Study Guide for in class mid-term writing

1. Drug abuse in early adulthood is more prevalent than in any other period of adulthood. Discuss the stressors that contribute to the likelihood of drug use, and mention demographic, cultural or life-style factors that are correlated with abuse.

2. Theories state that the male is more vulnerable biologically and socially than the female over the lifespan. Discuss the special vulnerabilities of the male in early adulthood.

3. Consider the many kinds of problem-solving skills that arise in the life of a college student. Give at least three examples of problems that would benefit most from postformal thinking involving cultural dimensions.

4. In our present economy, more families have become dual-earner families. What impact has this arrangement had on the family and why?

5. Imagine you are an employer who is hiring a 26-year-old named Frank. Frank's resume shows that he has never held a full-time job. How might our culture's social clock affect your consideration of him? What explanations, as employer, would you find most acceptable for this circumstance?

6. You are the activities director for a retirement community that has residents from age 60 and older. Based on Schaie's research on intelligence, what types of activities would you suggest and why?

7. At a preretirement seminar, a woman expresses concern that her intellectual abilities will decrease after retirement. What would you say to her citing recent general conclusions about intelligence from cross-sectional, longitudinal and cross-sequential

research?

8. A large corporation announces that it will be holding a workshop called "Caring for Your Older Parents: What Resources Are Available?" How is this likely to impact Hmong immigrant families? Which employees are most likely to attend the workshop? Why do you think corporations are beginning to be concerned with this issue?

9. In recent years, more young women with dependent children are in the work force and more men are involved in childcare. Discuss the possible effects of these developments on the people who reach middle age in the 21st century.

10. With regards to mate selection, why can females, in theory, be more selective in choosing their mates? In your answer, make sure to use the concept of genetics.

11. Explain the difference between organizational and activational effects of hormones. Will brain areas respond to hormones if that hormone is simply present? Explain!

12. Explain what LeVay means when he implies that genetic endowment lead to a hormonal surge in the womb that organizes the body/brain as either male or female.

In your answer, make sure to include the words hormones and X/Y chromosome.

After explaining this, give your own views about how this relates to sexual orientatation.

13. Explain the difference between natural selection and sexual selection. From an evolutionary standpoint, why do organisms engage in sexual reproductive behaviors? Make sure to use the concept of genetics.

14. Explain what the condition of "quag dab peg" is from both a Hmong and a Western medical perspective. What are some of the treatements given to patients with this condition by Western physicians and why are these treatments given? What are some of the treatments given by traditional Hmong healers? Which of these treatment regiments do you personally like?

15. What are capillary sphincters and what is the relationship between their status (as either open or closed) and blood pressure within the body?

16. What is septic shock? Why is septic shock dangerous? What are some of the signs of septic shock? Why was it difficult for the doctors at MCMC to diagnose Lia Lee as having septic shock?

17. If you believed mental health should be included in health care benefits, what would be your first three steps that would help this policy become a reality? What could you do legislatively to assure its success?

18. When you read assigned books that give contradictory information or advice, how do you draw conclusions that make sense to you? Give examples from at least two readings this quarter.

Take home writing. Answer one of the following questions in 2 typed pages, 12 point front. You may have a third page to list any references you cite. Bring this completed writing with you February 1, 2001.

1. You are director of a state foster care system. A child, Tommy, is found to be malnourished while living with his pregnant mother who is out of work. Give two different possible responses to Tommy's situation. What choice do you make? Give reasons for your responses.

2. Describe the changing awareness of one of the men from the "Color of Fear" in terms of both racial identity development and Kohlberg's stages of moral development. Compare and contrast these models with each other.

3. Pick a current issue having to do with sexuality. Discuss ESP factors contributing to the relationship between sexual education, sexual regulation and adolescent/adult development. What could you draw from LeVay's work that gives biological insight into this issue?