Q&A Hero

Q: Dewayne's parents are worried that as he enters adolescence, his self-esteem will greatly decrease. During what time should Dewayne's parents expect the most fluctuations in his self-image? A. When he is 8-11 years old. B. When he is 12-14 years old. C. When he is 15-18 years old. D. When he is 19-21 years old.

Q: Which of the following statements regarding sex differences in self-perceptions is accurate? A. Early adolescent girls' self-esteem is higher than same-age boys. B. Early adolescent girls have lower self-consciousness than same-age boys. C. Early adolescent boys have a shakier self-image than same-age girls. D. Early adolescent girls are more likely to say negative things about themselves than same-aged boys.

Q: According to the textbook, because _____ girls do not feel as _____ about their appearances as girls of other racial backgrounds, these individuals typically have _____ overall self-esteem. A. White; negatively; higher B. White; insecure; lower C. Black; negatively; higher D. Black; positively; lower

Q: Although research presented in the textbook indicates that physical appearance self-esteem is the best predictor of adolescents' overall self-esteem: A. adolescents, when asked, say that their physical appearance is one of the least important contributors to how they feel about themselves. B. adolescents may be unaware of the degree to which their self-worth is based on their feelings about their appearance. C. young girls appear to be more concerned than boys about physical attractiveness and physical appearance self-esteem is a more important influence on overall self-esteem among girls than among boys''. D. All of the above.

Q: Which of the following factors is the most important predictor of overall self-esteem? A. athletic ability B. academic ability C. physical appearance self-esteem D. moral conduct

Q: Which adolescent is most vulnerable to disturbances in self-image? A. Carol, a 13-year-old female B. Catherine, an 18-year-old female C. Carl, a 13-year-old male D. Carlton, an 18-year-old male

Q: Overall, which group of adolescents feels least positive about themselves? A. White females B. White males C. Black females D. Black males

Q: During childhood, Cathy had relatively high self-esteem. As she enters adolescence, Cathy's self-esteem is most likely to: A. increase. B. be relatively the same. C. remain the same or decrease. D. decrease.

Q: Based on findings from research studies, compared to older adolescents (15 years and older) and preadolescents (8- to 11-year-olds), which of the following statements about young adolescents' self-esteem, self-consciousness, and self-image is false? A. Early adolescents experience a sharp increase in self-esteem'. B. Early adolescents have lower self-esteem. C. Early adolescents are more self-conscious. D. Early adolescents have a more unstable self-image.

Q: Findings from research studies have found that the most marked fluctuations in self-image occur: A. during the transition into adolescence. B. during middle adolescence. C. over the course of adolescence. D. during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Q: Rose is transitioning from elementary into junior high school and Sally will be starting her senior year of high school in the fall. According to research presented in the textbook, who is more likely to experience disruptions in self-esteem? A. Rose B. Sally C. Rose and Sally are equally likely to experience disruptions in self-esteem D. neither Sally nor Rose is likely to experience disruptions in self-esteem

Q: According to the textbook, young adolescents with __________ also report high levels of anxiety, tension, and adjustment problems. A. a volatile self-image B. an aggressive parent C. extremely low self-esteem D. very few close peers

Q: Which of the following is not a reason that early adolescents might experience fluctuations in self-image? A. egocentrism B. they are learning that it is not always possible to tell what people are thinking on the basis of how they act or what they say C. because of the increased importance of peers in early adolescence D. because early adolescents spend most of their time engaging in false-self behavior

Q: According to the textbook, which of the following might make individuals especially vulnerable to the effects of stress? A. volatile self-image B. low sense of self-worth C. egocentrism D. impression management

Q: Alice has high academic self-esteem, whereas Loriann has high physical appearance self-esteem. According to the textbook, who will probably have higher overall self-esteem? A. Loriann B. Alice C. Loriann and Alice will most likely have equally high self-esteem D. There is not enough information to answer this question.

Q: How positively or negatively people feel about themselves defines: A. self-regulation. B. self-esteem. C. self-attribution. D. self-idealization.

Q: Sean is an adolescent who frequently engages in false-self behavior and also has low self-esteem. One explanation for these two characteristics is that: A. Sean might be low in self-esteem because he knowingly puts on a false front. B. Sean might engage in false-self behavior because he is low in self-esteem. C. There is no relation between false-self behavior and low self-esteem. D. Both A and B are correct.

Q: According to personality research presented in the textbook, there is evidence that, between adolescence and young adulthood, individuals become: A. more extraverted and less conscientious. B. less extraverted and more agreeable. C. more emotionally stable and more extraverted. D. less agreeable and more emotionally stable.

Q: Kikko strongly dislikes country music but told Keith, who is a big Garth Brooks fan and her latest love interest, that country music is her favorite and that she would love to go with him to see Garth in concert. This type of behavior is called: A. the negative identity. B. code switching. C. identity confusion. D. the false-self.

Q: Which of the following is not one of the personality dimensions of the Five-Factor Model? A. Neuroticism B. Openness to Experience C. Agreeableness D. Gender Intensification

Q: What does the Five-Factor Model describe? A. research methodology B. personality dimensions C. false-self behavior D. self-esteem dimensions

Q: Which dimension of the Five-Factor Model measures how organized someone is? A. Extroversion B. Agreeableness C. Neuroticism D. Conscientiousness

Q: Studies of ethnic identity development have shown that, relative to ethnic minorities, White adolescents are more likely to: A. identify their specific heritage (e.g., German, Irish). B. have a stronger sense of ethnic identity. C. avoid using "panethnic" labels to describe themselves. D. identify themselves as "American" rather than a specific heritage label.

Q: Racial socialization, the process by which parents teach children about their ethnic identity and the experiences they may encounter within society as a result of this identity, is thought to focus on three major themes. Which of the following is not one of these themes? A. getting along in mainstream society B. dealing with racism C. intolerance of the majority culture D. understanding one's own culture

Q: How much do people's personalities differ before and after adolescence? A. They are much different. B. There are a few major changes. C. They remain about the same. D. It's different for everyone.

Q: Mei was an impulsive preschooler. It is likely that, as an adolescent, she will be: A. impulsive. B. shy. C. anxious. D. well-adjusted.

Q: Temperament and personality tend to become _________ as we __________. A. stable; take more classes B. unstable; get older C. more stable; get older D. unstable; take more classes

Q: Adolescents are most likely to exhibit false-self behavior with their: A. friends. B. parents. C. dates. D. siblings.

Q: Adolescents are most likely to behave __________ in romantic situations and with a classmate, and they are least likely to engage in ___________ with close friends. A. authentically; inauthentic behavior B. authentically; authentic behavior C. inauthentically; false-self behavior D. inauthentically; true-self behavior

Q: Which of the following adolescents is least likely to engage in false-self behavior? A. Kassim, who has low self-esteem B. Emily, who has high support from her parents and peers C. Joy, who has problems with depression D. Eddie, who has a sense of hopelessness

Q: Someone who is more likely to engage in excessive false-self behavior is most likely: A. to report less emotional support from parents and peers. B. to have lower self-esteem. C. to report depressive symptoms. D. All of the above.

Q: Which of the following statements about self-conception is most likely to be made by a child rather than by an adolescent? A. "I am a complicated person." B. "Most people think I'm very secure, but really I'm pretty shy." C. "I am a girl; I have two brothers; I like to read." D. "I am honest; I am helpful; I am friendly."

Q: When the author of the textbook, Laurence Steinberg, says that "Some researchers have argued that the question of whether self-esteem is stable during adolescence is a poor one," what does he mean? A. Researchers have argued that asking whether self-esteem is stable is a poor question because it is impossible to measure self-esteem, let alone measure whether it changes during adolescence. B. Researchers have argued that asking whether self-esteem is stable is a poor question because self-esteem does not change across development; self-esteem is one of the most stable traits. C. Researchers have argued that asking whether self-esteem is stable is a poor question because group averages often hide substantial differences between people. D. Researchers have argued that asking whether self-esteem is stable is poor because the answer is incredibly obvious and, as a result, it does not deserve any more scientific research.

Q: When asked to describe himself, Aaron stated, "Most of my friends think I don't care about school, but I really study a lot at night because school is important to me." This is an example of how adolescent self-conceptions become more: A. detailed. B. logical. C. differentiated. D. intensified.

Q: Which of the following is one of the characteristics that distinguish between the adolescent's and the child's self-concept? A. Adolescents tend to view the self as involving more dimensions than do children. B. Adolescents distinguish among actual, ideal, and feared selves. C. The adolescent's self varies over time and across situations. D. All of the above.

Q: Generally speaking, the parenting style that is associated with the healthiest identity development is: A. warm but not excessively constraining. B. the absence of parental warmth. C. the absence of parental encouragement of individuality. D. warm but discouraging of individuality.

Q: Adolescents who have more complex self-conceptions are less likely: A. to be depressed. B. to achieve more in school. C. to have lots of friends. D. to be foreclosed.

Q: An important aspect of having a healthy self-concept and more socially appropriate behavior is to be able to balance one's ______ self with one's ______ self. A. actual; ideal B. actual; feared C. ideal; feared D. ideal; other

Q: Amy, a 16-year-old girl, is shy around boys though she would really like to be more outgoing. This reflects: A. the drive toward positive self-esteem. B. the discrepancy between her ideal and actual selves. C. a false sense of self-concept. D. All of the above.

Q: Identity formation is best seen as a: A. series of interrelated developments. B. single developmental issue. C. discrete quantitative switch. D. movement into a new and different person.

Q: Researchers have identified all of the following factors as critical components of the development of identity during adolescence, except: A. self-esteem. B. sense of identity. C. self-conception. D. self-regulation.

Q: Which of the following is a reason that "identity development" is an adolescent issue? A. An identity crisis occurs during adolescence. B. A sense of identity emerges for the first time during adolescence. C. Identity development is one of the inevitable changes of puberty. D. Changes take place during adolescence that cause young people to change how they view and feel about themselves.

Q: Maria describes herself as an only child, as a person who likes art and music, who is shy, and who likes to read. Maria's description fits best with the idea of: A. self-conception. B. self-esteem. C. self-attribution. D. self-control.

Q: Gwen has recently been preoccupied with trying to understand what kind of person she is. As an exercise, she writes out a list of 20 traits that she thinks best describe her. According to the text, Gwen is focusing on her: A. identity. B. self-conception. C. self-esteem. D. socialization.

Q: As adolescents develop, their self-conceptions become more: A. negative. B. optimistic. C. disorganized. D. differentiated.

Q: Researchers are particularly interested in the identity changes that occur in adolescence for all of the following reasons, except: A. this is the first substantial reorganization and restructuring of the sense of self at a time when an individual can fully appreciate the significance of the changes. B. the physical changes of puberty may prompt fluctuations in self-image. C. adolescents are capable of thinking in systematic ways about hypothetical and future events. D. adolescents are now capable of thinking in concrete terms about who they are and where they are going.

Q: Adolescents improve their ability and tendency to consider the long-term consequences of their decisions, which is one aspect of: A. imagining their possible selves. B. future orientation. C. self-concept. D. identity formation.

Q: Explain how adolescents in the United States use their time differently than adolescents growing up in other parts of the world. Be sure to discuss school, leisure, and work-related activities. When applicable, discuss possible reasons for these differences.

Q: Annie's parents believe Annie has free time on her hands and they would like to sign her up for some extracurricular activities. However, they are concerned that participation in these activities may lead to problem behavior and that overscheduling could place their daughter at risk for psychological stress and mental health problems. They are also worried that extracurricular participation could displace time spent doing homework and, as a result, could decrease her academic performance. They've asked you, the school psychologist, to weigh in. What would you tell Annie's parents?

Q: Social networking websites, such as Facebook and MySpace, have become extremely prevalent among teenagers (as well as adults). Describe how online friendships affect in-person relationships. In your opinion, do you think having a personal website, such as a profile on of these websites, places an adolescent at risk of being contacted by a sexual predator? If you were a parent of a teenager, would you allow your son or daughter to have a profile?

Q: Based on the definitions outlined in the Five Cs of positive youth development, what does confidence mean? A. a positive view of one's actions in domain-specific areas B. an internal sense of overall positive self-worth and self-efficacy; global self-regard C. positive bonds with people and institutions that are reflected in bidirectional exchanges D. respect for societal and cultural rules

Q: Based on the definitions outlined in the Five Cs of positive youth development, what does connection mean? A. a positive view of one's actions in domain-specific areas B. an internal sense of overall positive self-worth and self-efficacy C. positive bonds with people and institutions that are reflected in bidirectional exchanges D. respect for societal and cultural rules

Q: Based on the definitions outlined in the Five Cs of positive youth development, what does character mean? A. a positive view of one's actions in domain-specific areas B. an internal sense of overall positive self-worth and self-efficacy C. positive bonds with people and institutions that are reflected in bidirectional exchanges D. respect for societal and cultural rules

Q: Based on the Five Cs of positive youth development, which "C" stands for a sense of sympathy and empathy for others? A. character B. connection C. caring D. competence

Q: The power of the adolescent as a consumer has increased as a result of: A. the size of the adolescent population. B. the prevalence of student employment. C. the fact that adolescents save less than any other age group. D. All of the above.

Q: What makes a positive youth development program successful? A. the extent to which participants are placed in demanding roles B. the extent to which participants are expected to take responsibility for their behavior C. the extent to which participants are helped to understand the consequences of failing to fulfill their obligations D. All of the above.

Q: Which of the following statements about adolescents' social communication on the Internet is most supported by scientific research? A. Adolescents' online friendships are likely to displace in-person friendships. B. Most adolescents use the Internet to communicate with people that they have never met or that they do not see in person. C. Many adolescents have both positive and negative experiences while socializing on the Internet. D. The majority of adolescents have not seen someone post something mean about someone else on the Internet.

Q: What percent of American adolescents have sent a photo featuring naked breasts, genitals, or buttocks to a fellow student? A. 1% B. 20% C. between 40% and 50% D. more than 75%

Q: What is a scientifically valid concern regarding adolescents' media use? A. Adolescents who use the Internet for socializing are at a high risk of being the victim of unwanted sexual attention. B. Adolescents who frequently use the Internet are highly likely to be contacted by sexual predators. C. The amount of time adolescents spend watching TV and playing video games is inversely linked to the amount of time they spend in physical activity, which can have detrimental effects on adolescents' physical health. D. The increased time spent on the Internet has had a negative effect on adolescents' social development and relationships.

Q: Based on the definitions outlined in the Five Cs of positive youth development, what does competence mean? A. a positive view of one's actions in domain-specific areas B. an internal sense of overall positive self-worth and self-efficacy C. positive bonds with people and institutions that are reflected in bidirectional exchanges D. respect for societal and cultural rules

Q: Which of the following is not a common message that the media conveys about sex? A. unprotected sex can have serious consequences B. women are sex objects C. sex is a defining aspect of masculinity D. sex is fun and exciting

Q: Which set of research findings was used in the Supreme Court case of Brown v. Entertainment Merchants (2010), which was a case that debated whether banning the sale of violent video games to minors was unconstitutional? A. Careful studies have indicated that playing violent video games does not make adolescents more aggressive. B. Careful studies have indicated that playing violent video games indeed makes adolescents more aggressive. C. Putting labels on games to alert adolescents and their parents to violent content is an effective way of restricting the sale of particularly violent games. D. There is a causal relation between playing violent video games and being arrested for an assault.

Q: One tremendous problem in interpreting studies of media use and adolescent development is that: A. it is extremely difficult to disentangle cause and effect. B. media is difficult to measure. C. the type of media that adolescents use changes rapidly. D. adolescents are very secretive about their media use.

Q: Research evaluating media messages about sex and drugs finds that: A. these messages have a strong impact on adolescents' behavior. B. repeated exposure to these messages is likely to have an effect on adolescent attitudes and beliefs. C. although the messages may be somewhat negative, they tend to be relatively accurate. D. although their attitudes may differ, adolescents and adults have similar interpretations of these messages.

Q: Which theory of media's impact emphasizes the fact that adolescents choose the media to which they are exposed? A. uses and gratifications approach B. cultivation theory C. media practice model D. routine activity theory

Q: Which theory of media's impact emphasizes the reciprocal link between adolescents' preferences and their media exposure and that adolescents not only choose what they are exposed to but interpret the media in ways that shape their impact? A. uses and gratifications approach B. cultivation theory C. media practice model D. routine activity theory

Q: Which theory of media's impact emphasizes the idea that media shape adolescents' interests, motives, and beliefs about the world? A. uses and gratifications approach B. cultivation theory C. media practice model D. routine activity theory

Q: What have researchers found in regard to the research on exposure to violent imagery on TV? A. Repeated exposure to violent imagery on TV leads to aggressive behavior in children and adults, especially among those who have prior histories of aggression. B. Among male 14-year-olds who view more than 3 hours of TV/day, individuals with prior histories of aggression will engage in the most subsequent aggressive acts. C. Among female 14-year-olds who view more than 3 hours of TV/day, individuals with prior histories of aggression will engage in the most subsequent aggressive acts. D. All of these statements are true.

Q: According to the textbook, the harmful effects of low parental monitoring are especially bad in neighborhoods that: A. are low in collective efficacy. B. are low in diversity. C. are high in diversity. D. are low income.

Q: Why is it hard to know whether exposure to messages about drinking and smoking actually change adolescents' behaviors? A. Adolescents are not exposed to the mass media as blank slates. B. When adolescents are exposed to the mass media, they bring preexisting values, beliefs, and expectations to the experience of watching or listening to mass media. C. Preexisting values, beliefs, and expectations influence what adolescents perceive, what they pay attention to, and what they remember. D. All of these statements are true.

Q: Which of the following youth programs around today bear a striking resemblance to the stated goals of positive youth development programs? A. YMCA B. the Boys and Girls Clubs of America C. scouting D. All of the above.

Q: According to a study by Caldwell and Darling presented in the textbook, research indicates spending time after school with friends is most problematic under which circumstance? A. when they lack supervision B. when the adolescent has friends who like to party and use drugs C. when the adolescent is easily susceptible to peer pressure D. it is the combination of all of the above

Q: The average American adolescent sends _____ text messages a day. A. 1-20 texts B. 21-50 texts C. 51-100 D. more than 100

Q: Research investigating media "effects" on adolescent development has a hard time ruling out the possibility of spurious causation, which means that: A. two things can go hand in hand. B. that the second thing is actually causing the first thing (not the reverse). C. there is no statistically significant relation. D. the correlation between two things is due to the fact that each of them is correlated with a third factor.

Q: Adolescents are least likely to seek out ________ websites on the Internet. A. entertainment B. sports C. pornography D. lifestyle

Q: The highest levels of media use are reported by: A. early adolescents. B. late adolescents. C. White adolescents. D. Asian adolescents.

Q: According to the textbook, why might the estimated 8 hours a day of media use for adolescents be an understatement? A. Time spent using a smartphone is typically not calculated into the total amount of media use time. B. Adolescents are typically not aware of the fact that they are using media. C. Adolescents notoriously underestimate the time they spend using various types of media. D. This estimate includes media multitasking.

Q: The textbook suggests all of the following for parents who leave their children in self-care, except: A. provide clear instructions about after-school activities and whereabouts. B. have the child check in with an adult as soon as he or she gets home. C. teach the child how to handle any emergencies that arise. D. have friends come over for study sessions.

Q: When is delinquency most common? A. weekdays during school hours B. weekday afternoons C. weekend nights D. weekend afternoons

Q: According to the textbook, compared to young people who are supervised after school by adults, Stephanie, a self-care adolescent, will likely experience all of the following except: A. be more socially isolated and more depressed B. be sexually active earlier C. be more likely to be involved in problem behavior D. use less drugs and alcohol