Developmental area Flashcards
What does this area focus on?
How early experiences and maturation are a major factor in development of behaviour
There is no single or specific reason for behaviour but focuses on its change through maturation
What is the explanation for behaviour in developmental area?
It varies because it’s focusing on HOW it develops
So methods also vary: MRI scans, cognitive experiments, observations
The 2 classical studies in this area
Bandura
Kohlberg
The 2 contemporary studies in this area
Chaney et al
Lee et al
Strengths of developmental area
Useful applications to education
Attempts to answer nature/nurture
Variety of methods and so collects useful data
Use of longitudinal studies
Weaknesses of developmental area
Research with children raises ethical concerns
Also practical concerns, since they may not be able to tell us/explain behaviour
Constrained in time and culture due to changes in time period and culture changes
Samples often small = unreliable
2 themes within this area
External influences on child’s behaviour
Moral development
Link to nature/nurture debate
Because this area considers how early experiences and also maturation (aspects of nurture) affects behaviour and to what extent the nature of the child affects this
Why is the developmental area useful?
Because if we find out nurture of children is more important, then the environment (school etc) is very important for child
Whereas if nature is more important, all that matters is basic physical requirements
Link to individual situational debate
Link to ethics
Link to social sensitive
Can be very socially sensitive if suggesting certain aspects can cause negative behaviour in children’s development eg parents
Link to being a science
Link to reductionism or holism
Developmental area vs social area differences
Developmental area focuses on how behaviour develops due to maturation but social area focuses on a situation
Developmental area supports both indiv + sit explanations but social only supports situational
Developmental area is holistic social is reductionist
