LMSW Human Growth and Development Questions and Answers Flashcards

According to Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, the 'zone of proximal development' (ZPD) refers to:

Answer: The gap between a child's actual developmental level and what they can achieve with guidance

Vygotsky defined the ZPD as the distance between what a child can do independently and what they can accomplish with skilled guidance or collaboration.

A 70-year-old client reports feeling that life has been meaningful and expresses no regrets about past choices. According to Erikson, this reflects successful resolution of which stage?

Answer: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Ego Integrity vs. Despair is Erikson's final stage (late adulthood), where successful resolution involves accepting one's life as meaningful and worthwhile.

Which attachment pattern, identified by Ainsworth, is characterized by a child showing little distress when separated from the caregiver and avoiding the caregiver upon reunion?

Answer: Avoidant attachment

Avoidant attachment is characterized by minimal distress at separation and avoidance of the caregiver upon reunion, often associated with consistently unresponsive caregiving.

In Piaget's theory, a child who understands that crushing a ball of clay does not change its quantity is demonstrating:

Answer: Conservation

Conservation is the understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance, typically achieved during the concrete operational stage.

Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory includes the 'chronosystem,' which refers to:

Answer: The dimension of time and how changes over the life course affect development

The chronosystem encompasses the dimension of time and how changes over time—such as historical events or life transitions—influence development.

Which theorist proposed that moral development progresses through stages from preconventional to conventional to postconventional reasoning?

Answer: Lawrence Kohlberg

Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a six-stage theory of moral development organized into three levels: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional.

A social worker notices that an adolescent client is highly influenced by peer opinions and frequently changes behavior based on social comparison. This is most consistent with which developmental concept?

Answer: Imaginary audience

The imaginary audience, described by Elkind, is an adolescent egocentrism phenomenon where teens believe others are constantly observing and evaluating them.