Chapter 1-Theory & Research In Human Development

Question 0

A scientific, Applied, and interdisciplinary field

Describe its interdisciplinary focus

Answer 0

Interdisciplinary: as a result, of the need for solutions to every day problems at all ages➡️ combine efforts from researchers from psychology, sociology, anthropology, biology, neuroscience, education, medicine, public health etc.

Let’s think about it!
How might the field of sociology and public health relate to each other to possibly saw problems?
-high rate of teenage pregnancy in or STDs and urban environments
-The radical change in sexual attitudes and patterns over generation

Question 1

A scientific, applied, & interdisciplinary field

In what ways is it applied/practical?

Answer 1

Applied/Practical: research about development has been stimulated by social pressures to improve people lives.

i.e. Public education (how do we know how and what to teach children at different ages)

Social service professionals desire to treat emotional issues and assist is adjustment to major life events requires info about personality and social development

Question 2

Basic issues

-Theories: what is it, how does it emerge?

Answer 2

People are speculating for centuries about how people grow and change?

-Describes-explains-predicts: BEHAVIOR

i. e.theory of infant caregiver attachment
a) Describe behavior of infants 6 to 8 months as they seek affection/comfort from caregiver

b) explain how/why infants develop a strong desire to bond with caregiver
c) Predict the consequences of this emotional bond for future relationships

Question 3

Basic Issues

What is continuous development?

Answer 3

A process of gradually Augmenting/enhancing the same types of skills that were there to begin with.

1. In the continuous view, infants and preschoolers respond to the world and much the same way as adults do, and change is a process of gradually Augmenting pre-existing skills.

Question 4

What is this discontinuous development?

Answer 4

A process in which new ways of understanding and responding to the world emerge at specific times.

2. In the discontinuous View, development takes place in stages – qualitative changes and ways of responding to the world that emerge at specific times and can occur fairly suddenly. [starting and ending point]

Question 5

Basic issues

What is meant by context?

Answer 5

Context of development is unique combinations a personal and environmental circumstances which can result in different path of change/development.

i.e. Shy vs. outgoing

Question 6

Basic issues: Nature vs. Nurture

Answer 6

Nature:

• hereditary information
• received from parents at conception

Nurture:
-physical and social forces
– influences biological and psychological development

Question 7

Facebook issues: relative influence of nature and nurture

Answer 7

– Just generally all theories Grant rolls to both nature and nurture, but they vary in emphasis.

A) Theorists who emphasize the stability of individual characteristics typically stressed the importance of hereditary (nature). i.e. Hi/Lo and a characteristic [anxiety] it will remain so at later ages?

B) Theorist who regard environment as important point to early experiences as establishing a lifelong pattern of behavior. i.e. Powerful negative events early in life cannot be fully overcome?

C) other theorist see development as having substantial plasticity throughout life – as open to change in response to influential experiences.

Question 8

Basic issues

Stability and plasticity, what are they, how are they different?

Answer 8

Stability and Plasticity

Stability
– persistence of individual differences
– lifelong pattern established by early expenses

Plasticity
– development is open to lifelong change
– change occurs based on influential experiences

Question 9

The lifespan perspective

What is development? (4 assumptions)

Answer 9

– Lifelong
– multidimensional and multi directional
– highly plastic
– influenced by multiple, interacting forces

Question 10

The lifespan perspective

Identify periods of development

Answer 10

Periods of development

Prenatal Conception to birth
Infancy & toddlerhood Birth-2 years
Early Childhood. 2-6 years
Middle childhood. 6-11 years
Adolescence. 11-18 years
Early adulthood. 18-40 years
Middle adulthood. 40-65 years
Late adulthood. 65 years-death

Question 11

Development is lifelong

Answer 11

During each major period, significant changes occur in three broad, interacting domains: physical, cognitive, and emotional/social.

Question 12

Development is multidimensional and multidirectional

Answer 12

Development at every period and within each domain is a joint expression of growth and decline, affected by blend of biological, psychological, and social forces.

Question 13

Development is plastic

Answer 13

Plasticity is evident at all ages, although both capacity and opportunity for change are reduced overtime. It varies greatly across aindividuals, in part depending on their resilience.

Question 14

Development is influenced by multiple interactive forces.

Answer 14

1. A– graded influences
2. History – graded influences
3. Nonnormative influences

Question 15

Physical

Answer 15

Changes in a body size, proportions, appearance, functioning of body systems perceptual and motor capacities and physical health.

Question 16

Cognitive

Answer 16

Changes and intellectual abilities, attention, memory, academic, and every day knowledge, problem-solving, imagination, creativity, and language.

Question 17

Emotional/social

Answer 17

Changes in emotional communication, self understanding, knowledge about people, interpersonal skills, friendship, intimate relationships, moral reasoning/behavior.

Question 18

Development is influenced by multiple, interacting forces

Answer 18

-Biological
– historical
– social
– cultural

Question 19

Age graded influences

Answer 19

Events directly related to one’s age and therefore predictable and when they occur and how long they last.

Event.                       Age
              Biological
Walking.             After 1st bday
Language.          Preschool years 2-4
Puberty.              Around 12 years
Menopause.        Late 40's-50's 

           Social College.                  18

Question 20

History graded influences

Answer 20

Development is affected by forces you need to historical era. People born around the time [Cohort] tend to be a like in the ways that set them apart from people born at other times.

i.e. Epidemics, wars, tech advancements, changes in culture (attitudes towards women/minorities)

Question 21

Nonnormative influences

Answer 21

Influences that are irregular, they happen to just one person or a few people, do not follow a predictable timetable.

i.e piano lessons as a child with an inspiring teacher; physical/emotional abuse; illness/cancer; parenthood; winning the lotto.

Nonnormative influences that become more powerful and contemporary adult development age graded.

Question 22

Resilience

Answer 22

Ability to adapt effectively in the face of the rest of development.

Factors in resilience:

• Personal characteristic [intelligence, talents, temperament]
• Parental relationship
• Social support outside family
• Community resources and opportunities