Chapter 1 The Study of Human Development

Question 1

Erikson’s Theory

Answer 1

Psychosocial Theory

Question 2

The Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development in Erikson’s Theory

Answer 2

Trust vs. mistrust Birth-1year to develop a sense that the world is safe, a “good place”

Automony vs. sham & doubt 1-3years to realize that one is an independent person who can make decisions and doubt

Initiative vs. guilt 3-6years to develop the ability to try new things and to handle failure

Industry vs. Inferiority 6-adolescence to learn basic skills and to work with others

Identity vs. Identity confusion Adolescence to develop a lasting, integrated sense of self

Intimacy vs. Isolation Young adulthood to commit to another in a loving relationship

Generativity vs. stagnation Middle adulthood to contribute to younger people through child rearing, child care, or other productive work

Integrity vs. despair Late life to view one’s life as satisfactory and worth living

Question 3

What fundamental issues of development have scholars addressed throughtout history?

Answer 3

Three main issues are prominent in the study of human development. The nature-nurture issue involves the degree to which genetics and the environment influence human development. I general, theorists and researchers view nature and nurture as mutually interactive influences; development is always shaped by both. The continuity-discontinuity issue concerns whether the same explanations (continuity) or different explanations (discontinuity) must be used to explain changes in people over time. Continuity approaches emphasize quantitative change; discontinuity approaches emphasize qualitative change. In the issue of universal versus context-specific development, the question is whether development follows the same general path in all people or is fundamentally dependent on the sociocultural context

Question 4

What are the basic forces in the biopsychosocial framework? How does the timing of these forces make a difference in their impact?

Answer 4

• Development is based on the combined impact of four primary forces. Biological forces include all genetic and health-related factors that affect development. Many of these biological forces are determined by our genetic code.
• Psychological forces include all internal cognitive, emotional, perceptual, and personality factors that influece development. Collectively, psychological forces explain the most noticeable differences in people.
• Sociocultural forces include interpersonal, societal, cultural, and ethnic factors that affect development. Culture consists of the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior associated with a group of people. Overall, sociocultural forces provide the context or backdrop for development.
• Life-cycle forces provide a context for understanding how people perceive their current situation and its effects on them
• The biopsychosocial framwork emphasizes that the four forces are mutually interactive; development cannot be understood by examining the forces in isolation. Furthermore, the same event can have different effects, depending on when it happens.