Developmental Psychology

Question 1

Define nature and nurture.

Answer 1

Nature – sets out their course via gender, genetics, temperament and maturational stages
Nurture – shapes this predetermined course via the environment, parenting, stimulation and nutrition

Question 2

Define temperament.

Answer 2

Innate aspects of an individual’s personality, such as introversion/extroversion

Question 3

What is reciprocal socialisation?

Answer 3

Socialisation is bidirectional, children socialise parents as much as parents socialise children

Question 4

What are the two types of attachment?

Answer 4

Secure attachment – the baby freely explores the room and shows happiness on mother’s return
Insecure attachment – little exploration and little emotional response to mother

Question 5

How is attachment assessed?

Answer 5

Ainsworth’s strange situation test - it tests how babies and young children respond to the temporary absence of their mother
It is interested in two things:
 How much the child explores the room on their own
 How the child responds to the return of the mothe

Question 6

Describe Piaget’s model of cognitive development.

Answer 6

Sensorimotor stage (0-2 years)
 Infants understand the world primarily through sensory experiences and physical (motor) interactions with objects
Preoperational stage (2-7 years)
 World is represented symbolically through words and mental images
 There is no understanding of basic mental operations or rules
Concrete operational stage (7-12 years)
 Children can perform basic mental operations concerning problems that involve tangible (concrete) objects and situations

Question 7

Define attachment

Answer 7

the strong emotional bond that develops between children and their primary caregivers over the first few years of life that enhances our adjustment throughout our lives

Question 8

Describe the assessment of attachment

Answer 8

(Ainsworth’s strange situation test)

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

Question 9

What are the consequences of secure and insecure attachment?

Answer 9

Secure attachments formed in early infancy are a protective factor leading to resilience throughout the life span

Insecure attachments place the individual at risk but are not causative for later problems.

Question 10

Outline the stages of Piaget’s model of cognitive development

Answer 10

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