Q&A Hero

Q: Which of the following is not one of the areas of fundamental change in adolescence? A. biological B. social C. conceptual D. cognitive

Q: Kaji, a 16-year-old male, has gone through the rite of passage and is now considered a warrior by his tribesmen. This change in Kaji's role and status may be referred to as: A. status offense. B. scarification. C. social redefinition. D. inventionist.

Q: According to research presented in the textbook, the longer a foreign-born adolescent has lived in the United States, the more likely he or she is to: A. smoke cigarettes or binge drink. B. feel as though he or she has established meaningful interpersonal relationships. C. increase in health-benefiting behaviors. D. receive high grades in school.

Q: In general, according to the textbook, is "Americanization" a positive and desirable experience for immigrant adolescents? A. No, Americanization appears to be associated with worse, not better, outcomes. B. Yes, Americanization appears to be associated with better outcomes. C. The textbook indicates that Americanization is associated with both better and worse outcomes. D. Yes, Americanization has been associated with less likelihood of drug and alcohol use.

Q: Which of the following is a sign of Americanization? A. speaking English exclusively B. speaking English in addition to your native language C. having American-born children D. having an abrupt transition into adulthood

Q: Which of the following is not associated with transition difficulties in adolescence? A. spending a lot of time with peers B. being a member of a minority group C. living in poverty D. the absence of affluent neighbors

Q: How does poverty adversely affect the behavior and development of adolescents? A. Social problems are contagious and can spread from one adolescent to another. B. Poverty in neighborhoods breeds social isolation. C. Adolescents growing up in poverty are more likely to be exposed to violence. D. All of the above are true.

Q: Tamika and Theresa both live in single-parent households and survive on welfare. Tamika, however, lives in a better neighborhood than Theresa. According to community researchers, who is more likely to drop out of school or become pregnant? A. Tamika B. Theresa C. both Tamika and Theresa have an equal chance D. unable to determine

Q: Who of the following is likely to have limited economic and occupational success, which will affect the transition into adulthood? A. Ella, who experienced an out-of-wedlock pregnancy during adolescence B. Lula, who is an unemployed adolescent C. Gerald, who dropped out of high school D. All of these factors are likely to disrupt the transition into adulthood.

Q: Evaluations of mentoring programs have indicated that: A. mentoring is a sufficient program to meet the needs of at-risk youth. B. the success of mentoring depends on the amount of financial support for the program. C. the success of the mentoring program depends on characteristics of the mentor, the mentee, and the relationship between the two. D. mentoring tends to be more successful when the mentor involves the adolescent in 1 to 2 specific activities.

Q: Relocation studies that have randomly chosen poor families to either stay where they are living or move to a more advantaged neighborhood have found: A. that those from high-poverty neighborhoods who move to more advantaged neighborhoods have better outcomes than those who were originally from medium or low-poverty neighborhoods. B. that relocation may be more beneficial for boys than girls. C. mixed results. D. adolescents who moved to a better area had better psychological and behavioral outcomes compared to those who stayed in poor neighborhoods.

Q: What may explain the results from the studies that have relocated adolescents from poor neighborhoods to more advantaged neighborhoods? A. Adolescents may encounter more discrimination in the new neighborhood. B. Parents of adolescents in more advantaged neighborhoods may monitor their children more vigilantly. C. Adolescents who moved to a new neighborhood may end up feeling less disadvantaged. D. More advantaged neighborhoods allow access to more resources than the poor neighborhoods do.

Q: Taken together, research studies have determined that growing up in a poor neighborhood: A. has negative effects on adolescent behavior, achievement, and mental health, and these effects are above and beyond those effects attributable to growing up in a poor family. B. has no effect on adolescent development after you take the effect of family income into account. C. is only associated with negative outcomes for minority adolescents. D. will cause adolescents to rush the transition into adult roles.

Q: One discrepancy in the way that society treats adolescence is that courts have ruled that teenagers have the right to obtain ________; however, the courts have also upheld laws forbidding adolescents to obtain _____. A. cigarettes; contraceptives B. vulgar magazines; contraceptives C. contraceptives; cigarettes or vulgar magazines D. vulgar magazines; cigarettes

Q: Who will have the most difficulty negotiating the transition into adolescence? A. Brian, an Asian American B. Ken, a White American C. Charlie, a Hispanic American D. Mara, a White American

Q: According to the textbook, today, about _____ of American adolescents are from ethnic minority groups; and, by the end of this century, it is estimated that nearly _____ of American adolescent will be non-White. A. 45%; 1/3 B. 10%; 2/3 C. 10%; 1/3 D. 45%; 2/3

Q: The transition into adulthood is more likely to be impeded among minority teenagers because they: A. are more likely to grow up poor. B. experience more prejudice and discrimination. C. are more economically dependent on their parents than their White peers. D. are more likely to be involved in gangs.

Q: Black, Hispanic, and American Indian youth have more trouble negotiating the transition into adulthood than do their counterparts of which race(s)? A. White youth only B. Asian youth only C. White and Asian youth D. None of the above is the correct answer.

Q: The transition into adulthood 50 or 60 years ago was characterized by _____ prior preparation for family roles and _____ prior preparation for work roles. A. more; less B. more; more C. less; more D. less; less

Q: Some researchers have suggested that ______ __ in contemporary society has (have) caused difficulties for many of today's youth, especially poor or minority youth. A. the discontinuous and prolonged nature of the transition from adolescence to adulthood B. the hormonal changes associated with puberty C. the overwhelming of adolescents with adult responsibilities D. the practice of youth apprenticeships

Q: Based on Grisso and colleague's competency study, should we assume a 15-year-old is definitely more competent than a mentally ill adult who has been found not competent to stand trial? What about a 13-year-old? A. No, about 1/5 of 14- to 15-year-olds and about 1/3 of 13 and younger children are likely to be found to be as impaired in their abilities to stand trial as mentally ill adults who have been determined to be not competent to stand trial. B. The 15-year-old is definitely more competent to stand trial than a mentally ill adult; however, it is likely that the 13-year-old would be as impaired in her ability as a mentally ill adult. C. Both adolescents are likely to be more competent than a mentally ill adult who has been determined to be not competent. D. The results from the Grisso study cannot be used to predict whether a 15- or 13-year-old would be competent to stand trial.

Q: Compared to approximately 100 years ago, contemporary adolescents take on full-time employment _____ and live under adult supervision _____ than adolescents in earlier times. A. later; more B. later; less C. earlier; more D. earlier; less

Q: Compared to when adults are interrogated by the police, juveniles are: A. more likely to understand their rights. B. less likely to confess to a crime than remain silent. C. more likely to discuss disagreements with their attorney. D. None of the above is true.

Q: Which of the following Supreme Court cases demonstrated the Court's belief that adolescents may be less blameworthy than adults? A. Roper v. Simmons B. Hodgson v. Minnesota C. Board of Education v. Mergens D. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

Q: In 1960, the average age of marriage for women was _____; today it is _____. A. 20; 27 B. 26; 20 C. 30; 27 D. 20; 20

Q: Dr. Ramirez believes that the passage into adulthood is a gradual process in which the adolescent assumes the roles and status of adulthood bit by bit. This view is most closely associated with the: A. continuous transition. B. discontinuous transition. C. longitudinal perspective. D. abstemious approach.

Q: Compared to the situation 50 or 60 years ago, today's transition to adulthood is: A. short and smooth. B. short and rocky. C. long and disorderly. D. long and smooth.

Q: Dr. Goodrich believes that the passage into adulthood is a sudden change in which adult roles and statuses are abruptly assumed. This view is most closely associated with the: A. continuous transition. B. discontinuous transition. C. longitudinal perspective. D. abstemious approach.

Q: Since Mark was 5 years old, he has been helping his father maintain the family farm. Now, 30 years later, Mark owns the farm and is teaching his own son how to manage it. Based on your knowledge about the continuity of adolescence, how would you describe Mark's transition? A. attenuated B. longitudinal C. discontinuous D. continuous

Q: In contemporary society, the transition into adult work roles is fairly: A. discontinuous. B. continuous. C. smooth. D. None of the above.

Q: The current transition into adult occupations in America is considered a: A. functional transition. B. discontinuous transition. C. continuous transition. D. consonant transition.

Q: Changes in social definition will likely have profound effects on developments in the domains of: A. achievement, spirituality, and identity. B. achievement, sexuality, and autonomy. C. sexuality, achievement, and identity. D. sexuality, autonomy, achievement, and identity.

Q: Why is it so difficult to draw a legal boundary between when someone should be treated like a child and when someone is ready to be treated like an adult? A. Development is so rapid and so variable between individuals. B. It is difficult to predict when individuals will go through puberty. C. These laws have been in place for 100s of years and they are difficult to change. D. Most adolescents look older than they feel.

Q: Approximately what percentage of American 18- to 24-year-olds live with or are supported financially by their parents? A. 90% B. 15% C. 55% D. 70%

Q: Individuals who were adolescents in the late 1950s and 1960s are known as members of the: A. Leave It to Beaver generation. B. baby-boom generation. C. "Free Love" generation. D. Great Depression generation.

Q: Societies in which hunting, fishing, and farming are the primary work activities tend to exhibit a more _____ transition between adolescence and adulthood. A. continuous B. discontinuous C. exaggerated D. protracted

Q: For Sally's 13th birthday, her mother has agreed to let her get her ears pierced. In traditional societies, this type of body ritual may be equated to: A. epiphysis. B. extrusion. C. voodoo. D. scarification

Q: All of the following are aspects of social redefinition described in the textbook except: A. the passing on of information from the older generation. B. the accentuation of differences between males and females. C. the real or symbolic separation from parents. D. the completion of formal schooling.

Q: The messages that contemporary society sends adolescents are: A. full of sexual innuendos. B. unclear and inconsistent. C. outdated. D. inappropriate for young people.

Q: In Marley's society, adolescents are expected to attain adult roles at a certain age; however, they are provided with little training for such responsibilities. Additionally, adolescents tend to be segregated from the workforce and receive little training in school for the types of jobs they will hold as adults. What type of society does Marley most likely belong to? A. traditional B. contemporary C. child protectionist D. non-industrialized

Q: Charles feels older than most of the other kids in his grade. He is more likely to engage in all of the following activities except: A. spending more time with opposite-sex peers. B. greater achievement in school. C. feel more autonomous. D. engage in problem behavior.

Q: Initiation ceremonies for young women in traditional societies most often coincide with: A. marriage. B. menarche. C. scarification. D. the completion of formal schooling.

Q: Among American adolescents, the most frequently mentioned criterion for being an adult is ________; among Inuit adolescents in the Canadian Arctic, the most important is ________: A. getting married; accepting responsibility for oneself. B. moving in with a prospective mate; supporting oneself financially. C. accepting responsibility for oneself; the establishment of a marriage-like relationship. D. being able to support oneself financially; becoming a parent.

Q: Research has established that circumcision: A. is associated with negative outcomes for both males and females. B. is associated with positive outcomes for both males and females. C. is associated with negative outcomes for males but not for females. D. is associated with negative outcomes for females but not for males.

Q: According to the textbook, all of the following statements about female circumcision are true except: A. although the risks are well-known, the prevalence of circumcision in the United States has grown to 18% of female adolescents. B. female circumcision carries zero health benefits. C. female circumcision can cause infection and chronic pain during urination, menstruation, and sexual intercourse. D. after circumcision, it is virtually impossible for a woman to achieve an orgasm during sex.

Q: What might explain why adolescence has been elongated? A. the delayed onset of puberty B. recent brain imaging studies that have indicated that the prefrontal cortex is still developing until the age of 25 C. the failure of young adults to settle down in marriage-like relationships D. the increased importance of formal education in making a successful transition into adult roles

Q: According to the textbook, in non-Western cultures, there is huge discrepancy in the extension of privileges to males and females. In general, girls' behavior is more _____, whereas boys are given more ____. A. subject to the control of adults; responsibilities B. subject to the control of adults; freedom and autonomy C. likely to be regulated by community standards; family-level rules D. likely to be watched and scrutinized; privacy

Q: The Bas Mitzvah, the confirmation, and the quinceaera are all examples of: A. graduations. B. inventionism. C. initiation ceremonies. D. universal rights of passage.

Q: Which of the following is not an example of the contemporary version of scarification? A. brushing teeth B. using makeup C. shaving face or legs D. ear piercing

Q: The Bar Mitzvah and Bas Mitzvah are contemporary examples of traditional society's practice of: A. extrusion. B. the accentuation of male and female differences. C. cohorts. D. counterculture.

Q: What is the most striking aspect of the transition into adulthood for contemporary adolescents? A. The extended amount of time between pubertal onset and the achievement of adult work and family roles. B. The discontinuity in the transition into adulthood. C. The expanded range of opportunities for today's adolescents. D. Feeling more mature than adolescents, but less mature than adults.

Q: Typically, the social redefinition of young people occurs in groups of peers who are approximately the same age, known as: A. cohorts. B. age groups. C. longitudinal groups. D. quinceaera groups.

Q: Which of the following themes is generally not a universal element in the process of social redefinition? A. the accentuation of physical and social differences between males and females B. the real or symbolic separation of the adolescent from his or her parents C. the separation of adolescents experiencing menarche from elder members of the community D. the passing on of cultural, historical, and practical information

Q: Social scientists believe that the transition from adolescence into adulthood in contemporary society is: A. too rocky. B. too vague. C. too long. D. All of the above responses are true.

Q: In some cultures (and in earlier American cohorts), the accentuation of differences between sexes during the social redefinition of adolescence occurs partly because of: A. the physical changes of puberty. B. adult work roles are highly sex-differentiated. C. adult family roles are highly sex-differentiated. D. All of the above.

Q: Fifteen-year-old Randall was a participant in a research study on risk taking. According to his answers on the survey, Randall understands the dangers of drinking and driving, having unprotected sex, and using marijuana. However, at a party last week, Randall was seen smoking marijuana and getting into a car with an intoxicated driver. How would you explain this inconsistency in Randall's behavior in terms of the four main aspects of brain development? Obviously, he knows the right answers, yet he engages in risky behavior.

Q: Nicole is an adolescent and has experienced changes in cognition and theory of mind capacities. Her mom and dad believe that these changes have both positively and negatively influenced their relationship with their daughter. How would an adolescent development psychologist explain the effects of these normative developmental changes in cognition?

Q: Anita cannot understand why adolescents are more likely than any other age group to engage in risky behaviors. She has learned in class that individuals undergo significant cognitive advancements during adolescence, and in fact, many adolescents aged 15 and older use the same basic processes that adults use to make decisions. Your instructor has asked you to explain to Anita why risk taking may peak during adolescence. What do you tell her?

Q: Recent research on psychological well-being in emerging adulthood suggests: A. it is a time of positive and improving mental health for most people. B. it is a time of increasing stress caused by financial instability. C. it is a time of decreasing mental health for most people. D. no research has yet examined this question with emerging adults.

Q: Jennifer, who is 16, ran away with her friend Tonya, who is 18. The police, however, only arrested Jennifer for running away because for a minor, running away is considered: A. the age of majority. B. extrusion. C. a status offense. D. juvenile truancy.

Q: Adolescents who are convicted of crimes become part of the _________ justice system, whereas adults convicted of the same crimes are part of the ________ justice system. A. child; adult B. status; majority C. criminal; adult D. juvenile; criminal

Q: Legal decisions have tended to support adolescent autonomy when the behavior at issue is: A. viewed as potentially dangerous. B. supported by the adolescents' parents. C. also legal for adults. D. viewed as having potential benefit.

Q: Which of the following would not be considered an initiation ceremony? A. graduating from high school B. a quinceaera C. a Bas Mitzvah D. obtaining a driver's license

Q: Compared to a child, an older adolescent is likely to: A. experience more stress and less happiness. B. face a range decisions that may have serious long-term consequences. C. have fewer long-term possibilities. D. have an identity crisis.

Q: Changes in social definition also bring changes in: A. adolescents' identities. B. responsibilities. C. changes in relationships with others. D. All of the above.

Q: According to the textbook, a good deal of adolescents' risk taking takes place in contexts in which: A. they are unsupervised by adults and exposed to peers who encourage risky behaviors. B. older, opposite sex peers are present. C. they are in a new, exciting environment. D. there are at least three peers present.

Q: One explanation for the risk-taking peak that is observed in adolescence is that: A. adolescents are not aware of the risks associated with certain behaviors. B. the prefrontal cortex is fully developed years before the limbic system is active. C. adolescents are relatively higher in sensation seeking and impulsivity than children and adults. D. None of the above statements are true. Risk taking does not peak in adolescence.

Q: According to the textbook, the main contributor to the increased rate of automobile accidents among teenagers is: A. driving under the influence. B. driving with other teenagers in the car. C. texting while driving. D. talking on the phone, especially having an emotional conversation.

Q: According to the textbook, all of the following are potentially successful ways to reduce adolescent risk taking except: A. classroom-based education programs designed to teach adolescents about the dangers of various activities, make better decisions, and resist peer pressure to engage in risky activity. B. limiting adolescents' opportunities to put themselves in risky situations and making risky substances harder for adolescents to obtain. C. making the penalties for engaging in certain risky behaviors more severe and increasing the salience of the potential costs of engaging in the risky behavior. D. finding ways to permit adolescents to take risks without putting themselves in situations in which they can hurt themselves.

Q: Which theory helps researchers understand adolescent risk taking? A. behavioral decision theory B. alternative choices theory C. desirability theory D. cognitive development theory

Q: According to research on behavioral decision theory, adolescents often decide to engage in behavior that seems risky to adults because adolescents: A. cannot consider as many consequences for their actions as do adults. B. have thinking processes that are still predominantly preoperational. C. have different values and priorities than adults. D. wish to assert their independence from adults in every possible way.

Q: Are adults, or adolescents, more likely to think of themselves as invulnerable? A. adults B. adolescents C. both are likely D. Neither group thinks of themselves as invulnerable.

Q: What emotional characteristic makes an individual more likely to engage in risky behaviors? A. depression B. moodiness C. sensation seeking D. anxiety

Q: Behavioral decision theory draws heavily on _____, and is a rational process in which individuals _____. A. psychoanalytic theory; are forced to think about the root of their behaviors B. information-processing theory; naturally advance in cognitive skills C. economics; calculate the costs and benefits D. behaviorism; make choices based on rewards and punishments.

Q: Compared to childhood, reward seeking and sensation seeking during adolescence: A. are equally as high during childhood and adolescence. B. are lower during adolescence than childhood. C. are caused by biological forces during adolescence while it is typically caused by environmental forces in childhood. D. are higher during adolescence than childhood.

Q: Compared to children and adults, adolescents: A. engage in a greater amount of risky behaviors in the real world. B. perceive fewer risks on laboratory questionnaires. C. make more deliberate decisions in the real world. D. None of the above is true.

Q: All of the following are themes that have emerged from research studies that investigate different aspects of social cognition during adolescence except: A. as individuals move into and through adolescence they become better able to step outside themselves and see things from other vantage points. B. adolescents are better able to see that the social rules we follow are not absolute and are therefore subject to debate and questioning. C. with age, adolescents develop a more differentiated, more nuanced understanding of social norms. D. with age, all adolescents increasingly reject the authority of adults by challenging and dismissing the morals established by their parents.

Q: Which of the following is one of the results of improvements in social cognition? A. adolescents become better at lying B. adolescents become less able to recognize that others may view situations differently C. adolescents are less capable of formulating arguments D. adolescents are less likely to challenge their parents' authority

Q: Who of the following individuals is likely to believe that it is always wrong to exclude others? A. Gwendolyn, who is trying to decide who to invite to her 9th birthday party B. Amy, who is a member of a high-status peer group at her high school C. Tina, an adolescent who has a sophisticated understanding of peer group dynamics D. Carl, a senior on the high school football team.

Q: Early in adolescence, moral guidelines are: A. seen as absolutes. B. seen as subjective. C. based on principles such as equality, justice, or fairness. D. based on abstract guidelines.