Psychosocial Development — MCQs
A 6 year old child who does not interact with other children of his age group and prefers playing alone with repetitive behaviors, is likely to be suffering from:
Who proposed the developmental stage of trust versus mistrust?
A 4-year-old child who has received beatings in the past, from which he could not escape, appears unresponsive and no longer tries to escape new beatings. This behavior by the child is an example of
Who proposed the theory of psychosocial development?
Who is associated with psychodynamic theory?
A 5-year-old child is assessed to have a developmental age of one year. What is his developmental quotient?
What does it mean if a baby is in the 15th percentile for head circumference?
Which of the following is NOT a milestone typically expected at 1 year of age?
At what age can an infant typically achieve head control or neck holding?
At what age does the tonic neck reflex typically disappear?
Psychosocial Development Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 1: A 6 year old child who does not interact with other children of his age group and prefers playing alone with repetitive behaviors, is likely to be suffering from:
- A. ADHD
- B. Autism (Correct Answer)
- C. Depression
- D. Bipolar disorder
Explanation: ***Autism*** - Difficulties in **social interaction** and **communication**, along with **repetitive behaviors** and restricted interests, are core diagnostic features of **Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)**. - The child's preference for playing alone and lack of interaction with peers are hallmark signs of **social deficits** in ASD. *ADHD* - **Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)** primarily involves difficulties with **inattention**, **hyperactivity**, and **impulsivity**. - While children with ADHD may struggle socially, repetitive behaviors and a complete lack of interest in peer interaction are not typical primary symptoms. *Depression* - **Depression** in children often presents with **sadness**, **loss of interest** in previously enjoyed activities, changes in sleep or appetite, and irritability. - Social withdrawal in depression is usually due to low mood or anhedonia, rather than a fundamental difficulty in social understanding or a preference for repetitive play. *Bipolar disorder* - **Bipolar disorder** in children involves distinct episodes of **mania** (elevated mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep) and **depression**. - The symptoms described do not align with the characteristic mood swings and episodic nature of bipolar disorder.
Question 2: Who proposed the developmental stage of trust versus mistrust?
- A. Seligman
- B. Erikson (Correct Answer)
- C. Bleuler
- D. Lorenz
Explanation: ***Erikson*** - **Erik Erikson** developed the theory of **psychosocial development**, which includes eight stages, each characterized by a psychosocial crisis or a conflict between two opposing forces. - The first stage, occurring during infancy, is **trust versus mistrust**, where infants learn to trust their caregivers if their basic needs are met. *Seligman* - **Martin Seligman** is known for his work in **positive psychology** and the concept of **learned helplessness**. - His theories focus on cognitive and behavioral patterns related to optimism, pessimism, and well-being, not developmental stages of trust. *Bleuler* - **Eugen Bleuler** is a Swiss psychiatrist who coined the term **"schizophrenia"** and introduced concepts like autism in psychiatry. - His contributions are primarily in the field of serious mental illness and its classification, not developmental psychology. *Lorenz* - **Konrad Lorenz** was an Austrian zoologist, ethologist, and ornithologist who shared the Nobel Prize for his work on **animal behavior**, especially **imprinting** in birds. - His research focused on evolutionary and biological roots of behavior, rather than human psychosocial development.
Question 3: A 4-year-old child who has received beatings in the past, from which he could not escape, appears unresponsive and no longer tries to escape new beatings. This behavior by the child is an example of
- A. stimulus generalization
- B. shaping
- C. learned helplessness (Correct Answer)
- D. modelling
Explanation: ***Learned helplessness*** - This describes a state where an individual stops attempting to escape a negative situation because they have **learned from past experiences** that their actions are ineffective. - The child's history of beatings from which he could not escape led him to believe that escape is impossible, resulting in a **lack of responsiveness** to new threats. *Stimulus generalization* - This concept refers to the tendency for a stimulus that is **similar to a conditioned stimulus** to elicit a response similar to the conditioned response. - It does not explain the child's lack of effort to escape a new threatening situation, which stems from learned futility rather than stimulus similarity. *Shaping* - **Shaping** is a technique used in **operant conditioning** where successive approximations of a desired behavior are reinforced. - This process is used to teach new behaviors, not to explain a learned state of inaction in response to adversity. *Modelling* - **Modelling** involves learning by **observing and imitating** the behavior of others. - The child's behavior is a direct result of personal experience with inescapable trauma, not from observing others' responses.
Question 4: Who proposed the theory of psychosocial development?
- A. Bleuler
- B. Erikson (Correct Answer)
- C. Lorenz
- D. Freud
Explanation: ***Erikson*** - **Erik Erikson** developed the theory of **psychosocial development**, which describes eight stages of human development, each characterized by a specific **psychosocial crisis** or task. - His theory emphasizes the importance of social and cultural factors in shaping personality throughout the **lifespan**. *Bleuler* - **Eugen Bleuler** is known for coining the term "**schizophrenia**" and describing its fundamental symptoms, often referred to as the **"four A's"**. - His work was primarily focused on the **classification and understanding of psychotic disorders**, not psychosocial development stages. *Lorenz* - **Konrad Lorenz** was an Austrian zoologist and ethologist renowned for his studies on **animal behavior**, particularly **imprinting** in geese. - He is considered one of the founders of **ethology** but did not propose a theory of human psychosocial development. *Freud* - **Sigmund Freud** developed the theory of **psychosexual development**, which proposes that personality develops through a series of stages focused on different **erogenous zones**. - While influential in developmental psychology, his theory differs from Erikson's focus on **social and cultural influences** across the entire lifespan.
Question 5: Who is associated with psychodynamic theory?
- A. Carl Jung
- B. Emil Kraepelin
- C. Eugen Bleuler
- D. Sigmund Freud (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Sigmund Freud*** - **Sigmund Freud** is widely recognized as the founder of **psychoanalysis** and the central figure in the development of **psychodynamic theory**. - His theories emphasized the role of **unconscious drives**, conflicts, and early childhood experiences in shaping personality and mental health. *Carl Jung* - While Jung was a prominent figure in the psychodynamic movement, he was initially a student and colleague of Freud but later developed his own school of thought called **analytical psychology**. - Jung's theories expanded on Freud's, introducing concepts like the **collective unconscious** and archetypes. *Emil Kraepelin* - **Emil Kraepelin** is known for his work in classifying mental disorders, laying the foundation for modern psychiatric diagnostics. - He is considered the father of **modern scientific psychiatry**, but his focus was not on psychodynamic theory. *Eugen Bleuler* - **Eugen Bleuler** is famous for coining the term "**schizophrenia**" and for his descriptive work on its symptoms. - He was a contemporary of Freud but approached mental illness from a descriptive, rather than purely psychodynamic, perspective.
Question 6: A 5-year-old child is assessed to have a developmental age of one year. What is his developmental quotient?
- A. 100
- B. 80
- C. 60
- D. 20 (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***20*** - The **developmental quotient (DQ)** is calculated as (developmental age ÷ chronological age) × 100. In this case, (1 year ÷ 5 years) × 100 = 20. - A DQ of 20 indicates a significant **developmental delay**, as the child's developmental age is much lower than their chronological age. *100* - A developmental quotient of 100 would mean the child's **developmental age is equal to their chronological age**, indicating typical development. - In this scenario, it would imply a 5-year-old child having a developmental age of 5 years, which is not the case. *80* - A developmental quotient of 80 would mean the child's developmental age is 80% of their chronological age, or (4 years ÷ 5 years) × 100. - This would still indicate some developmental delay, but not as severe as observed, as the child's developmental age is only 1 year. *60* - A developmental quotient of 60 would mean the child's developmental age is 60% of their chronological age, or (3 years ÷ 5 years) × 100. - While indicating a delay, it is not consistent with a 1-year developmental age for a 5-year-old child.
Question 7: What does it mean if a baby is in the 15th percentile for head circumference?
- A. The child's head circumference is at the 15th percentile.
- B. 15% of children will have a head circumference less than this baby. (Correct Answer)
- C. 15% of children will have a head circumference greater than this baby.
- D. None of the options.
Explanation: ***15% of children will have a head circumference less than this baby.*** - A **percentile** indicates the value below which a given percentage of observations in a group of observations falls. - Being in the **15th percentile** means that **15% of children have a smaller head circumference** than this baby, and **85% have a larger head circumference**. - This concept is fundamental in **growth monitoring** and assessing whether a child's growth is within normal limits. - Values below the 3rd percentile or above the 97th percentile typically warrant further evaluation. *The child's head circumference is at the 15th percentile.* - This statement merely restates the given information without explaining what it means. - It doesn't provide insight into the statistical significance or clinical implications. - While factually correct, it doesn't answer what the percentile *means*. *15% of children will have a head circumference greater than this baby.* - This statement **reverses** the meaning of a percentile. - If only 15% had a greater circumference, the baby would be at the **85th percentile** (100 - 15 = 85), not the 15th. - This is a common misconception when interpreting percentiles. *None of the options.* - This is incorrect because the first option accurately defines the meaning of being in the 15th percentile. - Understanding percentiles is essential for interpreting **growth charts** in pediatric practice.
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT a milestone typically expected at 1 year of age?
- A. Playing a simple ball game
- B. Using 2 words that are meaningful
- C. Spontaneous scribbling
- D. Walking upstairs independently (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Walking upstairs independently*** - **Walking upstairs independently** is a gross motor skill that typically develops much later, around **24-36 months of age**, as it requires advanced balance, coordination, and bilateral leg strength. - At 1 year, an infant might be able to *pull to stand*, *cruise* (walk while holding onto furniture), or take a few independent steps, but independent stair climbing is well beyond their developmental capacity. *Playing a simple ball game* - By 1 year, many infants can participate in simple interactive games like rolling a ball back and forth, demonstrating early **social reciprocity and motor coordination**. - This activity involves basic object manipulation and understanding of turn-taking, which are typical **social-adaptive milestones** at this age. *Using 2 words that are meaningful* - Most 1-year-olds can say 1-2 meaningful words besides "mama" and "dada" (e.g., "ball", "dog", "bye"), showing emerging **expressive language skills**. - This milestone is indicative of vocabulary development and the child's ability to associate words with objects or actions. *Spontaneous scribbling* - Around 12 months, children typically make **imitative scribbles** when shown how to use a crayon, demonstrating early **fine motor control**. - While some advanced 1-year-olds may begin spontaneous scribbling, this skill is more consistently achieved around **15-18 months**, making it an age-appropriate milestone for most infants at 1 year. - The key distinction is that at 1 year, scribbling is usually *prompted* rather than truly spontaneous.
Question 9: At what age can an infant typically achieve head control or neck holding?
- A. 1 month
- B. 2 months
- C. 3 months (Correct Answer)
- D. 6 months
Explanation: ***3 months*** - By **3 months** of age, an infant typically develops sufficient **neck muscle strength** and control to hold their head steady when sitting upright or pulled to a sit. - This milestone indicates maturation of the **cervical muscles** and nervous system coordination necessary for head stability. *1 month* - At **1 month**, an infant usually has very little head control and their head will **lag significantly** when pulled to a sitting position. - Neck muscles are still relatively weak, and the infant is unable to maintain the head in an upright posture against gravity. *2 months* - While some improvement in head control may be observed around **2 months**, the infant's head will still generally **wobble** and lag when moved. - Sustained, steady head holding is not typically achieved at this age, and support is still largely required. *6 months* - By **6 months**, an infant should have **excellent head control** and be able to easily hold their head steady and upright. - This age marks the development of other motor milestones like sitting with support or independently, which require strong neck and core muscles.
Question 10: At what age does the tonic neck reflex typically disappear?
- A. 1 month
- B. 2 months
- C. 3 months
- D. 4 months (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Correct Answer: 4 months*** - The **tonic neck reflex**, also known as the **asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR)**, typically disappears around **4 to 6 months of age**. - Persistence beyond this age can be a sign of **neurological dysfunction** and may interfere with motor development such as rolling or bringing hands to midline. *Incorrect: 1 month* - While the tonic neck reflex is present at 1 month, it does not typically disappear at this early stage. - At 1 month, infants are still relying on a variety of **primitive reflexes** for survival and early motor patterns. *Incorrect: 2 months* - The tonic neck reflex is still usually clearly present at 2 months of age. - This reflex contributes to early **eye-hand coordination** and helps develop unilateral body movements. *Incorrect: 3 months* - While starting to integrate, the tonic neck reflex is not fully integrated or gone by 3 months. - Its presence is normal at this age, and its integration is a gradual process as **voluntary motor control** emerges.
Want unlimited practice?
Get full access to all questions, explanations, and performance tracking.
Start For Free