Developmental area (Areas)

Question 1

Defining principles of the area

Answer 1

Behaviour develops over time throughout life. Upbringing affects adult behaviour.

Question 2

Concepts within the area

Answer 2

Moral development
Social learning theory
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Classical conditioning

Question 3

Which studies are in the area and why

Answer 3

Bandura’s study links to the developmental area because it explains how the environment around the child (the presence of an aggressive model) can influence the behaviours they develop (such as aggression).

Kohlberg’s study links to the developmental area because it explains how someone’s morality changes over their lifetime in an invariant developmental sequence that is universal.

Question 4

Strengths of the approach

Answer 4

Has practical applications (e.g. for parents or teachers)

Can help resolve questions within the nature- nurture debate

Question 5

Weaknesses of the approach

Answer 5

Practical difficulties of doing research with developmental area (children) (e.g. they can’t fill in questionnaires)

Can be socially sensitive (e.g. if seen as implying bad parenting)

Can be ethnocentric (as different cultures may have different parenting styles, family structures, etc.)