Chapter 1- The Science Of Human Development Flashcards
The Scientific Method includes which six steps?
- Begin with curiosity/ pose a question
- Develop a hypothesis (a prediction that can be tested)
- Test the hypothesis (gather empirical evidence)
- Analyze the data and draw conclusions
- Report the results
- Replicate
The Nature-Nurture Controversy is…
A debate concerning rather a person’s behavior or characteristic is influenced by their nature (genetically inherited traits, capabilities, and limitations) or nurture (environmental influences such as societal experiences, community, family).
Example: Are serial killers born evil or are their parents, or neighborhood, or drugs amongst other things are to blame for their malicious traits?
In regards to the nature-nurture controversy, which side is correct?
Neither. Both genes AND the environment interact to effect every human characteristic.
Development is multidirectional, which means…
- Changes occur on every direction throughout the lifespan, not just in a straight line.
- Traits appear and disappear with losses, gains, increases, and decreases.
A critical period is defined as…
A time during which a particular development MUST happen otherwise it never will.
Example: A fetus must develop arms between 28 and 54 days after conception. If they do not, they never will.
A sensitive period is defined as…
A time during which a particular development is easiest or more likely to happen.
Example: Learning a second or third language before puberty oftentimes is easier to learn and results in accent-free speech. However, adults can still learn a new language later in life, although their grammar is impaired (hence accents which reveals the speaker’s first language is something else).
Development is multicontextual, which means…
Multiple contexts (family- size, marital status; community- urban or suburban, diverse or not) impacts a person’s development.
The ecological-systems approach to development is that…
Each person is affected by the interactions of overlapping systems.
According to the ecological-systems approach, the microsystem is composed of…
The immediate surroundings, such as the family and peer group.
According to the ecological-systems approach, the exosystem is composed of…
Local institutions, such as the school and church.
According to the ecological-systems approach, the macrosystem is composed of…
The larger societal setting, such as cultural values, economic policies, and political processes).
The chronosystem and mesosystem are also important to the ecological-systems approach. They represent…
Chronosystem: “time system” (historical context)
Mesosystem: connections among the other systems
Differing views and beliefs between generations, such as attitudes towards same sex marriage, demonstrate the impact of the ________ context.
Historical
Development is multicultural, which means…
Many cultures affect how people develop.
Since development is multicultural, it is necessary to study…
People of many cultures
Culture is defined as…
A system of shared beliefs, norms, behaviors, and expectations that persist over time and prescribe social behavior and assumptions.
Why is a multicultural perspective important when studying development?
It allows us to see how different cultures view the same phenomenon.
Example: In some cultures, children who talk too much are considered disrespectful, whereas in others, they are encouraged to be talkative.
The difference-equals-deficit error is defined as…
The belief that a deviation from some norm is necessarily inferior to behavior or characteristics that meet the standard.
The difference between ethnicity and race is…
Ethnicity involves a sharing a ancestral heritage, and oftentimes language, culture, and religion. Race involves distinguishing a group of people on the basis of physical appearances, typically skin color.
Development is multidisciplinary, which means…
Many academic fields (medicine, economics, etc) contributes insights and information to development.
What does epigenetics effect?
The expression of genes
Give an example of epigentic influences that impede development, and an example of influences that facilitate it.
Impede- injury, drug abuse
Facilitate- nourishing food, loving care
How does multidisciplinary research effect the perspectives of scientists?
It broadens and deepened their perspective.
Development is plastic, which means…
Human development is ongoing and ever changing throughout the lifespan.
