To study the impact of biological aging on motor skills, researchers focus on __________.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: competitive athletes. Competitive athletes are often studied by researchers to investigate the impact of biological aging on motor skills because their performance is closely linked to physical abilities. Sedentary adults (choice A) may not provide a clear understanding of the relationship between biological aging and motor skills as they may not engage in consistent physical activity. Men in their mid- to late thirties (choice C) and women in their childbearing years (choice D) may not represent a group where motor skills are as finely tuned and critical to performance as in competitive athletes.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, when parents support a child's growing independence with guidance and reassurance, the child develops a sense of autonomy. Autonomy is characterized by a growing sense of self-control, confidence, and independence. Basic trust (choice A) is associated with the first stage of Erikson's theory (trust vs. mistrust) during infancy. Mistrust (choice B) arises when a child's basic needs are not met consistently, leading to a lack of trust in the world. Industry (choice D) is related to Erikson's later stages of development and involves competence and productivity in work and tasks.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: In classical conditioning, when a neutral stimulus triggers the reflexive response, it becomes a conditioned stimulus. Therefore, the correct term for the neutral stimulus that now elicits a response is a conditioned stimulus. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect: A neutral response is not a standard term in classical conditioning; a conditioned response is the learned response to the conditioned stimulus, not the neutral stimulus itself; a reinforcer is a stimulus that follows a behavior and increases the likelihood of that behavior happening again, which is not the same as a conditioned stimulus.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A circular reaction is a process where an infant repeats a specific action to explore and learn about the environment through their own motor activity. This repetition helps the infant to understand the consequences of their actions and build cognitive schemes. Sensorimotor reflex (choice A) refers to automatic responses to stimuli, not a purposeful repetition of actions to learn. Mental representation (choice C) involves internal cognitive structures to represent objects or events in the mind, which is different from the repetitive behavior described in the question. Goal-directed behavior (choice D) is purposeful and intentional, unlike the repetitive nature of circular reactions in infants' learning process.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Possible selves are ideas about what one might become in the future, which increase during the transition from early to middle adulthood. This period is characterized by individuals exploring and considering different potential future selves. Self-doubt (choice B) typically decreases as individuals become more confident and self-assured in middle adulthood. Destructiveness (choice C) is not a common developmental trend during this period. Autonomy (choice D) is a concept related to independence and self-governance, which may develop over a person's lifespan but does not specifically increase during the transition from early to middle adulthood.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, guilt. Guilt is a self-conscious emotion that involves reflecting on one's actions and feeling remorse. Self-conscious emotions are those that require self-reflection and self-evaluation. Choices B, C, and D are not self-conscious emotions. Happiness and fear are not self-conscious emotions as they do not necessarily involve self-reflection. Interest is not a self-conscious emotion but rather a feeling of curiosity or attraction towards something.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Basic emotions like happiness, sadness, and anger are universal across humans, meaning they are experienced by people worldwide regardless of cultural differences. These emotions are not limited to a specific group of individuals or exclusive to humans; they are observed in various species. Choice A is incorrect because basic emotions actually appear early in life, not specifically in the middle of the second year. Choice C is incorrect as basic emotions are not exclusive to humans but are observed in other animals as well. Choice D is incorrect because basic emotions do not necessarily involve injury to our sense of self, but rather represent fundamental and instinctual feelings that are part of human nature.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Vygotsky viewed make-believe play as the ideal social context for fostering cognitive development in early childhood. Make-believe play encourages children to explore various roles and scenarios, promoting cognitive and social development. Sensorimotor play focuses on physical interactions with the environment, while block play involves building and construction activities. Parallel play refers to children playing alongside each other without direct interaction, which is not the type of play Vygotsky emphasized for cognitive development.

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.