Four Fundamental Questions Flashcards
What are the four questions?
Nature vs nurture
Stability vs plasticity
Universal vs culturally determined
Continuous vs discontinuous
What is the nature vs nurture question?
Debate over which determines development
Nature - traits, abilities, limitation from genetics
Nativists/biological theorists say individual diffs from genetic code
Nurture - result of experiences interacting with environment
Behaviourists believe born as ‘blank slate’ and filled from exp
Today - argue that combination
What is stability vs plasticity question?
Development consistent or change over time?
Stability - constant over lifespan
Personality relatively stable
Plasticity - change or adapt as result of event; neurobio, behavioural, social
Attachment style stable but can change with exp - relationships
Some traits stable, come change
What is the universal vs culturally determined question?
Development same across cultures or relative to culture individual in?
Universal - all individuals exp same underlying developmental processes
Eg Chomski universalist
Cultural - development influenced by and cannot be separated from culture
Development multidimensional - different methods, different levels
Differences or product of language?
What is the continuous vs discontinuous question?
Develop consistently over time or series of predetermined steps?
Continuous - smooth growth and development of same skill, building on
Discontinuous - discrete development of new skill sets at particular stages
Argue should not be ‘either-or’, but ask why and how some are con and discon
