Q&A Hero

Q: The term "empty nest" is not used as often as in the past to refer to the middle adulthood phase of the family life cycle because A) many middle-aged adults are raising at least one grandchild. B) it implies a negative transition, especially for women. C) the baby boomers are less financially well-off and, thus, often return home to "the nest." D) the majority of middle-aged people in the United States already live alone.

Q: Studies of the "big five" personality traits A) include very small samples. B) usually examine life events. C) typically do not examine the impact of cultural values. D) usually take coping styles into account.

Q: Neuroticism __________ from the teenage years through middle age. A) increases slightly B) decreases slightly C) declines D) rises

Q: Gregor, an adolescent, can be characterized by the "big five" personality trait of conscientiousness. Gregor A) can anticipate that this trait will increase through middle age. B) can anticipate that this trait will decrease through middle age. C) will probably also become more extroverted as he ages. D) will probably become more neurotic as he ages.

Q: Individuals who are low in conscientiousness are A) calm, even-tempered, self-content, unemotional, and hardy. B) negligent, lazy, disorganized, late, aimless, and nonpersistent. C) ruthless, suspicious, stingy, critical, and irritable. D) talkative, passive, sober, passionate, and conservative.

Q: Sue is soft-hearted, trusting, generous, acquiescent, lenient, and good-natured. She is high on which of the following "big five" personality traits? A) neuroticism B) extroversion C) openness to experience D) agreeableness

Q: Individuals who are high in openness to experience are A) imaginative, creative, original, curious, and liberal. B) worrying, temperamental, self-pitying, and vulnerable. C) affectionate, talkative, active, and passionate. D) soft-hearted, trusting, generous, and good-natured.

Q: Alex is reserved, quiet, passive, sober, and emotionally unreactive. He is low on which of the following "big five" personality traits? A) extroversion B) openness to experience C) agreeableness D) conscientiousness

Q: Denyse is calm, even-tempered, self-content, comfortable, unemotional, and hardy. She is low on which of the following "big five" personality traits? A) neuroticism B) extroversion C) openness to experience D) agreeableness

Q: Androgyny in adulthood is associated with A) decreased self-acceptance and autonomy. B) greater environmental mastery and neuroticism. C) advanced moral reasoning and psychosocial maturity. D) more life regrets and fewer possible selves.

Q: In longitudinal research, __________ became more independent by their early forties. A) stay-at-home mothers B) college-educated women in the labor force C) homemakers with no children D) working women with no college education

Q: According to parental imperative theory, after children reach adulthood, A) parents both become more masculine, gaining most in dominance and assertiveness. B) parents both become more feminine, gaining most in nurturance and empathy. C) parents are free to express the "other-gender" side of their personalities. D) men become goal-oriented, while women become more nurturing.

Q: Which of the following statements is consistent with the parental imperative theory? A) Gender role identity is maintained during active parenting years to help ensure survival of the children. B) Androgyny is maintained during active parenting years to help ensure survival of the children. C) Both mothers and fathers become more masculine as their children reach adulthood. D) Both mothers and fathers become more feminine as their children reach adulthood.

Q: Studies report __________ in midlife. A) an increase of masculine traits in men B) a decrease of masculine traits in women C) that both men and women become more androgynous D) an increase of feminine traits in women

Q: Reece is 42. His sister, Dana, is 25. Which of the following statements is most likely true based solely on their ages? A) Dana is more likely than Reece to identify the positive side of difficult situations. B) Dana is more likely than Reece to use humor to express ideas and feelings without offending others. C) Reece is more likely than Dana to anticipate and plan ways to handle future discomforts. D) Reece is more likely than Dana to act quickly when making an important decision.

Q: Midlife brings an increase in A) effective coping strategies. B) gender typing. C) daily stressors. D) psychological disturbance.

Q: Hart volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. When he is at a work site, he is so engrossed in activity that he loses all sense of time and self-awareness. Hart is experiencing A) early-onset dementia. B) environmental mastery. C) self-efficacy. D) flow.

Q: Which of the following statements about good health and exercise in midlife is true? A) Physical activity in midlife enhances self-efficacy and effective stress management. B) Engaging in exercise during midlife is less positively associated with a positive outlook than in younger adults. C) Middle-aged people who maintain an exercise regimen are not likely to perceive themselves as particularly active. D) While good health positively affects energy and zest for life in early adulthood, it can have the opposite effect in midlife.

Q: Jay, age 50, is finally comfortable with himself. He is more independent, assertive, and committed to his personal values than he was in early adulthood. Jay probably believes that midlife is A) a time of upheaval and crisis. B) a stepping-stone to old age. C) more stressful than early adulthood. D) "the prime of life."

Q: Compared to younger people, middle-aged adults see themselves as A) more concerned about others' expectations and evaluations. B) capable of managing a complex array of tasks easily and effectively. C) less concerned with following self-chosen standards. D) having more negative than positive qualities.

Q: Raven is less concerned about others' expectations than she was in her thirties. She is now more concerned with following her own standards. Raven exhibits A) generativity. B) autonomy. C) environmental mastery. D) stagnation.

Q: Cate, age 49, acknowledges both her good and bad qualities and feels positively about herself and life. Cate exhibits A) self-acceptance. B) autonomy. C) wisdom. D) expertise.

Q: Which of the following statements about possible selves is true? A) They increase in number with age. B) They become increasingly abstract with age. C) They show considerable stability by early adulthood. D) They may be the key to continued well-being in adulthood.

Q: With age, possible selves become A) more concrete. B) greater in number. C) more idealistic. D) loftier.

Q: Throughout adulthood, the personality traits people assign to their current selves show A) much contradiction. B) considerable stability. C) great variety. D) an ideal self.

Q: As people age, they may rely less on __________ comparisons in judging their self-worth and more on __________ comparisons. A) social; temporal B) temporal; social C) emotional; physical D) physical; metacognitive

Q: Possible selves are the __________ dimension of self-concept. A) positive B) negative C) temporal D) social

Q: Gilles, age 50, tells his brother, "I"d like to maintain my physical health and work on getting emotionally stronger. I want to be a good friend and a role model to my nephews and nieces. I don"t want to be that guy who never comes to family get-togethers because he is too busy working. I want to be successful in my career, but not at the expense of my family. Of course, I want to find my own special partner, but if I don"t, I know I"ll always have you and the kids." Gilles is discussing his A) future model. B) internal map. C) possible selves. D) generalized goals.

Q: Most experts today regard adaptation during midlife as the result of A) a combination of growing older and social experiences. B) qualitative and quantitative changes in thinking over time. C) one's acceptance of a shortened lifespan. D) overcoming a significant crisis.

Q: Because life events __________, they cannot be the single cause of midlife change. A) occur in discrete stages B) are variable in their timing C) are more common in early adulthood D) are not as dramatic as cohort effects

Q: A growing number of researchers believe the midadult transition A) is stagelike. B) is an adaptation to normative life events. C) does not exist. D) is a series of age-graded life events.

Q: __________ is common in middle adulthood. A) Midlife crisis B) Dissatisfaction C) Drastic life alteration D) Life evaluation

Q: Middle-aged adults who have made desired life changes are typically higher in __________ than those who acknowledge life regrets without making desired changes. A) financial resources B) social support C) confidence and assertiveness D) education and training

Q: Quentin went to college with the goal of becoming a social worker. Instead, he gave in to pressure from his new spouse and changed his major to business. When looking back at age 50, Quentin wished he had pursued his original dream of becoming a social worker. Quentin is experiencing A) an interrupted life structure. B) a midlife crisis. C) a maladaptive social clock. D) life regrets.

Q: The majority of adults who report experiencing a midlife crisis A) attribute it to age rather than challenging life events. B) define such events much more loosely than researchers do. C) report suffering from serious depression and anxiety attacks. D) claim that it occurred between the ages of 40 and 50.

Q: Women's work-related turning points peak in A) adolescence. B) early adulthood. C) middle adulthood. D) late adulthood.

Q: Most middle-aged adults asked to describe "turning points" in the past five years report ones concerning A) work. B) family. C) education. D) spirituality.

Q: Which of the following statements about research findings regarding the midlife crisis is true? A) Vaillant saw many examples of midlife crisis, especially in men. B) Levinson's work showed little evidence of a midlife crisis. C) Vaillant's work indicated a slow and steady change, rather than a crisis. D) Evidence strongly supports the view of middle age as a turbulent time.

Q: As people approach the end of middle adulthood, they focus on __________ goals. A) shorter-term, more abstract B) shorter-term, less complex C) longer-term, more personal D) longer-term, less personal

Q: According to Vaillant, __________ is a major preoccupation of midlife. A) redemption B) "passing the torch" C) becoming androgynous D) advancement

Q: Which of the following statements about psychosocial development in midlife is true? A) Adjusting one's life structure to incorporate the effects of aging requires supportive social contexts. B) Opportunities for vocational advancement complicate the transition to middle adulthood. C) Lower-SES midlifers are more able to devote the time and energy needed to realistically approach age-related changes. D) Sustaining a youthful subjective age is more strongly related to self-esteem among Western-European than American middle-aged and older adults.

Q: Which of the following statements about people who flexibly modify their identities in response to age-related changes yet maintain a sense of self-continuity is true? A) Their personalities undergo drastic revision. B) They enter an extended period of moratorium. C) They score higher in self-esteem. D) They score lower in self-esteem.

Q: In early adulthood, Maxine worked as a waitress and devoted herself to child rearing. Which of the following is she the most likely to do next if she is engaged in Levinson's engagement"separateness task? A) pursue a college degree B) scale back on her work hours C) spend more time with her young adult children D) spend time painting and drawing

Q: Kim devoted her early adulthood to raising her daughter. When Kim turned 45, she became active in community theater, which had been a passion in adolescence. She also volunteered in the community. According to Levinson, Kim is engaged in which of the following developmental tasks? A) young"old B) destruction"creation C) masculinity"femininity D) engagement"separateness

Q: Marcus, age 53, is spending a lot of time caring for his young grandson. His subordinates at work have noticed that he has become a kinder, more compassionate boss. According to Levinson, Marcus is engaged in which of the following developmental tasks? A) young"old B) destruction"creation C) masculinity"femininity D) engagement"separateness

Q: __________ is associated with favorable personality traits and adjustment. A) Masculinity B) Femininity C) Separateness D) Androgyny

Q: In Levinson's destruction"creation developmental task, the midlifer A) gives up certain youthful qualities and finds positive meaning in being older. B) must create a better balance between masculine and feminine parts of the self. C) counters past hurtful acts with a strong desire to leave a legacy for the future. D) must forge a better balance between engagement with the external world and separateness.

Q: Which of the following middle-aged individuals is the most likely to be concerned about the physical changes of aging? A) Caleb, a college-educated man B) Julie, a non-college-educated woman C) Meg, a college-educated woman D) Jack, a non-college-educated man

Q: Betty just celebrated her fiftieth birthday. She celebrated by taking hang-gliding lessons and purchasing a more mature wardrobe. According to Levinson, Betty is engaged in which of the following developmental tasks? A) young"old B) destruction"creation C) masculinity"femininity D) engagement"separateness

Q: According to Levinson, middle adulthood begins with a A) transitional period. B) stable period. C) significant crisis. D) dream.

Q: Compared with Caucasians, African Americans A) are less involved in religious groups and activities. B) offer less social support to members of their community. C) are less likely to view themselves as role models for their children. D) more often engage in certain types of generativity, such as involvement in religious groups.

Q: Which of the following statements about generativity and stagnation is true? A) Childless men score higher in generativity than fathers. B) Among well-educated women, those with children express greater generative concerns. C) Generativity is rare among low-SES men with troubled pasts as sons, students, and intimate partners. D) Stagnation is associated with more involvement in political activities, including voting and campaigning.

Q: Generative midlifers A) use an authoritative parenting style. B) do not get involved in political activities. C) are less likely than stagnant midlifers to contact public officials. D) show a lack of interest in young people.

Q: Because Thomas is highly generative, he is also likely to A) use authoritarian parenting. B) be open-minded about differing viewpoints. C) experience anxiety and depression. D) work mostly for financial rewards.

Q: Forty-five-year-old Lizette remembers how she was caught shoplifting as a teenager, and how the visit to the police station steered her away from a troubled adolescence. She credits this event as sparking her interest in social work, and now works with troubled and at-risk youth. Lizette's commitment story contains a theme of A) invincibility. B) reward. C) contamination. D) redemption.

Q: Narratives of highly generative people A) usually contain commitment stories. B) often contain themes of contamination. C) often involve stories in which good scenes turn bad. D) typically do not involve any negative life events.

Q: Which of the following adults most likely has a sense of stagnation? A) Cane, who volunteers at a teen crisis center B) Jill, who takes little interest in her grown children C) Katherine, who is a mentor in her workplace D) Philip, who works hard at being productive in the workplace

Q: The negative outcome of Erikson's midlife stage, stagnation, focuses on A) self-indulgence. B) selflessness. C) role confusion. D) guilt and shame.

Q: Which of the following statements about generativity is true? A) Parenting is the primary means of realizing generativity and, therefore, childless middle-aged adults become stagnant. B) Adults can be generative in parenting or other family relationships, but not in the workplace or community. C) A culture's "belief in the species" is a major motivator of generative action, according to Erikson. D) Generativity is motivated by the sense that one's days are numbered and the sense of quiet desperation that ensues.

Q: Martin, age 47, is single and has no children. Which of the following of Martin's activities reflects generativity? A) Martin works out at the gym three evenings a week and runs every night. B) Martin attends worship services two times per week and participates in a bible study group. C) Martin volunteers at the YMCA as a basketball coach and is a "big brother" in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. D) Martin participates in community theater and starred in a local production of Guys and Dolls.

Q: Jennifer, age 45, is a Girl Scout leader. She states that she really enjoys giving to and guiding the next generation. According to Erikson, Jennifer has developed a sense of A) intimacy. B) generativity. C) guilt. D) stagnation.

Q: Erikson's psychological conflict of midlife is called __________ versus __________. A) initiative; guilt B) identity; role confusion C) intimacy; isolation D) generativity; stagnation

Q: Today, 45- to 54-year-olds are A) the smallest sector of the U.S. population. B) better educated than any previous midlife cohort. C) not as healthy as midlifers were in the 1950s. D) not as financially secure as midlifers were in the 1980s.

Q: What is vocational burnout? Who is the most likely to suffer from it?

Q: Describe the ways that sibling relationships typically change in midlife.

Q: Describe the four typically cited gratifications of grandparenthood. How do middle-aged adults rate their role as grandparents?

Q: Explain parental imperative theory. What are its criticisms?

Q: In cross-cultural research on self-concept and personality on adults ranging in age from the late teens into the seventies, what three qualities increased from early to middle adulthood? What do these findings indicate?

Q: According to Levinson, the middle-aged person must seek new ways of being both young and old. Explain what this means and how U.S. midlifers go about confronting this developmental task.

Q: Less well-educated people with lower lifetime earnings are the __________ retirement planning programs. A) least likely to benefit from B) most likely to attend C) least likely to attend D) least likely to apply what they learn in

Q: In the United States, retirees' income typically drops by _____ percent. A) 20 B) 30 C) 40 D) 50

Q: The average age of retirement in the United States is currently A) 60. B) 63. C) 65. D) 68.

Q: The average age of retirement has decreased in the United States because of A) a longer lifespan and greater physical health of older adults. B) an increase in post-retirement options for older adults. C) government-sponsored retirement benefits. D) pressure from corporations to hire less expensive workers.

Q: People who lose their jobs in midlife A) are more generative than those who remain steadily employed. B) seldom duplicate the status and pay of their previous position. C) are often underqualified for many openings. D) rarely encounter true age discrimination.

Q: Compared with younger workers, laid off middle-aged workers are A) less likely to perceive the layoff as highly traumatic. B) more likely to experience a sense of freedom and relief. C) less likely to suffer substantial income loss. D) more likely to find themselves "off-time" in terms of the social clock.

Q: Which of the following statements about unemployment in midlife is true? A) Middle-aged workers are more likely than younger workers to secure a new job with similar pay and status. B) Middle-aged workers affected by layoffs remain jobless longer than younger workers. C) Job loss helps "wind" the social clock so that tasks like reappraisal of life goals are accomplished sooner. D) All forms of social support work equally well for middle-aged unemployed adults.

Q: In general, when a middle-aged worker experiences an extreme shift in his or her career, the reason is typically A) a desire for early retirement. B) a personality conflict with an employer. C) due to spousal pressure. D) a personal crisis.

Q: Midlife career changes A) are seldom radical. B) typically involve leaving one line of work for an unrelated one. C) are often extreme. D) are rarely successful.

Q: Ginger, a female middle manager, and Geoffrey, a male middle manager, are both promoted to comparable positions. Which of the following can you predict? A) Geoffrey is probably a better manager than Ginger. B) Ginger is more likely than Geoffrey to receive additional promotions. C) Ginger probably has earned higher performance ratings than Geoffrey. D) Geoffrey is more likely than Ginger to face a glass ceiling.

Q: Which of the following statements about gender and ethnicity in the workplace is true? A) Inequalities in promotion become less pronounced over time. B) Women who are promoted usually attain the most prestigious high-level management jobs. C) The glass ceiling is a phenomenon of the past in the United States. D) Women who demonstrate leadership qualities encounter prejudice because they deviate from traditional gender roles.