iClicker Questions for Psychology, Seventh Edition by Peter Gray Chapter 12: Social Development

Cognitive theorists such as Piaget and Vygotsky have contributed to the area of social development by: providing explanations of the mental processes involved in children’s social development. providing explanations of the cultural influences involved in children’s social development. providing descriptions of the emotional functions that influence children’s social development. providing descriptions of the physical aspects (i.e., gross and fine motor skills) that influence children's social development. Answer: a

How is attachment in Harry Harlow’s monkeys like attachment to blankets and stuffed animals in North American infants? North American infants who tend to sleep alone may, like Harlow’s monkeys, attach themselves to the softest, most comforting mother substitute available. Attachment to blankets and stuffed animals in North American infants is in no way similar to the attachment observed in Harlow’s monkeys. Both North American infants and Harlow’s monkeys formed a strong attachment to a single inanimate object, while retaining their attachments to their mothers and other caregivers. Both North American infants and Harlow’s monkeys were in direct, caring contact with their mothers during the daytime hours. Answer: a

How did Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s thinking differ about the role of play in development? Piaget felt that play was a species- and sex-typical behavior well suited to evolutionary needs while Vygotsky emphasized the role of universal forms of play in the development of high culture. Piaget felt that unsupervised play was essential to moral development, while Vygotsky connected play with learning about social rules. Vygotsky felt that unsupervised play was essential to moral development, while Piaget connected play with learning about social rules. Vygotsky felt that play was a species- and sex-typical behavior well suited to evolutionary needs while Piaget emphasized the role of universal forms of play in the development of high culture. Answer: b

In Hoffman’s theory of discipline, which category involves verbal reasoning in which the parents persuade the child to think about the harmful consequences of their actions from the point of view of the person who is hurt? Power assertion Induction Punishment Love withdrawl Answer: b

According to Kohlberg’s stages of moral reasoning, what stage is described by this statement: “A life being saved is more important than following the law.” Obedience and punishment orientation Law-and-order morality Human-rights and social-welfare morality Self-interested exchanges Answer: c

How is the gender difference in the desire for uncommitted sex best explained by evolutionary theory? Because human males in all cultures are more eager to have sex without any long-term commitment, evolution has given them a drive to engage in sexual intercourse as often as possible. Because human females pay the greater cost in terms of social and cultural stigma, they are more discriminating in choosing when and with whom to copulate. Because human males are sexually more selfish and self-oriented, they put greater effort into satisfying their sex drive as often as possible. Because human females pay the greater cost in terms of the energy and time invested in pregnancy and subsequent rearing of the young, they are more discriminating in choosing when and with whom to copulate. Answer: d

What are the effects of occupational self-direction on workers and their children? Regardless of salary or general prestige level of the job, those workers who have the highest occupational self-direction are happiest at work and more likely to raise their children in a non-authoritarian, democratic manner. Only those workers in high salary or prestige-level jobs experience the highest occupational self-direction and are thus happier at their work and more likely to raise their children in a non-authoritarian, democratic manner. Regardless of salary or prestige level of the job, no significant effects are discerned beyond increased happiness amongst those with the highest occupational self-direction. Only low occupational self-direction has any correlation with positive effects on workers and their children. Answer: a