will be most vulnerable to the potential negative consequences of a break-up? A. Cory, an adolescent low in rejection sensitivity B. Nicole, an adolescent who has never experienced a break up C. Richard, an adolescent who is a binge drinker and engages in delinquency D. Michael, an adolescent who was the breaker-upper

Q: Which of the following statements about dating violence is false? A. Dating violence becomes more common with age. B. Males and females are equally likely to be victims of violence in dating relationships. C. Dating violence is more common in rural than in urban or suburban communities. D. Dating violence is more common among heterosexual youth than among sexual-minority adolescents.

Q: Adolescents behave in a variety of ways within dating relationships that are shaped by _____________ for how one is expected to behave. A. rules B. scripts C. emotional norms D. cultural norms

Q: Jessica's parents are verbally abusive to one another and are constantly fighting. When Jessica interacts with her boyfriend, she will be likely to: A. avoid arguments. B. break up with him over an argument. C. talk to him when they have an argument. D. fight with him when they have an argument.

Q: Stephanie, an adolescent who has witnessed a great deal of conflict between her parents, will most likely experience higher levels of: A. verbal aggression with her romantic partners B. physical aggression with her romantic partners C. relationship difficulties with her romantic partners D. all of the above

Q: Within the United States and in Canada, which race of adolescents are less likely than other adolescents to date? A. Asian B. Hispanic C. American Indian D. White

Q: Which of the following is the best indicator of when an adolescent will engage in sexual behavior? A. chronological age B. biological development C. the school norm D. the age of their parents

Q: Which of the following factors is not closely related to when an adolescent will begin dating? A. family instability B. community norms C. when peers start dating D. depressive symptomatology

Q: Research addressing difficult social situations related to adolescents' transitions into romantic relationships found _____ to be among the most frequently mentioned themes. A. attracting the opposite sex B. communicating with the opposite sex C. discussing dating with parents D. discussing sex with same-sex peers

Q: For middle adolescents, the least important aspect of dating is: A. establishing autonomy from parents. B. furthering the development of gender identity. C. developing intimacy. D. establishing and maintaining status in one's peer group.

Q: Contemporary discussions of adolescent romance draw on: A. Sullivan's theory of interpersonal development B. attachment theory C. ecological perspectives D. all of the above

Q: Which of the following is the best indicator of when an adolescent will begin dating? A. chronological age B. biological development C. the school/ community norms D. the age of his or her parents

Q: On whom does an internal working model of relationships have a greater affect? A. Sarah, an adolescent girl B. Tom, an adolescent boy C. An internal working model of relationships has an equal affect on boys and girls D. An internal working model of relationships has no affect on boys nor girls

Q: The ways in which adolescents interact with romantic partners changes with development, with increasing _____: A. desires for more independence B. willingness to acknowledge, analyze and work through disagreements C. sources of conflict D. pressure to engage in antisocial behavior

Q: Jesse is a physically immature 14-year-old who goes to school where it is expected that 14-year-olds date. Hillary is a physically mature 14-year-old who goes to school where it is expected that students delay dating until age 16. Which adolescent is more likely to date? A. Hillary B. Jesse C. neither Hillary nor Jesse is likely to date D. both Hillary and Jesse are likely to date

Q: The average duration of a romantic relationship during the middle high school years is about _____ months. A. 2 B. 6 C. 12 D. 18

Q: In general, which of the following relationships tends to be the closest? A. mother-son relationship B. mother-daughter relationship C. father-son relationship D. father-daughter relationship

Q: Mel reports that his strongest attachment is to his best friend. It is likely that Mel has which type of attachment with his parents? A. secure B. insecure C. ambivalent D. ambiguous

Q: Ron will be going to a new school in the fall. What would be most effective in making this transition less stressful? A. calling the guidance counselors at the new school to alert them to Ron's arrival B. encouraging Ron to sever ties with his current school so that he enters his new school with no prior attachments C. letting Ron establish his autonomy by fending for himself D. providing Ron with social support and encouragement from parents and classmates

Q: Justin, a 16-year-old, has a substance-abuse problem. To whom is he most likely to turn for help? A. his teacher B. his friends C. his parents D. his siblings

Q: Who is Nicole more likely to have an intimate relationship with: her "favorite" sister Chrissy or her best friend Rene? A. Chrissy B. Rene C. Nicole will have the same level of intimacy with Chrissy and Rene. D. Nicole will be closer to Chrissy during preadolescence and then become closer to Rene during late adolescence.

Q: Which adolescent would be predicted to have the closest relationship with a maternal grandfather? A. a boy living with both of his biological parents B. a girl living with both of her biological parents C. a boy living with his divorced mother D. a girl living with her divorced mother