Developmental Flashcards
What is developmental psychology?
The study of how processes change over the lifespan
Developmental psychology looks at changes that occur from conception to death
What are the key stages of development in developmental psychology?
- Prenatal: Conception to birth
- Infancy: Birth to 2 years
- Childhood: 2 to ~11 years
- Adolescence: ~11 to ~18-20 years
- Adulthood: ~18-20+ years
- Late adulthood: 65+ years
These stages are based on Schacter et al. (2019) and Singh & Bajorek (2014)
What types of change does developmental psychology study?
- Positive change
- Negative change
- Age-related decline
Changes can occur in various domains, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
What is the focus of Piaget’s Stage Theory of Cognitive Development?
Development divided into a series of distinct stages characterized by different ways of thinking
Each stage represents a qualitative shift in thinking and reasoning.
What are ‘schemas’ according to Piaget?
Units of understanding that help individuals make sense of the world
Schemas can be adapted through assimilation and accommodation.
What are the strengths of Piaget’s Stage Theory?
- Measurable characteristics
- Active role of individuals
- Shared characteristics
- Replicable observations
- Inspired ongoing research
Piaget’s work provided a new way of thinking about development.
What are the weaknesses of Piaget’s Stage Theory?
- Unsupported stage structure
- Limited methods
- Underestimates innate skills
- Limited explanation of differences
- Emphasis on inability
Critics argue that Piaget’s theory does not fully account for social and environmental influences.
What is the main idea behind Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory?
Emphasizes the importance of culture and social interaction in cognitive development
Development occurs through interactions between people.
What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?
The gap between what a child can do independently and what they can achieve with help
ZPD highlights the importance of scaffolding in learning.
What is the main premise of Operant Conditioning Theory?
Learning through reward and punishment, associating behaviors with consequences
Developed by B.F. Skinner, it emphasizes the role of reinforcement.
What are the strengths of Operant Conditioning Theory?
- Recognizes environmental influence
- Backed by scientific evidence
- Highly testable
- Facilitates positive behavior change
- Universal learning principles
Skinner’s work laid a foundation for understanding learning through consequences.
What are the weaknesses of Operant Conditioning Theory?
- Reductionist
- Ignores innate ability
- Over-emphasis on environment
- Deterministic
- Poor account of some development
Critics argue that it does not consider cognitive processes.
What is the focus of Bandura’s Social Learning Theory?
The importance of vicarious learning through observation and imitation
Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment demonstrated how children learn aggressive behaviors.
What are the key cognitive processes in Social Learning Theory?
- Attention
- Encoding
- Storage
- Retrieval
These processes are essential for understanding how learning occurs through observation.
What are the strengths of Bandura’s Social Learning Theory?
- Reinforces learning principles
- Highly testable
- Explains rapid acquisition of new behaviors
- Considers person, behavior, and environment
It carries social implications, such as the transmission of phobias.
What is Ecological Systems Theory?
Development is influenced by a complex interplay of multiple systems
Developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner, it emphasizes the broader context of development.
What are the five environmental systems in Ecological Systems Theory?
- Microsystem
- Mesosystem
- Exosystem
- Macrosystem
- Chronosystem
These systems interact to influence individual development.
What is the concept of ‘developmental niche’ in Ecological Systems Theory?
Focuses on cultural context involving physical and social settings, child-rearing practices, and caregiver psychology
This concept extends Bronfenbrenner’s model by emphasizing cultural influences.
True or False: Developmental psychology only studies childhood.
False
It looks at changes from conception to death.
What is developmental psychology?
The study of changes in psychological processes across the lifespan.
Developmental psychology focuses on how individuals develop cognitively, emotionally, and socially over time.
Why is research necessary in developmental psychology?
To test hypotheses and develop robust theories.
Testing theories is crucial for verifying their validity and applicability.
What are the challenges of collecting data from children?
Language/cognitive capacity, attention and compliance, ethical considerations.
These challenges include ensuring children understand tasks, can focus, and that researchers adhere to ethical standards.
What is a case study in developmental psychology?
An in-depth analysis of an individual or group, often exceptional.
Case studies can provide rich qualitative and quantitative data but lack generalizability.
What are the pros of case studies?
- Allows study of unethical topics
- Tests existing theories in exceptional cases
Case studies can provide insights that traditional experimental methods cannot.
What are the cons of case studies?
- No generalizability
- Lack of control
- Subjective interpretations
The findings from case studies may not apply broadly due to the unique nature of the subjects.
What is a cross-sectional study?
Measurements taken at a single point in time comparing different groups.
Cross-sectional studies allow researchers to examine age differences but do not track changes over time.
What are longitudinal studies?
Studies that follow individuals over time.
Longitudinal studies are valuable for observing developmental changes but face challenges such as cost and participant drop-out.
What are twin studies used for?
To understand the role of genetics in development.
They compare monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (non-identical) twins to assess genetic influence.
What is the primary problem with twin studies?
Shared environment complicates the interpretation of genetic influences.
Adoption studies help disentangle genetic and environmental factors.
What are experiments in developmental psychology?
Controlled manipulation of variables to study effects on development.
Experimental methods can provide strong evidence for causal relationships.
How can researchers study infants or non-verbal children?
Through methods like non-nutritive sucking and preferential looking.
These methods assess infants’ preferences and cognitive responses without verbal communication.
What is the purpose of eye tracking in developmental research?
To track where a person is looking, indicating attention and interest.
Eye tracking can reveal cognitive processes in infants based on their visual preferences.
What is structural MRI used for?
To produce high-resolution images of the brain.
Structural MRI provides detailed anatomical information about brain structures.
What does functional MRI (fMRI) measure?
Changes in blood flow in the brain.
fMRI is particularly useful for understanding brain activity and function during tasks.
What is an EEG?
A method involving electrodes placed on the head to record electrical activity of neurons.
EEG is valuable for studying brain activity in real time, especially in infants.
What are the pros of using questionnaires in research?
- Inexpensive
- Standardized
- Easy to gather large datasets
Questionnaires can efficiently collect data from many participants.
What are the cons of using questionnaires?
- Lack depth
- Relies on self-report quality
- Difficult to design well
Poorly designed questionnaires can lead to inaccurate or superficial data.
What must be considered when designing questionnaires for children?
- Questions must be relevant and appropriate
- Design should be clear and visually appealing
- The process must be fun and meaningful
Ensuring that children understand and engage with the questionnaire is crucial for reliable responses.
What does ‘prenatal’ mean?
Pre (‘before’) + Natal (‘birth’)
Refers to the period of time between conception and birth, typically lasting about 9 months.
What are the three sub-stages of prenatal development?
- Germinal stage
- Embryonic stage
- Foetal stage
These stages encompass the development from conception to birth.
What occurs during the germinal stage of prenatal development?
Weeks 0-2: Formation of zygote, which contains 23 pairs of chromosomes
The zygote differentiates to become a blastocyst, which then implants into the uterus.
What key process occurs during the embryonic stage?
Weeks 3 to 7/8: Differentiation into 350 cell types
Ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm cells form different bodily components.
What is the role of Hox genes in prenatal development?
Provide a ‘body plan’ that ‘tells’ different parts of the body where to be
Essential for the proper spatial organization of body structures.
What major developments occur during the foetal stage?
Weeks 8/9 to 38/40: Major development of the nervous system and distinctively human characteristics
By 16 weeks, the foetus is about 15-17 cm but cannot survive outside the womb until 24 weeks.
What are teratogens?
Agents/factors causing malformation of embryo/foetus
Includes legal and illegal drugs, diseases, and environmental impacts.
What are the key factors linked to teratogenic effects?
- Timing of exposure
- Dose/duration of exposure
- Age
- Exposure to other teratogens
- Individual differences in susceptibility
These factors can significantly affect prenatal development.
What is Congenital Rubella Syndrome?
Disease caused by a virus known as togavirus, especially dangerous if contracted in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy
Symptoms include sensorineural deafness, eye abnormalities, and congenital heart disease.
What are the symptoms of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?
- Smaller head size
- Poor growth
- Smaller facial features
- Movement/coordination issues
- Learning difficulties
- Mood/attention/behavioural issues
- Weaker organs or immune system
FAS is related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy, with higher risk during the first trimester.
What is the significance of maternal stress during pregnancy?
Increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and cognitive effects
Stress can have lasting impacts on both mother and child’s health.
What historical event is linked to low birth weight in prenatal development?
The Dutch Hunger (1944)
This event highlighted the impact of maternal nutrition on fetal development.
What is the impact of air pollution on prenatal development as per Bové et al. (2019)?
Air pollution passes through the placenta, impacting foetal development
Linked to low birth weight and preterm birth.
What qualifies as preterm birth?
Birth before 37 weeks gestation
More than 1 in 10 babies are born premature, facing various complications.
What are some short-term challenges faced by preterm babies?
- Staying warm
- Breathing
- Infections
- Bleeding on the brain
- Visual impairment
Preterm birth can lead to significant health issues immediately after birth.
What are some long-term challenges faced by preterm babies?
- Behavioural and psychomotor issues
- Emotional and attention issues
- Low IQ
These challenges can persist into childhood and beyond.
True or False: Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under 5 globally.
True
Approximately 1 million children die annually due to complications associated with preterm birth.
