Developmental Psychology Midterm

Question 1

Define Development.

Answer 1

Human change through the lifespan.

Question 2

What period of life is Child Development?

Answer 2

Development from Conception to Adolescence.
(Infancy – Childhood)

Question 3

What are the 5 age periods in Child Development?

Answer 3

Prenatal (conception to birth)
Infancy (up to 2yrs)
Early Childhood (up to 6yrs)
Middle Childhood (up to 11yrs)
Adolescence (up to 20/25yrs.)

Question 4

What are the 3 Domains of Development?

Answer 4

Physical
– changes in body, motor skills, sensory ability

Cognitive
– changes in thinking, memory, perception

Social/Emotional
– changes in personality, social skills, emotions

Question 5

Define Perceptual Bias.

Answer 5

It is easier to learn things you think you already know. May deny things that don’t align with assumptions.

Question 6

Explain Nature vs. Nurture.

Answer 6

Is it genetics, or environment? Is it how you were born, or how you were raised?

Question 7

Explain Continuity vs. Discontinuity.

Answer 7

C: Gradual changes, more of the same.
D: Completely different in each stage, like caterpillar –> chrysalis –> butterfly.

Question 8

Explain Active Development vs. Passive Development.

Answer 8

A: Humans actively participate in their development.

P: Behaviour is an intuitive response to stimulus.

Question 9

Define Preformationism.

Answer 9

Children are fully formed adults, just littler.

Question 10

What did John Locke think?

Answer 10

Tabula Rasa, development occurs through experiencing the environment.

Question 11

What did Jean-Jaques Rousseau think?

Answer 11

Innate Purity, development follows nature’s plan.

Question 12

What did G. Stanley Hall think?

Answer 12

Normative Approach, norms, age expectations, milestones.

Question 13

Define Maturation.

Answer 13

Developmental changes in the body or behaviour that result solely from the aging process. (like a fetus)

Question 14

Define Plasticity.

Answer 14

A developmental state that has the potential to be shaped by experience.

Question 15

Define Selective Attrition.

Answer 15

Nonrandom loss of participants during a study that results in a non-representative sample.

Question 16

Explain the Cross-Sectional Design.

Answer 16

A research design in which subjects from different age groups are studied at the same point in time.

Question 17

Explain Cohort Effects.

Answer 17

Age-related difference among cohorts that is attributable to cultural/ historical differences in cohorts’ growing-up experiences

Question 18

Explain the Longitudinal Design.

Answer 18

A research design in which one group of subjects is studied repeatedly over a period of months or years.

Question 19

Explain the Sequential Design.

Answer 19

A research design in which subjects from different age groups are studied repeatedly over a period of months or years.

Question 20

Explain Microgenetic Studies.

Answer 20

A research design in which participants are studied intensively over a short period of time as developmental changes occur.

Question 21

Who is Gregor Mendel?

Answer 21

The founder of Modern Genetics, dominant and recessive genes. The dude with the peas.

Question 22

What are the two types of cells?

Answer 22

Reproductive and Somatic (Body).

Question 23

How many pairs of chromosomes does the average person have?

Answer 23

23 Pairs, 46 total.

Question 24

Define Allele?

Answer 24

Different versions of the same gene.

Question 25

What is the difference between Genotype and Phenotype?

Answer 25

Genotype is what is inherited, Phenotype is what we can see.

Question 26

What is the difference between Sex Chromosomal Abnormalities and Autosomal Abnormalities?

Answer 26

Sex Chromosomal Abnormalities occur when there is an error in the sex chromosome, while Autosomal Abnormalities occur in the other 22 pairs.

Question 27

Define Polygenetic.

Answer 27

Being affected by multiple genes + the environment.

Question 28

How long is the prenatal period?

Answer 28

38 weeks.

Question 29

How long is the Gestation Period?

Answer 29

Conception to birth + 2 weeks.

Question 30

What are the three periods of Prenatal Development?

Answer 30

Zygote (2 weeks old), Embryo (8 weeks old), Fetus (9 weeks – birth).

Question 31

What is a Blastocyst?

Answer 31

The fertilized egg that is implanted.

Question 32

When do organs and features develop?

Answer 32

The Embryo Period.

Question 33

Can fetuses effectively learn sounds while still in utero?

Answer 33

Yes! It is called Prenatal Stimulation.

Question 34

Define Teratogens and give examples.

Answer 34

Teratogens are anything that affects the growth of a fetus, ie. drugs, alcohol, disease, hormones, radiation, etc.

Question 35

When is an unborn child most at risk of teratogen exposure?

Answer 35

The Embryo Period.

Question 36

What is the best predictor of infant survival of development?

Answer 36

Birth weight, (too little, too early)

Question 36

Define Vernix.

Answer 36

White, waterproof barrier on newborn’s skin.

Question 37

What does APGAR stand for?

Answer 37

Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration.

Question 38

What is the average birth weight?

Answer 38

5.5 to 10 lbs.

Question 39

What are the six States of Arousal.

Answer 39

Regular Sleep, Irregular Sleep, Drowsiness, Alert Inactivity, Alert Activity, Crying.

Question 40

What was the main feature of Watson’s Behaviourism?

Answer 40

Habits.

Question 41

Describe the beginning of neurons and brain growth.

Answer 41

All needed neurons are present, they have migrated to where they should be, and stimulation helps increase connections.

Question 42

What is prewiring?

Answer 42

Babies are ‘prewired’ for basic sensory and
motor functions.

Question 43

What is pruning?

Answer 43

“Use it or lose it.”