Final Exam – Psychology of Children

Directions:       Read each of the questions below carefully. Once you have read and analyzed each question, write the complete answer in essay format (at least 1 page per question). Remember to base your answers on your readings and class information. Try to be concise, but complete in your answers.
 
Good Luck!!
 

1. Your friends Andre and Mia are both above average in intelligence and they are concerned that their new daughter Diane will be intelligent also.  They want to know what they can do to shape Diane’s environment to increase the chances that she will be above average in intelligence.  What can you tell them about the effects of heredity and environment on intelligence?

1. Describe and give an example of the two naming errors that children make when learning new words.  When do these errors occur?  When do these errors go away?

1. Learning theorists’ claim that language is learned strictly through imitation and reinforcement has been challenged by other theorists who propose that an inborn mechanism helps children learn grammar. Give an example of a language phenomenon that learning theory has difficulty explaining and describe evidence that supports the notion of an inborn grammar-learning device.

1. Your friends have a 6-month-old son, Ethan. Ethan often is irritable, is prone to anger, and is easily distressed. Your friends are hoping that Ethan is just “in a bad stage” and that he will outgrow his behavior. Which category of temperament would you put Ethan in and what can you tell your friends about the stability of temperament?

1. Explain what is meant by the imaginary audience, the personal fable, and the illusion of invulnerability. Give an example of each.

1. Describe the developmental changes in self-esteem that occur over the preschool, elementary, junior high, and high school years.

1. Your friend insists that gender differences in behavior are due totally to socialization — that if you treat males and females exactly the same, there will be no differences between them.  You disagree, arguing that biology has some influence on gender differences.  What research evidence would you cite to support your claim?

1. Paul and Mary have been married for 20 years.  They have started fighting a lot.  Paul comes to you for help.  He knows that all marriages experience conflict now and again.  However, he is starting to wonder how his fighting with his wife is affecting his children.  What would you tell him?  How does chronic conflict affect children?  What suggestions would you give Paul for helping his children handle conflict?