Developmental Psychology

Question 1

What does ‘nature’ act through

Answer 1

sets out individual’s course via gender, genetics, temperament and maturational stages

Question 2

What does ‘nurture’ act through

Answer 2

shapes this predetermined course via the environment, parenting, stimulation and nutrition

Question 3

Define temperament

Answer 3

innate aspects of individual’s personality, such as introversion/extroversion.

Question 4

Define reciprocal socialisation

Answer 4

socialisation is bidirectional, therefore children socialise parents just as parents socialise children

Question 5

What is attachment

Answer 5

a biological instinct that seeks proximity to an attachment figure (carer) when threat is perceived or discomfort is experienced.

Question 6

Why is attachment important

Answer 6

sense of safety the child experiences provides a secure base from which they can explore their environment thus promoting development through learning whilst being protected in the environment.

Question 7

What are the 4 types of attachment

Answer 7

Securely-attached
• Avoidant-Insecure
• Resistant-Insecure
• Disorganised-Insecure

Question 8

Describe the effect a mothers return has on a securely attached child

Answer 8

free exploration and happiness upon mother’s return

Question 9

Describe the effect a mothers return has on a Avoidant-Insecurely attached child

Answer 9

little exploration and little emotional response to return

Question 10

Describe the effect a mothers return has on a resistant-Insecurely attached child

Answer 10

little exploration, great separation anxiety, ambivalent to mother’s return

Question 11

Describe the effect a mothers return has on a disorganised-Insecurely attached child

Answer 11

little exploration and confused response to mother

Question 12

How to assess attachment?

Answer 12

Strange assessment
Tests how small children respond to temporary absence of their mothers (an unusual, but not frightening experience). Researchers look at two things:
• How much the child explores the room on their own
• How the child responds to the return of his mother

Question 13

what 4 things does secure attachment promote?

Answer 13

Independence
Emotional availability
Better moods
Better emotional coping

Question 14

What 2 things is secure attachment associated with

Answer 14

fewer behavioural problems

higher IQ and academic performance

Question 15

4 stages of Piagets model of cognitive development? Age ranges for these stages?

Answer 15

• Sensorimotor Stage: 0-2 yrs – understand words primarily through sensory experiences and physical interactions with objects
• Preoperational Stage: 2-7 yrs – world is represented symbolically through words and mental images; no understanding of basic mental operations or rules
• Concrete Operational Stage: 7-12 yrs – children can perform basic mental operations concerning problems that involve tangible (concrete) objects and situations

Finally is the formal operational stage

Question 16

Features of the sensorimotor stage of development? (3)

Answer 16

Object Permanence: the understanding that an object continues to exist even when it cannot be seen
Gradually increasing use of words to represent objects, needs, and actions
Learning is based on trial and error (although errors do not become assimilated!)

Question 17

Features of the preoperational stage of development? (6)

Answer 17

Rapid language development
Understanding of the past and future
No understanding of Principle of Conservation: basic properties of objects stay the same even though their outward appearance may change
Irreversibility: cannot mentally reverse actions
Animism: attributing lifelike qualities to physical objects and natural events
Egocentrism: difficulty in viewing the world from someone else’s perspective

Question 18

Features of the concrete operational stage of development? (4)

Answer 18

Understand the concept of reversibility
Display less egocentrism
Easily solve conservation problems
Trouble with hypothetical and abstract reasoning

Question 19

Features of the formal operational stage of development?

Answer 19

Cognitive changes may help journey from the secure world parent(s) provided to fitting into world created by peers
Thrill seeking
Openness to new experiences
Risk taking
Social rewards are very strong
Prefer own age company
Emotionality becomes less positive through early adolescence
But level off and become more stable by late adolescence
Storms and stress more likely during adolescence than rest of the lifespan but not characteristic of all adolescents.