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

Outline the stages of the development of attachment.

Answer 4

0-3 months = infants prefer people to inanimate objects –indiscriminate proximity seeking e.g. clinging
3-8 months = smile discriminantly at main caregivers
8-12 months = selectively approaches main caregivers – use social referencing/familiar faces as a secure base to explore new situations –shows fear of strangers and separation anxiety
12+ months = attachment behaviour is measured reliably

Question 5

What are the two types of attachment?

Answer 5

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 6

How is attachment assessed?

Answer 6

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 7

Describe Piaget’s model of cognitive development.

Answer 7

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 8

What are the benefits of play?

Answer 8

0-2 Years Unoccupied / Solitary: He plays alone. There is limited interaction with other children.
•2 to 2 1⁄2 Years Spectator / onlooker : Observe other children playing around him but will not play with them.
•2 1⁄2 to 3 Years Parallel Play: alongside others but will not play together with them.
•3-4 Years Associate: Starts to interact with others in their play and there may be fleeting co-operation between in play. Develops friendships and the preferences for playing with some but not all other children. Play is normally in mixed sex groups.
•4 – 6Years Co-operative: Plays together with shared aims of play with others. Play may be quite difficult and he’s supportive of other children in his play. As he reaches primary school age, play is normally in single sex groups
•6+ Years Competitive: Play often involves rules and has a clear “winner”.