Nine-month-old Avery can retrieve his ball when his mother hides it under a blanket. Avery has begun to master __________.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Avery demonstrating the ability to retrieve his ball hidden under a blanket indicates that he has started to understand object permanence. Object permanence is the concept that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight. This milestone typically occurs around 8-12 months of age. The other choices are incorrect. Option A, the tertiary circular reaction, is related to Piaget's theory of sensorimotor development but does not specifically address object permanence. Reflexive schemes (Option B) refer to simple, reflex-like behaviors and are not directly linked to object permanence. Deferred imitation (Option D) involves the ability to imitate actions observed at an earlier time, which is a different developmental milestone compared to object permanence.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In middle childhood, self-esteem becomes more differentiated and organized into a hierarchy based on various domains of competence. This period marks a time when children start to compare their abilities in different areas, such as academic performance, social skills, and physical abilities. Toddlerhood and preschool years are characterized by the development of basic self-awareness and self-concept, but self-esteem hierarchy typically emerges later in middle childhood and further solidifies in adolescence as individuals navigate complex social dynamics and personal identities.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Correct answer: School-age children master concrete operational tasks gradually, in a continuum of acquisition. Piaget's theory suggests that children develop cognitive abilities in stages, with concrete operational tasks being acquired gradually as part of this process. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because concrete operational tasks are not typically mastered all at once, much later than Piaget believed, or necessarily after mastering abstract thinking.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Spatial skills develop gradually over childhood and adolescence, reflecting the increasing complexity of these abilities. Choice A is incorrect because spatial skills do not increase exponentially in early childhood but rather develop steadily. Choice B is incorrect as spatial skills are not directly linked to executive function. Choice D is incorrect because spatial skills are not typically housed in a specific hemisphere but involve a network of brain regions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: John Bowlby believed that the infant-caregiver bond has lifelong consequences for human relationships. This is supported by his theory of attachment, where he emphasized the importance of early attachment experiences in shaping individuals' future relationships. Choice A is incorrect as it does not reflect Bowlby's main focus on attachment theory. Choice C is incorrect as Bowlby's theory suggests that attachment is more than just instinctual. Choice D is also incorrect as Bowlby's work actually paved the way for the study of attachment patterns in humans.