Developmental Psychology Flashcards
1
Q
What is Developmental Psychology?
A
- Studies changes in behaviour and mental process over time
-Considers the influence of culture, circumstances, and experiences on development
2
Q
What are some Methods of Studying Development?
A
- Cross-sectional design: Studies different age groups at a single point in time.
- Longitudinal study: Follows one group of participants over time.
- Cohort-sequential design: Combines cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches.
3
Q
Genetics and Prenatal Development:
A
- Genes, chromosomes, alleles, genotype, and phenotype influence traits.
- Prenatal development stages: germinal, embryonic, and fetal.
- Teratogens are external agents that can harm the embryo or fetus.
4
Q
Infancy and Childhood (Physical Development):
A
- Patterns of physical growth: proximodistal and cephalocaudal.
- Brain development involves synapse formation, synaptic pruning, and myelination.
- Senses develop at different rates, with vision being the least developed at birth.
- Reflexes are innate automatic reactions to stimulation.
- Changes in body size and muscle-fat makeup occur throughout infancy and childhood.
- Gross motor skills improve with age, with changes in balance and coordination.
5
Q
Heredity and Prenatal Development:
A
- Genes are the basic building blocks of biological inheritance, carried in DNA.
- Chromosomes contain DNA and occur in pairs.
- Dominant and recessive traits are inherited through alleles.
- Prenatal development progresses through germinal, embryonic, and fetal stages.
6
Q
Agents Crossing the Placenta:
A
- Teratogens are external agents that can harm the embryo or fetus.
- Examples include drugs, viruses, alcohol, and caffeine.
7
Q
Attachment Theory:
A
- Attachment measured using the strange situation test.
- Securely attached: Use caregiver as a secure base, upset when caregiver leaves but quickly soothed upon return.
- Insecure attachment types: Avoidant, anxious-ambivalent, disorganized-disoriented.
- Attachment style models future relationships.
8
Q
Causes of Insecure Attachment:
A
- Sensitive caregiving promotes secure attachment.
- Insecure attachment linked to abusive, neglectful, or erratic parenting.
- Child’s temperament and family stress also play roles.
9
Q
Attachment Style and Romantic Relationships:
A
- Adults with secure attachment styles are more satisfied with relationships.
- People tend to end up with partners of similar attachment styles.
- Different attachment styles affect marriage rates and satisfaction.
10
Q
Adolescence:
A
- Puberty marks the transition to adulthood, with changes in primary and secondary sex characteristics.
- Timing of puberty varies, impacting social experiences and behavior.
- Most teenagers experience positive development despite common challenges.
- Cognitive development includes formal operational thinking and adolescent egocentrism.
11
Q
Moral Developmental in Adolescence:
A
- Kohlberg’s stages of moral development: preconventional, conventional, postconventional.
- Gilligan’s theory emphasizes gender differences in moral reasoning.
- Moral reasoning does not always lead to moral behavior.
12
Q
Erikson’s Stages of Development:
A
- Erikson’s theory spans the lifespan with stages focusing on different psychosocial conflicts.
- Each stage involves resolving a conflict that influences future development.
13
Q
Approaches to Adult Development
A
- Stage theories are no longer used; adult development involves multiple factors
- Stability in personality traits with some developmental trends over time
14
Q
Physical and Cognitive Changes in Adulthood:
A
- Physical changes include wrinkles, weight changes, and declines in vision and hearing.
- Cognitive changes include slower information processing and memory decline.
15
Q
Theories of Aging:
A
- Cellular clock theory, wear-and-tear theory, and free radical theory all contribute to aging.
- Aging is likely influenced by multiple factors.
