Q.1 Which of the following best defines developmental psychology?
The study of human behavior in groups
The study of changes in human behavior across the lifespan
The study of brain structures
The study of mental disorders
Explanation - Developmental psychology focuses on how people grow and change throughout their lives, including physical, cognitive, and social development.
Correct answer is: The study of changes in human behavior across the lifespan
Q.2 Who is known as the father of psychoanalytic theory of development?
Jean Piaget
Sigmund Freud
Erik Erikson
B.F. Skinner
Explanation - Sigmund Freud developed the psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes the role of unconscious motives and early childhood experiences in development.
Correct answer is: Sigmund Freud
Q.3 Piaget's stages of cognitive development include all of the following EXCEPT:
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete Operational
Psychosocial
Explanation - Psychosocial stages were proposed by Erik Erikson, while Piaget focused on cognitive stages such as sensorimotor and preoperational stages.
Correct answer is: Psychosocial
Q.4 At what age does the sensorimotor stage of Piaget's theory occur?
0-2 years
2-7 years
7-11 years
12 years and above
Explanation - The sensorimotor stage occurs from birth to approximately 2 years of age, during which infants learn through sensory experiences and motor actions.
Correct answer is: 0-2 years
Q.5 Which term refers to a fertilized egg in the earliest stage of development?
Fetus
Embryo
Zygote
Blastocyst
Explanation - The zygote is formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg and represents the earliest stage of prenatal development.
Correct answer is: Zygote
Q.6 Which of Erikson's stages involves the conflict of trust versus mistrust?
Infancy
Adolescence
Early adulthood
Late adulthood
Explanation - Trust versus mistrust occurs during infancy, where consistent care helps the child develop trust in caregivers and the world.
Correct answer is: Infancy
Q.7 During which stage of Piaget's theory do children develop object permanence?
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete Operational
Formal Operational
Explanation - Object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen, develops during the sensorimotor stage.
Correct answer is: Sensorimotor
Q.8 What is the primary focus of developmental psychologists?
Studying only adult behavior
Examining genetic mutations
Understanding growth and change across the lifespan
Treating psychological disorders
Explanation - Developmental psychologists study how humans develop physically, cognitively, and socially throughout life.
Correct answer is: Understanding growth and change across the lifespan
Q.9 Which psychologist is famous for the theory of moral development?
Jean Piaget
Lawrence Kohlberg
Erik Erikson
B.F. Skinner
Explanation - Lawrence Kohlberg is known for his theory of moral development, which explains how individuals' moral reasoning evolves over time.
Correct answer is: Lawrence Kohlberg
Q.10 The period of rapid physical growth and sexual maturation is called:
Infancy
Adolescence
Middle adulthood
Late adulthood
Explanation - Adolescence is marked by puberty, rapid physical changes, and psychological development.
Correct answer is: Adolescence
Q.11 Which stage of Erikson's theory involves the conflict of identity versus role confusion?
Childhood
Adolescence
Early adulthood
Late adulthood
Explanation - During adolescence, individuals explore different roles and develop a sense of identity, or face confusion about their place in society.
Correct answer is: Adolescence
Q.12 Which factor is considered a nurture influence on development?
Genetic inheritance
Eye color
Parental guidance
Chromosomal makeup
Explanation - Nurture influences include environmental factors like parenting, education, and cultural context, whereas nature refers to genetic factors.
Correct answer is: Parental guidance
Q.13 What is the term for the developmental stage from conception to birth?
Postnatal period
Gestation
Adolescence
Infancy
Explanation - Gestation is the period of prenatal development from conception until birth.
Correct answer is: Gestation
Q.14 Which of these best describes attachment in early childhood?
A biological reflex
A learned behavior with no emotional basis
An emotional bond with a caregiver
A cognitive skill learned in school
Explanation - Attachment is the strong emotional connection that develops between infants and their primary caregivers.
Correct answer is: An emotional bond with a caregiver
Q.15 According to Piaget, which stage involves logical thinking about concrete events?
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete Operational
Formal Operational
Explanation - The concrete operational stage, occurring between 7-11 years, is when children begin to think logically about concrete information.
Correct answer is: Concrete Operational
Q.16 The first two weeks of prenatal development are known as the:
Fetal stage
Germinal stage
Embryonic stage
Neonatal stage
Explanation - The germinal stage is the earliest phase, lasting about two weeks after fertilization, involving rapid cell division and implantation.
Correct answer is: Germinal stage
Q.17 In Erikson's theory, which stage is associated with the challenge of intimacy versus isolation?
Adolescence
Early adulthood
Middle adulthood
Late adulthood
Explanation - During early adulthood, individuals face the challenge of forming intimate relationships or experiencing isolation.
Correct answer is: Early adulthood
Q.18 Which of the following is NOT a type of attachment identified by Mary Ainsworth?
Secure
Insecure-avoidant
Disorganized
Independent
Explanation - Mary Ainsworth identified secure, insecure-avoidant, and disorganized attachment, but not 'independent' attachment.
Correct answer is: Independent
Q.19 Which factor primarily affects a child's gross motor development?
Reading ability
Fine motor skills
Muscle growth and coordination
Emotional intelligence
Explanation - Gross motor skills depend on muscle development and coordination, allowing movements like running and jumping.
Correct answer is: Muscle growth and coordination
Q.20 What is the term for a harmful substance that can cause birth defects during pregnancy?
Hormone
Teratogen
Neurotransmitter
Antigen
Explanation - Teratogens are substances like drugs, alcohol, or certain infections that can harm prenatal development.
Correct answer is: Teratogen
Q.21 According to Vygotsky, learning occurs best within the:
Zone of Proximal Development
Formal Operational Stage
Concrete Operational Stage
Attachment Zone
Explanation - The Zone of Proximal Development is the range where children can perform a task with guidance, promoting effective learning.
Correct answer is: Zone of Proximal Development
Q.22 Which term refers to the ability to understand that others have thoughts and feelings different from one's own?
Egocentrism
Theory of Mind
Conservation
Assimilation
Explanation - Theory of Mind is the understanding that others have separate beliefs, desires, and intentions.
Correct answer is: Theory of Mind
Q.23 Which of the following best represents a fine motor skill?
Running
Jumping
Holding a pencil
Climbing stairs
Explanation - Fine motor skills involve precise movements using small muscles, such as writing or buttoning a shirt.
Correct answer is: Holding a pencil
Q.24 Which age range typically corresponds to middle adulthood in developmental psychology?
12-18 years
20-30 years
40-65 years
65 years and above
Explanation - Middle adulthood is usually defined as the period between 40 and 65 years of age.
Correct answer is: 40-65 years
Q.25 Who is considered the father of developmental psychology?
Sigmund Freud
Jean Piaget
Lev Vygotsky
Erik Erikson
Explanation - Jean Piaget is regarded as the father of developmental psychology due to his pioneering work on cognitive development in children.
Correct answer is: Jean Piaget
Q.26 Which stage in Piaget's theory involves abstract and hypothetical thinking?
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete Operational
Formal Operational
Explanation - The formal operational stage (11 years and older) is characterized by the ability to think abstractly, logically, and hypothetically.
Correct answer is: Formal Operational
Q.27 According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of adolescence is:
Trust vs. Mistrust
Autonomy vs. Shame
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Explanation - During adolescence, individuals face the challenge of forming a stable identity while exploring various roles.
Correct answer is: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Q.28 Attachment theory was developed by:
John Bowlby
B.F. Skinner
Albert Bandura
Lawrence Kohlberg
Explanation - John Bowlby developed attachment theory, emphasizing the importance of a child's bond with their primary caregiver.
Correct answer is: John Bowlby
Q.29 The term 'conservation' in Piaget’s theory refers to:
Ability to retain memories
Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape
Ability to conserve energy
Ability to reason abstractly
Explanation - Conservation is a cognitive milestone in the concrete operational stage where children understand that certain properties remain constant despite transformation.
Correct answer is: Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape
Q.30 Which researcher is known for studying moral development through the stages of moral reasoning?
Jean Piaget
Lawrence Kohlberg
Erik Erikson
Lev Vygotsky
Explanation - Kohlberg proposed a stage theory of moral development, emphasizing how moral reasoning evolves from childhood to adulthood.
Correct answer is: Lawrence Kohlberg
Q.31 Vygotsky emphasized the role of __________ in cognitive development.
Biology
Social interaction
Individual experimentation
Reinforcement
Explanation - Lev Vygotsky highlighted the importance of social and cultural interactions in shaping a child’s cognitive development, particularly through the Zone of Proximal Development.
Correct answer is: Social interaction
Q.32 In Freud’s psychosexual stages, which stage focuses on developing a sense of independence and control?
Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latency
Explanation - The anal stage (1–3 years) is where children learn control and autonomy, often through toilet training.
Correct answer is: Anal
Q.33 The 'strange situation' experiment was designed to study:
Cognitive development
Attachment patterns
Moral reasoning
Language acquisition
Explanation - Mary Ainsworth’s 'strange situation' experiment assessed the attachment styles of infants by observing their reactions to separations and reunions with their caregiver.
Correct answer is: Attachment patterns
Q.34 What is the primary focus of developmental psychology?
Studying personality traits
Understanding human growth and change across the lifespan
Examining mental disorders
Analyzing intelligence differences
Explanation - Developmental psychology studies physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes that occur from infancy to old age.
Correct answer is: Understanding human growth and change across the lifespan
Q.35 Which stage in Piaget’s theory is characterized by symbolic play and egocentric thinking?
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete Operational
Formal Operational
Explanation - In the preoperational stage (2–7 years), children engage in symbolic play and struggle to see perspectives other than their own.
Correct answer is: Preoperational
Q.36 According to Erikson, adulthood involves the psychosocial challenge of:
Trust vs. Mistrust
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Explanation - Young adults face the challenge of forming close relationships and meaningful bonds, as described in Erikson's theory.
Correct answer is: Intimacy vs. Isolation
Q.37 Which type of development involves changes in thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making?
Physical development
Cognitive development
Social development
Emotional development
Explanation - Cognitive development focuses on mental processes including memory, problem-solving, reasoning, and intelligence.
Correct answer is: Cognitive development
Q.38 The ability to take another person’s perspective is called:
Egocentrism
Conservation
Theory of Mind
Object permanence
Explanation - Theory of Mind refers to understanding that others have thoughts, feelings, and perspectives different from one’s own.
Correct answer is: Theory of Mind
Q.39 Which of the following is an example of a fine motor skill?
Crawling
Walking
Grasping a pencil
Running
Explanation - Fine motor skills involve small muscle movements, often in coordination with the eyes, such as writing or buttoning clothes.
Correct answer is: Grasping a pencil
Q.40 Piaget’s concept of 'egocentrism' is most evident in which stage?
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete Operational
Formal Operational
Explanation - Egocentrism, the difficulty in seeing another person’s viewpoint, is a hallmark of the preoperational stage.
Correct answer is: Preoperational
Q.41 Kohlberg’s highest level of moral reasoning is:
Pre-conventional
Conventional
Post-conventional
Primitive
Explanation - Post-conventional moral reasoning involves abstract principles and ethical considerations beyond societal rules.
Correct answer is: Post-conventional
Q.42 Which of the following best describes the 'sensorimotor stage'?
Children learn through abstract reasoning
Children experience the world through senses and actions
Children develop moral reasoning
Children form close social relationships
Explanation - In the sensorimotor stage (0–2 years), infants learn about the world through sensory experiences and motor actions.
Correct answer is: Children experience the world through senses and actions
Q.43 The term 'scaffolding' in Vygotsky’s theory refers to:
Gradual withdrawal of support as learning progresses
Brain maturation
Innate cognitive structures
Punishment for mistakes
Explanation - Scaffolding involves providing support to a learner and gradually removing it as they gain competence.
Correct answer is: Gradual withdrawal of support as learning progresses
Q.44 During which period does adolescence typically occur?
0-2 years
3-7 years
12-18 years
18-25 years
Explanation - Adolescence is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, marked by physical, emotional, and social changes.
Correct answer is: 12-18 years
Q.45 In Erikson’s theory, the final stage in late adulthood is:
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Integrity vs. Despair
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Explanation - In late adulthood, individuals reflect on their life, achieving either a sense of integrity or experiencing despair over unmet goals.
Correct answer is: Integrity vs. Despair
Q.46 Which of the following is NOT a domain of developmental psychology?
Cognitive
Emotional
Physical
Astrological
Explanation - Developmental psychology studies cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth, not astrology.
Correct answer is: Astrological
Q.47 Which stage of cognitive development is associated with logical thinking about concrete events?
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete Operational
Formal Operational
Explanation - The concrete operational stage (7–11 years) allows children to think logically about concrete events and understand conservation.
Correct answer is: Concrete Operational
Q.48 What is the key focus of social development in childhood?
Physical growth
Learning social norms and forming relationships
Memory enhancement
Abstract reasoning
Explanation - Social development involves learning how to interact with others, form friendships, and understand societal rules.
Correct answer is: Learning social norms and forming relationships