Hutchison, Dimensions of Human Behavior, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 8: Middle Adulthood
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. According to Erikson’s theory, the psychosocial struggle of middle adulthood is
______.
A. identity versus role diffusion
B. generativity versus stagnation
C. intimacy versus isolation
D. ego integrity versus despair
2. Generativity can be defined as ______.
A. developing the capacity to transcend self-interest and provide care and concern for
the next generation
B. developing the capacity to commit to deep association with others
C. developing a sense of who you are and where you are going in life
D. finding integrity and contentment in your life
3. Commitment, action, and ______ are all components of generativity.
A. focus on mortality
B. procreation
C. productivity
D. belief in the species
4. ______, or orientation to the external world, comes into greater balance in middle
adulthood.
A. Accommodation
B. Introversion
C. Assimilation
D. Extroversion
5. The life span theory posits that in middle adulthood, there is ______.
A. the greatest change in human development
B. an overall reduction in resources
C. little opportunity for growth
D. a future of loss
6. ______ coping mechanisms consist of denial, projection, passive aggression,
dissociation, acting out, and fantasy.
A. Immature
B. Negative
C. Positive
D. Mature
7. ______ is one of the big five personality traits, which can be defined as a tendency to
be generous, cheerful, caring, trusting, and gently.
Hutchison, Dimensions of Human Behavior, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
A. Extroversion
B. Cooperativeness
C. Openness to experience
D. Agreeableness
8. Which of the following is one of the most visible signs of physiological changes for
midlife adults?
A. hormonal changes
B. physical appearance
C. mobility changes
D. sexuality
9. Which of the following is true regarding changes in the reproductive system in middle
adulthood?
A. Men do not experience major rapid change in fertility.
B. Women do not experience major rapid change in fertility.
C. Men experience perimenopause and menopause.
D. Reproductive capacity is at its peak during.
10. The book discusses three theories, which can be used to understand personality
changes in middle adulthood. These theories are the life narrative approach, human
agency approach, and the ______.
A. life span theory
B. trait approach
C. midlife crisis approach
D. diversity of lives perspective
Hutchison, Dimensions of Human Behavior, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
11. Family members who keep generations of family networks in touch with one another
and make sure that family members’ emotional and practical needs are met are called
______.
A. family networkers
B. kinkeepers
C. connectors
D. linkers
12. The text defines menopause as ______.
A. 12 consecutive months without menstruation
B. a 6-month period when there are biological indicators that reproductive capacity is
reaching exhaustion
C. a frustrating time for women, characterized by uncomfortable biological effects, such
as hot flashes
D. the depletion of one’s eggs
13. According to the text, the construction of middle adulthood is influenced by
chronological age, cultural and historical contexts, and ______.
A. life events
B. legal precedents
C. age tends
D. developmental tasks
14. Work in middle adulthood has different meanings for different people. The text cites
which of the following as a meaning of work? Patterns of middle-aged workers in the
United States?
A. an escape from life burdens
B. a source of stress
C. an avenue for building confidence
D. a source of status and identity
15. Chronic stress, never marrying, and loneliness are all examples of ______.
A. side effects of aging
B. risk factors in middle adulthood
C. points in a life course narrative
D. issues men frequently face in middle adulthood
16. The typical chronological age band for middle adulthood is defined as Years
______.
A. 35–65
B. 50–70
C. 40–64
D. 40–80
17. According to the text, two cultural views of middle adulthood have emerged since
the 19th century. One sees this as a positive time of having accumulated resources
for______, another sees this as a negative time of ______.
A. adult responsibilities; insecurity
Hutchison, Dimensions of Human Behavior, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
B. happiness; financial burden
C. confidence; health decline
D. coping; loss
18. The human agency approach recognizes how ______ influences ______.
A. culture; motives
B. family; temperament
C. society; personality
D. age; coping
19. The life narrative approach views a developing person as a ______.
A. character
B. storyteller
C. protagonist
D. plot point
20. Levinson suggests that the two central components of a life structure in middle
adulthood are ______.
A. parenting and finances
B. employment and health
C. family and occupation
D. occupation and education
21. The average age of women having their last period is ______.
A. 51 years
B. 36 years
C. 48 years
D. 60 years
22. What kind of diseases become more significant in middle adulthood in high-income
and middle-income countries?
A. infectious
B. chronic
C. communicable
D. respiratory
23. Which of the following is seen as a major milestone for women and called the
change of life?
A. divorce
B. osteoporosis
C. menopause
D. perimenopause
True/False
1. The baby boom generation is the result of a large surge of births that occurred after
World War I.
Hutchison, Dimensions of Human Behavior, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
2. There are scholars who believe that middle adulthood should be thought of in terms
of achieving certain developmental tasks rather than by chronological age.
3. A middle adult’s failure to be generative results in self-absorption.
4. In middle adulthood, people move toward a more androgynous behavioral repertoire.
5. In middle adulthood the most noted biological change is the lost or diminished
reproductive capacity.
6. Cognitive performance varies greatly for the majority of midlife adults.
7. A recent new idea is that personality is most stable in middle adulthood.
8. Coping mechanisms mature with age and experience according to Vaillant.
9. Midlife personality should be thought of in terms of both stability and change
according to the research.
Essay
1. Discuss the meaning of work and retirement for people in midlife.
2. Discuss one of the four work patterns of middle-aged workers in the United States
that have changed in the past three decades.
3. Define and explain Erikson’s psychosocial struggle of middle adulthood which is
generativity versus stagnation.
4. Discuss the various personality theories on middle adulthood. How might an
understanding of these theories help us in our work with middle-aged adults?
5. Discuss the impact of biological changes and special health issues in middle
adulthood. How might a social worker engage clients in assessing their own health
behaviors?
6. Compare and contrast the arguments for personality stability and personality change
in middle adulthood.
Hutchison, Dimensions of Human Behavior, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
7. Discuss the various aspects of relationships in middle adulthood including spouse or
partner, children, parents, friends, and community. Include in your discussion stressors
that might be involved in these various relationships. Cite examples from Viktor or Lisa’s
case studies to illustrate the important dimensions of relationships in middle adulthood.
8. Discuss the ongoing importance of work in middle adulthood. Include in your
discussion the importance of the role of work and the changes that have influenced this
role.