Development Lecture Flashcards
developmental psychology
focuses on the physiological, cognitive and social changes that occur in individuals across the lifespan
what are some big questions in developmental psychology
- nature vs nurture
- universal or ecological - the importance of considering social and cultural influences on development
- continuous or discontinuous
what are some research techniques for learning what infants know
- preferential looking technique = how long they look and something
- habituation/orienting reflex - gets there attention when bored - something surprising
what are longitudinal designs
data from the same group of participants is collected at intervals across long periods of times - decades, years
used to assess changes across time in development
- timely
- costly
- high drop-out rate
what is cross sectional designs
data obtained simultaneously from participants at different ages in order to make AGE RELATED COMPARISONS
t/f what babies don’t use to develop = loses them overtime
true
what does it mean to have synapse pruning
brain development process
excess synapses (connections between neurons) are ELIMINATED to improve neural efficiency
4-6 yr olds in the development in the pre frontal cortex
explain the attachment theory
having a strong emotional connection that persists over time and across circumstances
- encourages proximity between child and mother
- release of lots of oxytocin
Harry Harlow
- attachment in monkeys - 2 different moms, one = milk, one = comfort
- when scared by researcher, runs to comfort mom, only when very hungry then moves to milk mom
what is a secure attachment in children
upset when the care giver leaves but is easily comforted when they come back
what is the insecure-resistant attachment
clings to care giver
gets upset when leaves
when back, acts resistful but also wants comfort
- may act angry
what is the insecure-avoidant attachment
little distress when the caregiver leaves
avoids the caregiver when they return
explain disorganized attachment
inconsistent, odd behaviours
what are the possible factors that affect attachment between parent and child
environmental factors - if a caregiver is working 9-5
cultural factors
caregiver sensitivity - parental style
infant temperament - how they regulate emotions, interact, react to stimuli
what are the 4 parenting styles
Authoritive: high support, high behavioural regulation - responsive and supportive but clear rules and expectations
Authoritarian: low support, high behavioural regulation - strict, demanding, little emotional support - can lead to obedient but anxious children
Indulgent: high support, low behavioural regulation - warm, loving, low expectation for behaviour - prioritizes happiness = permissive
Uninvolved: low support, low behavioural regulation - emotionally distant/unresponsive, no rules or supervision = neglect
explain Eric Erikson’s psychosocial model
continued to analyze past adulthood
every stage has a developmental challenge that must be confronted to progress
0-2 old = trust vs mistrust
adolescence = who am I
easily adulthood = partners/relationships
explain Jean Piaget
focused on development/cognitive psychology but in the biological view
- darwin
- humans as a species and didn’t look at human differences around the world
*he said that each stage of development they form new schemas which are new ways of perceiving how the world works
what did Piaget say the two key learning processes are
Assimilation = making sense in their schema
Accommodation = where an experience doesn’t fit their previous schema
EX: daughter sees a cat but is only used to seeing dog so she has to update her schema to add and distinguish between dogs and cats
What did Piaget say about “Equilibration”
means that an active self-regulatory process by which a child progresses through the stages of development (when things fit into the way we perceive them)
equilibrium when your schemas match reality
disequilibrium when our existing schemas are no longer sufficient
explain Piagets cognitive development stages: Sensorimotor stage
0-2 yrs
acquiring direct info through senses
gains object permanence = things continue to exist even when you can no long see them
- reaction to action
gains primary circular reactions - moving own body
gains secondary circular reactions - moving toys
gain tertiary circular reactions - trial and error
explain Piagets cognitive development stages: Preoperational stage
2-6yrs
begin to think symbolically
no logical thinking
language skills
piaget said they lack understanding the law of conservation of mass/volume
what is egocentric thinking
difficulty in understanding that ppl perceive things differently
Theory of Mind
- people have different thoughts, beliefs
- when the toy is moved from the position without the girl knowing those who have ToM present will say to look In the place she left it because they understand that sally does not know the marble has moved (not being egocentric)
explain Piagets cognitive development stages: Concert Operational stage
6-11yrs
logical thinking
reasoning is limited to concrete objects
explain Piagets cognitive development stages: Formal Operational stage
12+
able to think and reason
problem solving
explain Lev Vgotsky
compared to Piaget
Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development placed more emphasis on sociocultural factors
zone of proximal development: what can a child do with help and what can a child do with help and things the child cant do
scaffolding: temporary support when needed and is gradually removed, teachers and tutors
