Which of the following is true of boys compared with girls in terms of developmental psychology?

• A. Boys are, on average, more likely to engage in physical risk-taking behaviors than girls.
• B. Boys are more likely to show advanced fine motor skills in early childhood compared to girls.
• C. Boys typically develop language skills earlier than girls.
• D. Boys generally reach puberty earlier than girls.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of developmental psychology, which studies how children grow and change physically, cognitively, and socially over time.
2. Step 2: Review typical developmental differences between boys and girls, focusing on areas such as motor skills, language development, risk-taking behaviors, and puberty timing.
3. Step 3: Recall that research shows boys are generally more prone to engage in physical risk-taking behaviors compared to girls, which is a consistent finding in developmental psychology.
4. Step 4: Recognize that girls usually develop fine motor skills and language skills earlier than boys, and that girls typically reach puberty earlier than boys.
5. Step 5: Compare each statement with established developmental psychology findings to identify that the statement about boys being more likely to engage in physical risk-taking behaviors is true.