Chap 1

Question 1

What was Aristotle’s and Locke’s views on learning and knowledge acquisition ?

Answer 1

Aristotle believed that children’s knowledge was acquired through perceptual experience. Locke similarly believed that parents had a role to play in teaching their children morals and discipline

Question 2

What was Plato and Rousseau’s views on learning and knowledge acquisition?

Answer 2

Plato believed children were born with innate knowledge on the basic things of the world. Rousseau believed similarly that children are also born with an innate sense of moral and dsicipline that guides them.

Question 3

What is the theory of natural selection ?

Answer 3

Charles Darwin put forwards this theory. It is the theory that the organisms who are best equipped for their environments will survive

Question 4

What is the maturational theory ?

Answer 4

That development unfolds based on a pre-set scheme or plan within the body (discredited theory)

Question 5

What is the ethological theory?

Answer 5

An evolutionary perspective where behaviors serve the purpose of survival

Question 6

What is the psychodynamic theory?

Answer 6

Freud’s theory where development is largely based on how individuals resolve conflict at different ages

Question 7

What is the psychosocial theory?

Answer 7

Erickson’s psychosocial theory describes 8 stages of development that describes key components of social integration

Question 8

What are the 8 stages of the psychosocial theory

Answer 8

1. trust
2. Autonomy
3. Initiative
4. Industry
5. Identity
6. Intimacy
7. Generativity
8. Integrity

Question 9

Describe the first 8 stages of the psychosocial theory

Answer 9

1. (0-1y) a baby only understands that the world is a good place
2. (2-3) the child realizes they can make independent decisions
3. (3-7) develops a willingness to try new things
4. (7 to adolescence) learning to work with others
5. (adolescence) develops a sense of self
6. (sound adulthood) the commitment of ones self to loving another person
7. Contributing to the development of those younger than us
8. Viewing ones life as being successful

Question 10

What is Vygotsky’s theory of contextual development ?

Answer 10

The theory that the fundamental goal of all societies is to give children the acquisition of essential cultural values and skills

Question 11

What is the ecological Systems theory ?

Answer 11

The theory that the environment is divided into 5 components: the microsystem, mesosystem, ecosystem, macrosystem and chronosystem

Question 12

Describe the difference between construct and concurrent validity

Answer 12

Construct: how well a test measures what it is supposed to be measuring
Concurrent: how well two variables within a study correlate or correspond with each other

Question 13

Describe the nature versus nurture debate

Answer 13

Much like the theories of Locke, Aristotle and Plato, some theorists argue that our genetics are what predispose us to our knowledge acquisition while others argue that we are molded by experience and learning throughout life. We can argue that many of our personality traits may have some genetic predisposition, for example intelligence, but a child who is considered smart, most likely has parents who have allowed the child to engage in reading, social conversations etc. Thus there is both an innate and acquired component to this child’s intelligence/