Developmental

Question 1

Define developmental psychology

Answer 1

Developmental psychology is a scientific approach which aims o explain growth, change and consistency through the lifespan.
Developmental psychology looks at how thinking, feeling and behaviour changes throughout a persons lifespan.

Question 2

Piaget’s 4 stages of development

Answer 2

1. Sensorimotor
2. Preoperational
3. Concrete operational
4. Formal operational

Question 3

Sensorimotor stage

Answer 3

• Coordination of sensory input and motor responses
• Development of object permanence
• Age 0-2

Question 4

Preoperational

Answer 4

• Development of symbolic thought marked by irreversibility, centration and egocentrism
• Age 2-7

Question 5

Concrete operational

Answer 5

• Mental operations applied to concrete events mastery of conservation, hierarchical classification
• Age 7-11

Question 6

Formal operational

Answer 6

• Mental operations applied to abstract ideas logical, systematic thinking
• Age 11+

Question 7

Features of Piaget’s theory

Answer 7

1. Constructivism
2. Independent learning
3. Linear progression
4. Unique ways of thinking

Question 8

Criticisms ofpiaget

Answer 8

1. Lack of familiarity
2. Language
3. Interactions

Question 9

Lack of familiarity (piaget)

Answer 9

• Donaldson 1984 argued the 4 stages were unable to see another persons perspective of the lack of familiarity with the situation rather than lacking the cognitive ability
• Hughes found children aged between 3.5 years and 5 years could take another persons perspective, no longer appearing egocentric when faced with a familiar task

Question 10

Language (piaget)

Answer 10

• Michael Sigegal 1991 believe children are unable to conserve in Piaget’s tasks due to adults breaking the conservation rules that children hold
• Lack of skills in verbal expression ma mask competence in reasoning

Question 11

Interactions (piagets)

Answer 11

• Some critics believe he placed too little emphasis on development though interactions
• He acknowledge that social interactions influence the rate at which children move from each stage
• However, still under played the roles of social and cultural influences

Question 12

Kearin’s prediction

Answer 12

She predicted that Aborignes would demonstrate high visual-spatial memory skills, necessary for survival

Question 13

Kearin’s results

Answer 13

• Aboriginal adolescents and child out performed white Australian’s even controlling for familiarity with objects
• Aboriginal children used a visual strategy where as the white children used a verbal strategy
• White children fidgeted and responded hastily

Question 14

Kohlberg 1981-1984 - moral development stages

Answer 14

1. Pre-conventional
   - punishment obedience orientation
   - instrumental relativist orientation
2. Conventional
   - good boy, nice girl orientated
   - law and order orientation
3. Post conventional
   - social and contract orientation
   - universal ethical principle orientation

Question 15

Criticism of Kohlberg

Answer 15

1. Developmental sequence
2. Gender bias
3. Cultural bias

Question 16

Developmental sequenced Kohlberg

Answer 16

• Cross sectional designs, therefore could not show that the stages reached were invariant
• Longtidudinal showed a followed a group of 20 of the origin participants

Question 17

Gender bias of Kohlberg

Answer 17

• Kohlberg only used male participants
• suggests females reach stage 3 where as males reach stage 4
• Gilligan 1982 suggested this was due to differences in socialisation not values
• males are socialised to be independent and achievement orientated
• females are socialised as responsible and nurturing
  Levels of moral reasoning
  1. Self interest
  2. Self sacrifice
  3. Care as a universal obligation

Question 18

Cultural bias of Kohlberg

Answer 18

• Richard shweder: babajis, an orthodox Hindu teacher

- Indian version of Hein’s dilemma

Question 19

Erik Erikson

Answer 19

• development of identity across the entire lifespan
• indentity = the enduring personality characteristic of an individual
• a series of continual conflicts
• involve the psychological needs of society

Question 20

Erikson 8 stages of development

Answer 20

Mistrust vs trust
Autonomy vs shame
Guilt vs initiative
Industry vs inferiority 
Role confusion vs ego identity
Isolation vs intimacy
Stagnation vs generate its
Despair vs integrity

Question 21

Strengths of Erikson

Answer 21

• strong face validity

- ties together important psychological development across the lifespan

Question 22

Limitations of erikson

Answer 22

• vague about causes of development
• verbal mechanism for crises resolution
• doesn’t explain how one psychological crises influences personality at later stages
• no objective way of assessment

Question 23

Bandura -Social learning theory

Answer 23

• learning is a function of observing, retaining and replicating behaviour observed in others
• modelling occurs when one observers the behaviour and consequences of another to influence their own thoughts actions and feelings

Question 24

4 key points of bandura

Answer 24

1. Attention
2. Retention
3. Reproduction
4. Motivation