ch1 Flashcards
What is Human Development?
The scientific study of patterns of change and stability throughout the human lifespan.
What are the goals of Developmental Psychology?
- Describe behavior and how it changes.
- Explain processes/causes of change.
- Predict future behavior.
- Intervene to enhance/modify behavior.
What is the difference between Growth and Development?
Growth refers to physical and physiological changes (quantitative), while Development refers to a relatively predictable pattern of changes (qualitative).
What are the 7 principles of Life-Span Development?
- Development is Lifelong.
- Development is Multidimensional.
- Development is Multidirectional.
- Relative influences of biology and culture shift over lifespan.
- Development involves changing resource allocations.
- Development shows plasticity.
- Development is contextual.
What are the 8 periods of Human Development?
- Prenatal Period
- Infancy and Toddlerhood
- Early Childhood
- Middle Childhood
- Adolescence
- Emerging and Young Adulthood
- Middle Adulthood
- Late Adulthood
What is the difference between Nature and Nurture?
Nature refers to development influenced by heredity, while Nurture refers to development influenced by the environment.
What are Normative vs. Nonnormative influences?
Normative influences are significant events that affect the majority of society, while Nonnormative influences are unusual events that disturb the expected sequence of life cycle.
What is a Critical Period?
A time when it is essential for a person to be exposed to a specific stimulus to develop; effects are irreversible.
What is a Sensitive Period?
A less sensitive time frame where humans are highly responsive to experiences; results are not necessarily dramatic or irreversible.
What are the domains of Human Development?
- Physical
- Cognitive
- Psychosocial
- Biological
- Psychological
- Social
