Theories Related to Growth and Development

Every question here, with the answer

1. A nurse is teaching new parents about their infant’s psychosocial development using Erikson’s theory. Which parent action best supports successful development in the infant stage?

   1. Encouraging the infant to master school and friendships
   2. Teaching the infant to reflect on life accomplishments
   3. Helping the infant develop a personal identity separate from family
   4. Responding consistently to the infant’s needs during feeding

   Answer: Responding consistently to the infant’s needs during feeding

   In Erikson’s infancy stage, trust develops when caregivers respond to the infant’s needs. The other options describe later Erikson stages, including school age, adolescence, and older adulthood.

2. A parent tells the nurse, “My 4-year-old has started touching their genitals, and I’m worried something is wrong.” Using Freud’s theory, which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

   1. This behavior shows the child is in latency, when sexual drive is channeled into schoolwork and sports.
   2. This behavior means the child has entered the genital stage, when true intimacy is the hallmark.
   3. This behavior indicates the child is in the oral stage, when gratification comes from the mouth.
   4. This behavior is consistent with the phallic stage, when the genitals are the area of focus.

   Answer: This behavior is consistent with the phallic stage, when the genitals are the area of focus.

   Freud’s phallic stage occurs from 3 to 6 years old and includes focus on the genitals, with masturbation described as common. The other options match different Freud stages and age ranges.

3. A nurse is planning anticipatory guidance for a 16-year-old using Havighurst’s developmental theory. Which developmental tasks should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

   1. Adapt to retirement
   2. Develop a personal ideology and ethical values to guide behavior
   3. Plan for an economically viable career
   4. Accept physical changes of puberty
   5. Learn to walk and talk

   Answer: Develop a personal ideology and ethical values to guide behavior, Plan for an economically viable career, Accept physical changes of puberty

   Havighurst identifies adolescence as the period for accepting puberty-related changes, career planning, and developing personal ideology and ethical values. Learning to walk and talk belongs to infancy and early childhood, while adapting to retirement belongs to later maturity.

4. A 25-year-old client tells the nurse, “I want close relationships, but I feel lonely and disconnected.” Which concepts from Erikson’s theory are most relevant to this client’s developmental stage? Select all that apply.

   1. The client needs to build loving, reciprocal relationships.
   2. The expected outcome is reflection on life with fulfillment or regret.
   3. Failure in this stage may lead to isolation and loneliness.
   4. The central task is toilet training.
   5. The client is in the young adult age range.

   Answer: The client needs to build loving, reciprocal relationships., Failure in this stage may lead to isolation and loneliness., The client is in the young adult age range.

   Erikson places ages 18 to 40 in young adulthood, with the developmental focus on intimacy versus isolation. Toilet training is a toddler task, and reflection on life is associated with older adulthood.

5. A nurse is discussing development with the parent of a 2-year-old who is beginning toilet training. According to Freud’s theory, which stage and personality focus best fit this child?

   1. Oral stage, with the id present at birth
   2. Latency stage, with the id repressed to conform to societal norms
   3. Genital stage, with the superego fully formed
   4. Anal stage, with the ego as the primary facet of personality development

   Answer: Anal stage, with the ego as the primary facet of personality development

   Freud’s anal stage occurs from 1 to 3 years old, and toilet training is the primary developmental task in this stage. The other options describe Freud stages that occur at different ages with different developmental focuses.

6. A nurse is assessing factors that may affect a child’s development using Havighurst’s theory. Which factors should the nurse consider? Select all that apply.

   1. The id, ego, and superego
   2. Personal values
   3. Societal influences
   4. Resolution of the oedipal complex
   5. Physical maturation

   Answer: Personal values, Societal influences, Physical maturation

   Havighurst identified societal influences, personal values, and physical maturation as factors that affect development. The id, ego, superego, and oedipal complex are concepts from Freud’s theory, not Havighurst’s factors.