Chapter 1, Section 4 Flashcards
Be able to characterize the science of adolescent development.
What is a theory?
An interrelated, coherent set of ideas that helps to explain phenomena and make predictions.
What is hypotheses?
Specific assertions and predictions that can be tested.
What are the four theoretical orientations to development?
Psychoanalytic, Cognitive, Behavioral and Social Cognitive, and Ecological
What are psychoanalytic theories?
Psychoanalytic theories describe development as primarily unconscious (beyond awareness) and heavily colored by emotion. Early experiences with parents are emphasized. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Freud’s theory
We go through five stages of psychosexual development: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.
Erik Erison’s theory
Believed we develop in psychosocial stages, rather than psychosexual stages as Freud maintained. He believed 8 stages of development unfold as we go through life. Each stage consists of a unique development task that confronts individuals with a crisis that must be faced.
Jean Piaget’s theory
A theory stating that children actively construct their understanding of the world and go through four stages of cognitive development.
Lev Vygotsky’s theory
A sociocultural cognitive theory that emphasizes how culture and social interaction guide cognitive development.
Information-processing theory
A theory emphasizing that individuals manipulate information, monitor it, and strategize about it. Central to this approach are the processes of memory and thinking.
Social cognitive theory
The view that behavior, environment, and cognition are the key factors in development.
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory
A theory focusing on the influence of five environmental systems: microsystem, mesosystem, ecosystem, macro system, and chronosystem.
Naturalistic observation
Observing behavior in real-world settings, making no effort to manipulate or control the situation.
Standardized test
A test with uniform procedures for administration and scoring. Many standardized tests allow a person’s performance to be compared with the performance of other individuals.
Experience sampling method (ESM)
Research method that involves providing participants with electronic pagers and then beeping them at random times, at which point they are asked to report on various aspects of their lives.
Cross-sectional research
A research strategy that involves studying people all at one time.
