Chapter 1 - The Science of Human Development Flashcards
Science of human development
The science that seeks to understand why all people change or remain the same
Scientific method
- Pose a question
- Develop a hypothesis
- Test the hypothesis
- Draw conclusions (support or refute)
- Report the results
Empirical data
Evidence based on observation, experience, or experiment. NOT theory or opinion
Replication
Repeating a specific scientific method with differing subjects to reinforce or reject conclusions
Nature
The influence of genes on an organism
Nurture
Environmental influences on an organism
Epigenetics
The study of how environmental factors affect gene expression
Differential susceptibility
The idea that the effect of any experience differs from one person to another due to particular genes that a person has inherited
‘Dandelion’ v. ‘Orchid’
Refers to concept of differential susceptibility
Dandelion children - Hardy and growing regardless of rearing
Orchid children - Require stricter conditions and reading in order to thrive
Lifespan perspective
Approach to human developments study that encompasses all phases of life from conception until death
What are the classic age ranges when considering development
Infant: 0-2 years Early childhood: 2-6 years Middle childhood: 6-11 years Adolescence: 11- 18 years Emerging adulthood: 18-25 years Adulthood: 25-65 years Late adulthood: 65+ years
What does it mean when development is referred as “multi-directional”
That there are various patterns of growth, and not just a linear growth from infancy to adulthood
Critical period
Time when a particular development must occur. If it does not then it can not develop later
E.g. The development of extremities in a fetus between 28 to 54 days
Sensitive period
Time when a particular developmental growth is likely to appear, but can appear at a later time
e.g. Learning a language fluently between ages 1 to 3
Ecological-systems approach
Presented by Urie Bronfenbrenner
A perspective on human development that considers all of the influences from various contexts of development
What are the levels of the ecological-system model (from specific to generalized)
The Developing Person - Factors such as age, sex, health, etc.
- Microsystem - Family, classroom, neighborhood, and other local systems that the individual interacts with
- Mesosystem - Interaction of the micro- and exo- systems
- Exosystem - Overarching systems such as the educational system, medical institutions, mass media, etc.
- Macrosystem - Cultural patterns, and economic philosophies, and social conditions
- Chronosystem - The context of time, changing conditions and societal patterns through the ages
Cohort
A group defined by it’s members shared age
Socioeconomic status (SES)
A person’s position in society as determined by income, occupation, education, and place of residence
Culture
The system of shared beliefs, conventions, norms, behaviors, expectations, and symbolic representations that persist over time and prescribe social rules of conduct
True or false: A blue-collar worker and a college graduate with a masters degree who both make $18,000 are of the same socioeconomic status
False. SES is also based on other factors, not just income. The fact that the college graduate has a degree that is held in higher regard socially means that they are of a higher SES just by that virtue
Social construction
An idea that is built on shared perceptions, but NOT an objective reality
Difference-equals-deficit error
The mistaken belief held by many that a deviation from some norm is necessarily form
Guided participation
Concept by Russian developmentalist Lev Vygotsky
A universal process used by mentors to teach cultural knowledge, skills, and habits
Ethic group
People who’s ancestors were born in the same region. Usually share a language, culture, and/or religion
Race
Concept that some people are distinct from other based on appearance, usually skin color
A social construction not based in biology
Plasticity
The idea that abilities, personality, and other human characteristics are moldable and changeable
Dynamic-systems approach
A view of human development as an ongoing ever-changing interaction between the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial influences
Developmental theory
A group of ideas about human growth. Provides a framework to interpret growth and change
Psychoanalytic theory
Human development theory that contends that irrational, unconscious drives and motives explain human behavior.
Originated with Sigmund Freud
True or false: Freud’s Psychosexual theories are used in contemporary developmental studies
False
What was Freud’s developmental theory?
Development occurs in various stages each characterized by sexual pleasure of a body part
1) Oral - Birth to 1 yr
2) Anal - 1 to 3 yrs
3) Phallic - 3 to 6 yrs
4) Latency - 6 to 11 yrs
5) Genital - Adolescence to adulthood
What was Erik Erickson’s developmental theory
Built upon Freud’s theory, Erick theorized that there are two ‘polarities’ at each developmental stage
1) Trust vs. Mistrust - Birth to 1 yr
2) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt - 1 yr to 3 yrs
3) Initiative vs. Guilt - 3 yr to 6 yrs
4) Industry vs. Inferiority - 6 yr to 11 yrs
5) Identity vs. Role Confusion - Adolescence
Erick also added three additional stages to adulthood based on his experiences
6) Intimacy vs. Isolation
7) Generatively vs. Stagnation
8) Integrity vs. Despair
Behaviorism
A developmental theory that focuses on the observable actions of humans
What are the three types of learning in behaviorism?
1) Classical conditioning - Response linked to neutral stimuli (e.g. Pavlov’s Bell)
2) Operant conditioning - Using punishment or reward to learn behavior
3) Social learning - Copying observed behaviors
Cognitive theory
Developmental theory that focuses on how people think. Thoughts shape attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors
Championed by Jean Piaget
What stages are present in Piaget’s Periods of Cognitive Development?
1) Sensorimotor (Birth to 2 yrs) - Infants use senses and motor abilities to begin to understand the world around them
2) Preoperational (2 to 6 yrs) - Children think symbolically but are unable to perceive from any other point of view but their own
3) Concrete operational (6 to 11 yrs) - Children understand and being to apply logic to understand concepts and classifications
4) Formal operational (12 yrs to adulthood) - Adolescents and adults are able to use abstract and hypothetical to analyze
Cognitive equilibrium
According to the developmental theory of cognitive development, it is a mental balance that humans seek to achieve
Evolutionary theory
A developmental theory that human emotions and impulses are a legacy from thousands of years of evolution
What is allocare in the context of evolutionary theory
Care given to an infant that is not the mother; shared child rearing. In humans this can be the father, other family members, or even daycare
Explains why humans can reproduce rapidly: shared responsibility among other humans lessens the burden of child-rearing
Scientific observation
Watching and recording behavior in a systemic and objective manner
Cross-sectional research
Research designed that compares people who differ in age but not in other important characteristics
Age is the independent variable in this type of developmental research
Longitudinal research
Research design that follows the same individuals over a set period of time
Cross-sequential research
Hybrid research model that includes cross-sectional and longitudinal research
The most complicated and time-consuming developmental research model, but yields the best results possible
Correlation
Indication where a variable increases or decreases based on a specific value increasing or decreasing
Does NOT prove causality
Quantitative research
Research that provides data expressed with numbers
Qualitative research
Research that reflect cultural and contextual diversity
Why is developmental research usually qualitative instead of quantitative? What issues does qualitative research pose?
Qualitative research reflects cultural and contextual diversity better
The issue with it is that it is hard to replicate and more vulnerable to bias
What is the review board for ethics within medical or educational institutions usually called?
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
