If you are preparing for competitive exams such as SSC, UPSC, CTET, UPTET, KVS, DSSSB, Nursing, or other teaching and psychology-based exams, then having a clear understanding of growth and development is extremely important. Questions from this topic are frequently asked in exams and often decide your final score.
In this blog post, we provide a carefully designed collection of MCQ on growth and development with answers for competitive exams. These questions are prepared according to the latest exam patterns and focus on key concepts like principles of development, stages of growth, individual differences, and factors affecting development.
This post is especially useful for students, teachers, and exam aspirants who want quick revision, concept clarity, and exam-oriented practice in a simple and easy language.
MCQ on Growth and Development with Answers for Competitive Exams
1. Which of the following best defines growth in psychology?
- A. Qualitative changes in behavior
- B. Emotional maturity
- C. Quantitative increase in physical size
- D. Social adjustment
Explanation: Growth refers to measurable and quantitative changes such as increase in height, weight, or size.
2. Development mainly refers to:
- A. Increase in height and weight
- B. Quantitative changes only
- C. Qualitative changes in behavior and functioning
- D. Hereditary traits
Explanation: Development involves qualitative changes such as emotional, social, and intellectual maturation.
3. Which period is known as the fastest stage of physical growth?
- A. Childhood
- B. Adolescence
- C. Infancy
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Infancy shows the most rapid physical growth compared to other stages of life.
4. Who proposed the theory of psychosocial development?
- A. Jean Piaget
- B. Sigmund Freud
- C. Erik Erikson
- D. Albert Bandura
Explanation: Erik Erikson proposed eight stages of psychosocial development across the lifespan.
5. According to Piaget, the stage of concrete operational thinking occurs between:
- A. 0–2 years
- B. 2–7 years
- C. 7–11 years
- D. 12 years and above
Explanation: In the concrete operational stage, children develop logical thinking about concrete objects.
6. Which factor plays the most important role in growth and development?
- A. Environment
- B. Heredity
- C. Nutrition
- D. All of the above
Explanation: Growth and development are influenced by heredity, environment, and nutrition collectively.
7. Which stage of development is marked by identity crisis?
- A. Childhood
- B. Adolescence
- C. Adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Adolescence is characterized by identity versus role confusion according to Erikson.
8. Motor development in children mainly depends on:
- A. Intelligence
- B. Emotional maturity
- C. Physical growth and nervous system development
- D. Language skills
Explanation: Motor skills develop as muscles strengthen and the nervous system matures.
9. Development is considered a lifelong process because:
- A. Growth never stops
- B. Development occurs only in childhood
- C. Changes occur throughout life
- D. Learning ends in adulthood
Explanation: Development includes continuous changes from birth to old age.
10. Which type of development is related to moral values and ethics?
- A. Physical development
- B. Cognitive development
- C. Moral development
- D. Social development
Explanation: Moral development deals with the formation of values, ethics, and judgment of right and wrong.
11. Which principle of development states that development proceeds from head to toe?
- A. Proximo-distal principle
- B. Cephalo-caudal principle
- C. Sequential principle
- D. Individual difference principle
Explanation: The cephalo-caudal principle explains that development starts from the head and moves downward to the feet.
12. The proximo-distal principle of development means development occurs from:
- A. Head to foot
- B. Simple to complex
- C. Center of the body to extremities
- D. General to specific
Explanation: Proximo-distal development proceeds from the center of the body outward to the limbs and fingers.
13. Which psychologist is associated with the theory of cognitive development?
- A. Erik Erikson
- B. Jean Piaget
- C. Ivan Pavlov
- D. B.F. Skinner
Explanation: Jean Piaget proposed the stages of cognitive development in children.
14. Language development in children is most rapid during:
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Early childhood is the period of rapid language acquisition and vocabulary growth.
15. Emotional development mainly refers to:
- A. Physical growth
- B. Control and expression of emotions
- C. Language learning
- D. Social interaction
Explanation: Emotional development involves understanding, expressing, and controlling emotions appropriately.
16. Which stage of Piaget is characterized by abstract thinking?
- A. Sensorimotor
- B. Pre-operational
- C. Concrete operational
- D. Formal operational
Explanation: Formal operational stage enables abstract, logical, and hypothetical thinking.
17. Social development is mainly concerned with:
- A. Mental ability
- B. Physical growth
- C. Interaction with others
- D. Moral values
Explanation: Social development focuses on relationships, cooperation, and social behavior.
18. Which factor has the least influence on growth?
- A. Heredity
- B. Nutrition
- C. Environment
- D. Gender
Explanation: Gender has relatively less influence compared to heredity, nutrition, and environment.
19. Moral development theory was proposed by:
- A. Kohlberg
- B. Piaget
- C. Erikson
- D. Watson
Explanation: Lawrence Kohlberg proposed stages of moral development based on moral reasoning.
20. Development is predictable because:
- A. It is sudden
- B. It follows a pattern
- C. It stops after childhood
- D. It depends only on learning
Explanation: Development follows an orderly and predictable sequence.
21. Which stage of life is known as the period of stress and storm?
- A. Childhood
- B. Adolescence
- C. Adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Adolescence is often called a period of stress and storm due to rapid changes.
22. Which type of development deals with thinking and reasoning?
- A. Emotional
- B. Social
- C. Cognitive
- D. Moral
Explanation: Cognitive development focuses on mental processes like thinking and reasoning.
23. Physical development during adolescence is marked by:
- A. Slow growth
- B. Growth spurt
- C. Decline in strength
- D. No change
Explanation: Adolescence is characterized by a rapid increase in height and weight called growth spurt.
24. Individual differences in development occur because:
- A. All children are the same
- B. Development is uniform
- C. Heredity and environment vary
- D. Learning has no role
Explanation: Differences in heredity and environment lead to individual differences in development.
25. Which stage comes immediately after infancy?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Childhood
- C. Early childhood
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Early childhood follows infancy and covers the preschool years.
26. Development is continuous but:
- A. Uniform for all
- B. Discontinuous in nature
- C. Stops in adulthood
- D. Only physical
Explanation: Development is continuous but not uniform; it has ups and downs.
27. Which development helps an individual distinguish right from wrong?
- A. Cognitive
- B. Social
- C. Moral
- D. Physical
Explanation: Moral development enables understanding of ethical behavior and values.
28. Intelligence is most closely related to:
- A. Physical development
- B. Cognitive development
- C. Emotional development
- D. Social development
Explanation: Intelligence is a key aspect of cognitive development.
29. Which environment factor affects growth the most?
- A. Climate
- B. Nutrition
- C. Culture
- D. Education
Explanation: Nutrition plays a vital role in physical growth and overall development.
30. Growth can be best measured by:
- A. Intelligence test
- B. Emotional stability
- C. Height and weight
- D. Moral reasoning
Explanation: Growth is quantitative and can be measured using physical parameters like height and weight.
31. Which concept explains that development occurs in an orderly sequence?
- A. Individual differences
- B. Maturation
- C. Developmental pattern
- D. Learning readiness
Explanation: Development follows a definite and orderly pattern from simple to complex.
32. Which term refers to the natural unfolding of biological potential?
- A. Learning
- B. Maturation
- C. Training
- D. Conditioning
Explanation: Maturation is the natural growth process controlled by heredity.
33. Which period is considered the foundation of personality development?
- A. Old age
- B. Adolescence
- C. Early childhood
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Early childhood plays a crucial role in shaping personality traits.
34. Development of fine motor skills mainly involves:
- A. Running and jumping
- B. Large muscle movement
- C. Small muscle coordination
- D. Emotional control
Explanation: Fine motor skills use small muscles such as fingers and hands.
35. Which type of development is related to adjustment in society?
- A. Cognitive
- B. Physical
- C. Social
- D. Emotional
Explanation: Social development helps an individual adjust and interact effectively in society.
36. Puberty marks the beginning of:
- A. Childhood
- B. Infancy
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Puberty signals the onset of adolescence with rapid physical changes.
37. Which psychologist emphasized learning through observation?
- A. Skinner
- B. Pavlov
- C. Bandura
- D. Freud
Explanation: Albert Bandura proposed social learning theory based on observation and imitation.
38. Emotional maturity is usually achieved during:
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Emotional maturity generally develops fully in adulthood.
39. Which development helps in problem-solving ability?
- A. Physical
- B. Cognitive
- C. Moral
- D. Emotional
Explanation: Cognitive development enhances thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
40. Which principle states that rate of development varies from person to person?
- A. Continuity principle
- B. Cephalo-caudal principle
- C. Individual difference principle
- D. Proximo-distal principle
Explanation: Individuals differ in the rate and pattern of development.
41. Development of self-concept mainly occurs during:
- A. Infancy
- B. Adolescence
- C. Old age
- D. Prenatal stage
Explanation: Adolescence is crucial for identity formation and self-concept development.
42. Which factor affects both growth and development?
- A. Education
- B. Nutrition
- C. Environment
- D. All of the above
Explanation: Growth and development are influenced by multiple interacting factors.
43. Which stage is associated with reflexive behavior?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Infancy
- C. Childhood
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Infancy is marked by reflex actions like sucking and grasping.
44. Socialization process begins from:
- A. School
- B. Peer group
- C. Family
- D. Society
Explanation: Family is the primary agent of socialization for a child.
45. Which development is closely linked with feelings and emotions?
- A. Physical
- B. Cognitive
- C. Emotional
- D. Moral
Explanation: Emotional development concerns expression and regulation of emotions.
46. Growth differs from development because growth is:
- A. Qualitative
- B. Psychological
- C. Quantitative
- D. Emotional
Explanation: Growth refers to measurable quantitative changes like height and weight.
47. Which period shows maximum emotional instability?
- A. Infancy
- B. Childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Adolescence is marked by emotional fluctuations due to hormonal changes.
48. Which development enables understanding of social rules?
- A. Physical
- B. Moral
- C. Cognitive
- D. Emotional
Explanation: Moral development helps in understanding norms, rules, and ethics.
49. Learning readiness depends largely on:
- A. Age only
- B. Maturation level
- C. Intelligence only
- D. Environment only
Explanation: A certain level of maturation is necessary before effective learning can occur.
50. Which stage is associated with preparation for old age?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Early adulthood
- C. Middle adulthood
- D. Childhood
Explanation: Middle adulthood involves adjustments and preparation for later life stages.
51. Which stage of development is also called the neonatal period?
- A. Prenatal stage
- B. Infancy
- C. Early childhood
- D. Adolescence
Explanation: The neonatal period refers to the first few weeks after birth, which is part of infancy.
52. Which hormone is mainly responsible for physical growth?
- A. Thyroxine
- B. Insulin
- C. Growth hormone
- D. Adrenaline
Explanation: Growth hormone secreted by the pituitary gland plays a key role in physical growth.
53. Which aspect of development is most influenced by schooling?
- A. Physical
- B. Cognitive
- C. Emotional
- D. Moral
Explanation: Schooling mainly enhances thinking, reasoning, and intellectual abilities.
54. The concept of “readiness to learn” is closely related to:
- A. Training
- B. Conditioning
- C. Maturation
- D. Practice
Explanation: Learning readiness depends on the level of physical and mental maturation.
55. Which type of play helps in social development?
- A. Solitary play
- B. Parallel play
- C. Cooperative play
- D. Motor play
Explanation: Cooperative play involves interaction and sharing, promoting social skills.
56. Which stage of Erikson is related to trust versus mistrust?
- A. Early childhood
- B. Infancy
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: According to Erikson, trust vs mistrust is the first stage occurring in infancy.
57. Development of attitudes and values is mainly related to:
- A. Physical development
- B. Cognitive development
- C. Moral development
- D. Motor development
Explanation: Moral development focuses on values, attitudes, and ethical judgments.
58. Which period is known as the preschool stage?
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Late childhood
- D. Adolescence
Explanation: Early childhood is commonly referred to as the preschool stage.
59. Which development enables effective communication?
- A. Physical
- B. Language
- C. Moral
- D. Emotional
Explanation: Language development allows individuals to express ideas and communicate effectively.
60. Which stage of life shows maximum dependency?
- A. Infancy
- B. Childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Infants are completely dependent on others for survival and care.
61. Which factor mostly influences personality development?
- A. Climate
- B. Heredity
- C. Family environment
- D. Nutrition
Explanation: Family environment plays a major role in shaping personality traits.
62. The ability to think hypothetically develops in:
- A. Concrete operational stage
- B. Pre-operational stage
- C. Formal operational stage
- D. Sensorimotor stage
Explanation: Hypothetical and abstract thinking is a feature of the formal operational stage.
63. Which type of development is concerned with self-control?
- A. Physical
- B. Emotional
- C. Cognitive
- D. Social
Explanation: Emotional development involves managing and regulating one’s emotions.
64. Which stage of life is marked by peer group influence?
- A. Infancy
- B. Childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Old age
Explanation: During adolescence, peer groups strongly influence behavior and attitudes.
65. Which development helps in forming habits?
- A. Physical
- B. Moral
- C. Behavioral
- D. Cognitive
Explanation: Behavioral development involves learning responses and habit formation.
66. Which period is considered ideal for language learning?
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Early childhood is the most sensitive period for language acquisition.
67. Which development is directly related to muscle strength?
- A. Cognitive
- B. Physical
- C. Moral
- D. Emotional
Explanation: Physical development includes muscle growth and strength.
68. Which stage is associated with search for identity?
- A. Childhood
- B. Adolescence
- C. Adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Identity formation is a major task of adolescence.
69. Which principle states that development moves from general to specific?
- A. Proximo-distal
- B. Cephalo-caudal
- C. Differentiation principle
- D. Continuity principle
Explanation: Development begins with general responses and later becomes specific and refined.
70. Which stage of life involves maximum responsibility?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Childhood
- C. Adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Adulthood involves personal, social, and professional responsibilities.
71. Which stage of development begins before birth?
- A. Infancy
- B. Prenatal stage
- C. Neonatal stage
- D. Early childhood
Explanation: Prenatal stage starts from conception and continues until birth.
72. Development of conscience is mainly associated with:
- A. Physical development
- B. Cognitive development
- C. Moral development
- D. Language development
Explanation: Moral development helps in forming conscience and ethical judgment.
73. Which psychologist is associated with the psychoanalytic theory of development?
- A. Jean Piaget
- B. Erik Erikson
- C. Sigmund Freud
- D. Albert Bandura
Explanation: Sigmund Freud proposed the psychoanalytic theory of personality development.
74. Which factor has the greatest impact during prenatal development?
- A. Peer group
- B. Heredity and maternal health
- C. School environment
- D. Mass media
Explanation: Genetic factors and the mother’s health strongly affect prenatal development.
75. Which development helps an individual adapt to changing situations?
- A. Physical
- B. Emotional
- C. Cognitive
- D. Motor
Explanation: Emotional development enables flexibility, adjustment, and coping with change.
76. Which stage of Erikson focuses on identity vs role confusion?
- A. Childhood
- B. Infancy
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Identity vs role confusion is the central conflict of adolescence.
77. Which type of development is reflected in decision-making ability?
- A. Physical
- B. Cognitive
- C. Moral
- D. Motor
Explanation: Decision-making relies on thinking, reasoning, and cognitive skills.
78. Which stage of life shows decline in physical strength?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Early adulthood
- C. Middle adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Old age is marked by gradual decline in physical abilities and strength.
79. Which development helps in forming relationships?
- A. Cognitive
- B. Physical
- C. Social
- D. Moral
Explanation: Social development enables interaction, cooperation, and relationship building.
80. Which principle of development emphasizes continuity?
- A. Development is sudden
- B. Development stops after childhood
- C. Development is a continuous process
- D. Development is random
Explanation: Development occurs continuously throughout the lifespan.
81. Which stage of life is associated with generativity?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Early adulthood
- C. Middle adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Erikson described generativity vs stagnation as the key task of middle adulthood.
82. Which development helps in self-expression?
- A. Physical
- B. Language
- C. Moral
- D. Motor
Explanation: Language development allows individuals to express thoughts and emotions.
83. Which stage is characterized by curiosity and exploration?
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Old age
Explanation: Early childhood is marked by curiosity, play, and exploration of surroundings.
84. Which factor contributes most to emotional security?
- A. School
- B. Peer group
- C. Family
- D. Media
Explanation: Family provides love, care, and emotional support essential for security.
85. Which development involves coordination of eyes and hands?
- A. Emotional
- B. Cognitive
- C. Motor
- D. Moral
Explanation: Motor development includes eye–hand coordination and movement control.
86. Which stage of life involves preparation for career?
- A. Childhood
- B. Adolescence
- C. Old age
- D. Infancy
Explanation: Adolescence involves planning, skill development, and career preparation.
87. Which development helps in understanding cause and effect?
- A. Emotional
- B. Cognitive
- C. Physical
- D. Social
Explanation: Cognitive development enables logical thinking and understanding relationships.
88. Which stage of life shows maximum creativity?
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Old age
Explanation: Early childhood is rich in imagination and creative expression.
89. Which principle states that development is influenced by both heredity and environment?
- A. Continuity principle
- B. Interaction principle
- C. Cephalo-caudal principle
- D. Proximo-distal principle
Explanation: Development results from interaction between heredity and environment.
90. Which stage of life focuses on life review and reflection?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Early adulthood
- C. Middle adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Old age involves reflection on life achievements and experiences.
91. Which stage of development is associated with complete dependence on adults?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Early childhood
- C. Infancy
- D. Late childhood
Explanation: During infancy, a child is totally dependent on adults for survival and care.
92. Development of logical thinking first appears clearly in:
- A. Sensorimotor stage
- B. Pre-operational stage
- C. Concrete operational stage
- D. Formal operational stage
Explanation: Logical thinking about concrete objects develops in the concrete operational stage.
93. Which type of development is concerned with self-awareness?
- A. Physical
- B. Social
- C. Emotional
- D. Motor
Explanation: Emotional development includes awareness and understanding of one’s own feelings.
94. Which stage of life is most suitable for habit formation?
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Old age
Explanation: Early childhood is ideal for forming good habits and behaviors.
95. Which factor is most important for mental development?
- A. Nutrition
- B. Education
- C. Climate
- D. Physical exercise
Explanation: Education plays a crucial role in enhancing mental and intellectual abilities.
96. Which development is related to learning right social behavior?
- A. Cognitive
- B. Moral
- C. Social
- D. Emotional
Explanation: Social development helps individuals learn acceptable social behaviors.
97. Which stage is marked by rapid vocabulary growth?
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Old age
Explanation: Early childhood shows rapid expansion of vocabulary and language skills.
98. Which psychologist proposed stages of moral development?
- A. Freud
- B. Erikson
- C. Piaget
- D. Kohlberg
Explanation: Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a theory of moral development based on moral reasoning.
99. Which development enables empathy and understanding others’ feelings?
- A. Physical
- B. Emotional
- C. Cognitive
- D. Motor
Explanation: Emotional development helps in understanding and sharing feelings of others.
100. Which stage of life involves maximum independence?
- A. Infancy
- B. Childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Adulthood
Explanation: Adulthood is characterized by independence in personal and professional life.
101. Which type of development deals with reasoning and memory?
- A. Emotional
- B. Cognitive
- C. Social
- D. Physical
Explanation: Cognitive development includes memory, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities.
102. Which stage of development is known as the foundation period?
- A. Old age
- B. Adolescence
- C. Early childhood
- D. Middle adulthood
Explanation: Early childhood lays the foundation for later physical, mental, and social development.
103. Which development helps an individual control impulses?
- A. Cognitive
- B. Emotional
- C. Physical
- D. Social
Explanation: Emotional development involves self-regulation and impulse control.
104. Which stage of life is associated with maximum learning capacity?
- A. Infancy
- B. Early childhood
- C. Adolescence
- D. Old age
Explanation: Early childhood is a sensitive period for learning and skill development.
105. Which development helps in understanding social norms?
- A. Physical
- B. Cognitive
- C. Moral
- D. Motor
Explanation: Moral development enables understanding of social rules and norms.
106. Which stage of Erikson deals with intimacy vs isolation?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Early adulthood
- C. Middle adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Intimacy vs isolation is the major psychosocial task of early adulthood.
107. Which development is reflected in cooperation and teamwork?
- A. Cognitive
- B. Physical
- C. Social
- D. Emotional
Explanation: Social development promotes cooperation, teamwork, and group behavior.
108. Which stage of life is marked by maximum emotional balance?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Early adulthood
- C. Middle adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Middle adulthood is generally marked by emotional stability and balance.
109. Which development helps in planning for the future?
- A. Emotional
- B. Physical
- C. Cognitive
- D. Motor
Explanation: Cognitive development enables foresight, planning, and goal setting.
110. Which stage of life is associated with wisdom?
- A. Adolescence
- B. Early adulthood
- C. Middle adulthood
- D. Old age
Explanation: Old age is often associated with life experience and wisdom.
We hope this collection of MCQ on growth and development with answers for competitive exams helps you strengthen your preparation and improve your confidence. Regular practice of such objective questions will not only enhance your conceptual understanding but also increase your speed and accuracy in exams.
Keep revising important topics, analyze your mistakes, and stay consistent with your preparation. Bookmark this page and revisit it whenever you need a quick revision of growth and development concepts.
Best wishes for your upcoming competitive exams. Keep learning and keep growing.
