Developmental Psychology Flashcards
developmental psychology
focuses on the physical, mental, and social changes that occur throughout the life cycle
nature/nurture
how do genetic inheritance influence our behavior ?
continuity/stages
is development a gradual, continuous process or a sequence of separate stages ?
stability/change
do our early personality traits persist through life, or do we become different persons as we age ?
what are the stages of prenatal development ?
(1) gestation
(2) zygote - 0-14 days; 100 cells
(3) embryo - 6 weeks; cells differentiate
(4) fetus - looks human; 9 weeks until birth
teratogens
harmful substances a fetus may be exposed to (ex: chemicals, tobacco, alcohol)
what factors affect fetus development ?
nutrition, genetics, and exposure to teratogens
rooting
turning the head and opening the mouth in the direction of a touch on the cheeck
grasping
curling the fingers around an object
stepping reflex
causes newborns to start a stepping motion as they touch a surface
sucking
sucking rhythmically in response to oral stimulation
moro (startle reflex)
throwing the arms out, arching the back and bringing the arms together as if to hold onto something (in response to loud noise or sudden change in position of the head)
babinski
baby’s toes spread outward when bottom of foot is stroked, then curl inwards
what are characteristics of “the competent newborn” ?
(1) reflexes
(2) cries
(3) preference for faces
(4) preference for mom’s voice
what are the steps in brain development ?
pruning process & maturation
maturation
orderly, sequential, biological growth pattern
motor development at 6 MONTHS old
sitting
motor development at 8-9 months old
crawling
motor development at 12 months old
standing
motor development at 15 months old
walking
infantile amnesia
(3.5 years); limited neural connections
cognition
how people know, think, and remember
schema
- a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information
- “mental mold”
assimilation
- interpreting one’s new experience in terms of one’s existing schemas
- (ex: all four legged animals are “dogs”)
accommodation
- changing one’s current understandings to incorporate new information or experiences
preoperational stage
- 2 to 6/7 years
- learning about the world through the five senses
- fear of strangers
- children under 6 months don’t have object permanence (separation anxiety)
- conservation
concrete operational
- 6/7 to 12 years
- children struggle with animism, reversibility, impulse control, conversation, and egocentrism
- simple logic
formal operational
- 12 years to forever
- abstract concepts
- symbols and imagined realities
- hypothetical thinking
- advanced moral reasoning
animism
belief that all natural phenomenon must have a supernatural cause
reversibility
the ability to work backwards
impulse control
ability to control one’s impulses
what were some final thoughts on piaget’s theory ?
- influential theory
- however, development is much more continuous
- seemed to underestimate children’s abilities
attachment
the emotional bond between an infant and its caregiver
describe Harry Harlow’s studies
- used rhesus monkeys
- cloth mother/wire mother
- concluded that contact comfort was the most important factor
what did Konrad Lorenz believe about imprinting ?
if attachment is important in humans, it may be important in other animals too
what do humans have for attachment ?
a sensitive period
what was Mary Ainsworth’s research about ?
do different parenting styles lead children to behave differently when in a “strange situation” ?
what was Mary Ainsworth’s research about ?
do different parenting styles lead children to behave differently when in a “strange situation” ?
secure attachment
- children explore their environment happily when caregiver is in view
- shows distress when caregiver leaves
- shows happiness when caregiver returns
- leads to confidence and social competence later in life
insecure attachment
- cling to mothers/caregivers
- less likely to explore environment
- leads to difficulty in social and romantic relationships later in life
anxious-ambivalent insecure attachment
distressed when caregivers leave and resentful when they return
avoidant insecure attachment
indifferent to caregivers leaving and returning
temperament
emotional reactivity and intensity; style of interacting with the world
easy temperament
adaptable, positive mood, regular habits
slow to warm up temperament
low activity, somewhat slow to adapt, generaly withdraw from new situations
different temperament
intense emotions, irritable, cry frequently
average temperament
unable to classify (1/3 of children)
what can early deprivation of attachment lead to ?
physical, psychological, or social problems
who studied parenting styles ?
Diana Baumrind
authoritarian parenting style
- parents impose rules and expect obedience (low warmth)
- “ditatorial”
- harsh criticism
- children have a harder time with adversity later in life
permissive parenting style
- submit to children’s desires
- make few demands
- use little punishment
- children often become impulsive and demanding
authoritative parenting style
- demanding and responsive (high warmth)
- set rules, but encourage open discussion
- children have higher self esteem, more competent social skills, and are better at making decisions
rejecting/neglecting parenting style
- completely uninvolved
- expect little and invest little
- leads to low self-esteem in children
what are the two sex chromosomes ?
x and y
what are examples of sex hormones ?
testosterone & estrogen
gender identity
- an individuals internalized beliefs about being male or female
- evolves from combination of nature and nurture
gender role
behaviors, traits, and attitudes associated with a particular gender
who developed social learning theory ?
Albert Bandura
social learning theory
- observation and rewards and punishments are important
- body structure and genes allow for a range of possibilities in terms of gender identity
- environment influences gender
when do genetics play a strong role ?
- twin studies
- pre-natal environment
- neo-natal environment
- differences in brain structure & function
what social influence can be placed on sexual orientation ?
almost none; attempts to modify someone’s sexual orientation are rarely successful
adolescence
- transition from childhood to adulthood
- puberty to independence
- peer influence
who studied morality ?
Lawrence Kohlberg
what are the stages to developing morality ?
(1) pre-conventional morality
(2) conventional morality
(3) post-conventional morality
pre-conventional morality
before age 9, children show morality to avoid punishment or gain reward
conventional morality
by early adolescence, social rules and laws are upheld for their own sake
post-conventional morality
affirms people’s agreed-upon rights or follows personally perceived ethical principles
stage 1 of Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development
- punishment and obedience orientation
- obey rules to avoid punishment
stage 2 of Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development
- conforms to get rewards and to have favors returned
stage 3 of Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development
- good boy/girl morality
- conforms to avoid disapproval or dislike by others
stage 4 of Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development
- conforms to avoid censure by authorities
stage 5 of Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development
- conforms to maintain communities
- emphasis on individual rights
stage 6 of Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development
- individual principles of conscience
what were Carol Gilligan’s criticisms of the Kohlberg Theory ?
- male-biased theory
- said that males base their morality on abstract reasoning
- females base morality on relationships/social context
- researchers cannot generalize findings when sampling one group
intimacy
- the ability to form close, loving relationships
- primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood
early adulthood
late adolescence
emerging adulthood
- ages 18-25
- attend college/work
- may marry in mid-20s
where does happiness come from for many adults ?
working in a job that fits their interests and provides them with a sense of competence and accomplishment
Erikson’s Theory
there are innate drives to develop social relationships that promote survival (Darwinism)
stage 1 of Erikson’s Theory (trust vs mistrust)
- birth through age 1
- learns to depend on caregiver for comfort and support
- depending on caregiver, infant developes sense of basic trust/or lack of trust
stage 2 of Erikson’s Theory (autonomy vs shame & doubt)
- toddler period
- children gain sense of independence and complete some activities for themselves
- autonomy
- if parents reject children’s independence, child may question if they can act on their own
stage 3 of Erikson’s Theory (initiative vs guilt)
- ages 3-6
- children take on complex activities
- will engage more in activites if they are successful
- may start to question abilities
- develop moral sense
- feel guilty when making mistakes
stage 4 of Erikson’s Theory (industry vs inferiority)
- ages 6-12
- begin to compare themselves to others
- based on these comparisons, may develop sense of industry or inferiority
stage 5 of Erikson’s Theory (identity vs role confusion)
- ages 12-18
- adolescents begin to discover their own identity and what makes them unique
- attempt to fit into society
- find sense of themselves or “identity crisis”
stage 6 of Erikson’s Theory (intimacy vs isolation)
- ages 20-40
- young adults look to form close, meaningful relationships
- may feem a sense of intimacy or isolation based on how these relationships go
stage 7 of Erikson’s Theory (generativity vs stagnation)
- middle adulthood
- individual begins to reflect on life’s work
- those who feel they are contributing to society feel “generativity”
- those who just feel they are existing feel a sense of “stagnation”
stage 8 of Erikson’s Theory (integrity vs despair)
- late 60s and older
- reflecting on life
- if they felt their life had no meaning, they may feel despair
- but if they felt useful, they may feel a sense of integrity
does brain development stop once adulthood is reached ?
no
what is a physical change in middle adulthood ?
menopause
what are some physical changes that happen later in life ?
- sensory abilities
- health
- dementia and alzheimers disease
fluid intelligence
ability to reason speedily
crystallized intelligence
accumulated knowledge and skills
what are some emotional changes in middle adulthood ?
- men become more expressive; women become more assertive
- empty nest syndrome (parents sad, but their marriage imrpvoes)
who coined the “Stages of Grief”?
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
what are the Stages of Grief ?
(1) denial
(2) anger
(3) bargaining
(4) depression
(5) acceptance
death deferral
increase in death rate right after important holidays or milestones
