Erikson's Stages of Development Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which statement best reflects the concept of parsimony in theories?

Theories require extensive empirical evidence to be validated.

Theories are better when they are simple and elegant. (correct)

Theories are more effective when they incorporate many variables.

Theories are better when they are complex and multifaceted.

What is the primary focus of evolutionary psychology?

To understand psychological disorders through genetic factors.

To study the biological basis of emotional responses.

To explore how natural selection influences personality and behavior. (correct)

To analyze the impact of social environment on mental health.

What does heritability measure in the context of personality traits?

The average similarity of traits between identical and fraternal twins.

The proportion of variability related to genetic factors within a population. (correct)

The extent to which a trait can be influenced by external factors.

The overall stability of personality traits over a person's lifetime.

How is the heritability of traits typically estimated?

From studies involving twins and family lineage. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of variability in most traits is suggested to be heritable, based on the content?

About 50% Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic best describes temperament?

It reflects stable individual differences in emotional reactivity. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four basic dimensions of temperament mentioned?

Activity, emotional reactivity, sociability, and passivity. Signup and view all the answers

How is neuroticism generally understood in terms of genetic influence?

It typically has substantial heritable aspects. Signup and view all the answers

What developmental task is associated with infancy according to Erikson?

Trust vs. Mistrust Signup and view all the answers

During which stage do individuals focus on planning and executing actions?

Initiative vs. Guilt Signup and view all the answers

In which developmental stage do individuals primarily develop companionships and love relationships?

Intimacy vs. Isolation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus during the Generativity vs. Stagnation stage?

Being productive and giving to others Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following stages involves evaluating one’s life for meaning and wisdom?

Ego Integrity vs. Despair Signup and view all the answers

What criticism is often leveled at Erikson's Neo-Analytic Theory?

It is difficult to empirically test. Signup and view all the answers

Which developmental stage directly follows Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt?

Initiative vs. Guilt Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of Erikson's theory?

It emphasizes the self's coping mechanisms. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes extraverts according to Eysenck’s model?

They are active and sociable. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference in CNS arousal between introverts and extraverts?

Introverts have lower overall CNS arousal. Signup and view all the answers

According to Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, what does an overactive Behavioral Activation System (BAS) lead to?

Higher impulsivity and reward-seeking tendencies. Signup and view all the answers

How do introverts respond to sensory stimuli compared to extraverts?

They habituate slower to sensory stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What psychological trait is associated with an overactive Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)?

Anxiety and alertness. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of traits does Eysenck's model suggest introverts exhibit?

Quiet, reserved, and thoughtful. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does an overactive BAS have on a person’s behavior?

They are more prone to addictions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of emotionality in temperament?

Easily aroused to a range of emotions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of behaviorism as founded by John Watson?

Scientific study of observable behavior Signup and view all the answers

In Watson's 'Little Albert' experiment, what was the unconditional stimulus (UCS)?

The loud noise Signup and view all the answers

What does a reinforcer do in operant conditioning?

Increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?

Helping someone escape a stressful situation Signup and view all the answers

What pattern is described by Skinner's Law of Effect?

Behaviors are shaped by both reinforcement and punishment Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of positive punishment?

Reduces behavior tendency Signup and view all the answers

What term is used for a conditioned stimulus (CS) after conditioning has occurred?

Conditioned stimulus (CS) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of operant conditioning?

Focus on internal mental states Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in classical conditioning?

It naturally elicits a response without prior conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during the process of stimulus generalization?

Similar stimuli trigger the conditioned response as well. Signup and view all the answers

Which sequence accurately describes classical conditioning?

Unconditioned stimulus → Conditioned stimulus → Conditioned response Signup and view all the answers

When does extinction occur in classical conditioning?

When the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

Which component is the conditioned stimulus (CS) after classical conditioning?

A stimulus that was previously neutral and now elicits a trained response. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during stimulus discrimination?

The organism learns to respond only to the conditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

In Pavlov's experiment, what was the initially neutral stimulus?

The sound of the bell used during conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

How does classical conditioning relate to fear responses, such as a child's fear of flying insects after being stung by bees?

Fear results from stimulus generalization of a specific unconditioned response. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

Erikson proposed eight stages of psychosocial development, each characterized by a developmental task or crisis.
Trust vs. Mistrust (infancy): The infant learns to trust their caregivers and their ability to meet their needs.
Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (early childhood): The child develops a sense of independence and self-control, mastering basic skills and navigating social interactions.
Initiative vs. Guilt (early to mid-childhood): The child gains confidence in their ability to take action and make decisions, learning to get along with others and develop a sense of responsibility.
Industry vs. Inferiority (mid- to late childhood): The child learns to take pride in their accomplishments and discovers their talents.
Identity vs. Role Confusion (adolescence): The adolescent develops a sense of self and their unique place in the world, exploring different roles and ultimately forming a cohesive identity.
Intimacy vs. Isolation (early adulthood): The young adult develops the ability to form deep, meaningful relationships and establish a sense of belonging.
Generativity vs. Stagnation (mid-adulthood): The adult contributes to society and gives back to the community, raising families and contributing to the next generation.
Ego Integrity vs. Despair (late adulthood): The older adult reflects on their life and achieves acceptance of their accomplishments and failures, finding meaning and satisfaction in their life journey.

Criticism of Neo-Analytic Theory

Advantages:
- Focuses on the "self" as the core aspect of personality, responsible for managing emotions, drives, and social demands.
- Recognizes the impact of social interactions, culture, and society on personality development.
- Emphasizes that personality development continues throughout life.
Disadvantages:
- Lack of scientific rigor and empirical testing.
- Relies on abstract concepts that are difficult to observe or measure.
- Theory lacks parsimony; it is complex and incorporates many different ideas.

Biological Aspects of Personality

Evolutionary Psychology posits that natural selection has favored certain traits influencing personality and social behavior. These traits enhance reproductive success and survival.
Heritability refers to the proportion of trait variability within a population that is attributed to genetic factors. It is typically estimated through twin and family studies. Most personality traits exhibit substantial heritable components.
Temperament refers to stable individual differences in emotional reactivity. These differences arise from variations in nervous system responses to environmental stimuli. Four dimensions of temperament:
- Activity: Active vs. passive
- Emotionality: Easily aroused vs. emotionally steady
- Sociability: Approachable vs. withdrawn
- Aggression/Impulsivity: Aggressive vs. conscientious.

Eysenck's Central Nervous System (CNS) Model of Temperament

Eysenck proposed that individual differences in CNS arousal explain introversion-extraversion.
- Introverts have higher CNS arousal, thus seeking less stimulation.
- Extraverts have lower CNS arousal, thus seeking more stimulation.
Evidence of this comes from studies on:
- Electrodermal activity (GSR): Extroverts show less arousal on skin conductance.
- Electroencephalography (EEG): Extroverts show less CNS arousal.
- Habituation to Sensory Stimuli: Introverts habituate slower to stimuli.

Gray's Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

Gray proposed two bio-learning systems that influence personality:
- Behavioral Activation System (BAS): Responds to rewards and pleasurable stimuli. An overactive BAS leads to impulsivity, reward-seeking, and sensation-seeking.
- Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS): Orients the person to novel and threatening situations. An overactive BIS leads to anxiety, alertness, and worrying.

Classical Conditioning

Proposed by Ivan Pavlov.
Key Concepts:
- Neutral Stimulus (NS): Does not elicit a response.
- Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Naturally elicits a response.
- Unconditioned Response (UCR): The natural response to UCS.
- Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Formerly a NS, but now elicits a response after pairing with UCS.
- Conditioned Response (CR): Formerly a UCR, but now elicited by a CS.
- Stimulus Generalization: Occurs when CR is elicited by stimuli similar to CS.
- Stimulus Discrimination: Learning to differentiate between CS and similar stimuli.
- Extinction: The CS loses its power to elicit CR if repeatedly presented without UCS.

Origins of Behaviorism

John Watson (1920s) rejected introspection and founded behaviorism, focusing on the scientific study of observable behavior.
The "Little Albert" experiment demonstrated conditioned fear responses in a child. A neutral stimulus (white rat) was paired with a loud noise (UCS) and the child (Albert) developed a fear of the white rat alone (CR).

Radical Behaviorism

B.F. Skinner (1940s-1960s), influenced by Edward Thorndike's "Law of effect," proposed operant conditioning.
Operant conditioning explains how consequences influence behavior:
- Reinforcer: Increases the probability of a behavior occurring.
- Punisher: Decreases the probability of a behavior occurring.
Types of Reinforcement:
- Positive Reinforcement: Adding a pleasant stimulus.
- Negative Reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus.
Types of Punishment:
- Positive Punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus.
- Negative Punishment: Removing a pleasant stimulus.

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Description

Test your knowledge of Erik Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development. Each stage is characterized by a specific crisis or developmental task that influences personality and behavior. Understand how these stages impact individuals from infancy to adolescence.