History, Theory, and Research Strategies

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

An orderly, integrated set of statements that ◦ describes, explains, and predicts behavior, and guides and gives meaning to observations.

Question 2

Nature vs. Nurture

Answer 2

Nature = stable, based on heredity.
Nurture = changeable, based on experience.

Question 3

Multidirectional

Answer 3

Not always a straight path of constant improvement
Can lose ground on some skills while focusing on others
Some loss of skills is normal with aging
Both continuous and discontinuous change

Question 4

Age-graded Influences

Answer 4

Strongly related to age
Highly predictable- when and for how long
Can be both physical (ability to walk or talk) and social (graduating from 8th grade, learning to drive).

Question 5

History-graded Influences

Answer 5

Dependent on major societal influences
Will be the same for all members of a cohort
Ex. Baby boomers, millenials, etc.
Can be things like technology, major historical events
(draft), culture

Question 6

Non-normative Influences

Answer 6

Unique to one person.

Question 7

Charles Darwin

Answer 7

Based his theory of evolution off of observations of variation in plant and animal species.

Question 8

G. Stanley Hall

Answer 8

Founder of child study movement
Maturational Process
‘genetically determined series of events that unfold automatically’.

Question 9

Psychoanalysis

Answer 9

Stages of development in which people confront conflicts between biological urges and societal expectations.

Question 10

Freud- Psychosexual Stages

Answer 10

Management of sexual and aggressive desires in

early years is very important.

Question 11

Erikson- Psychosocial Stages

Answer 11

Struggle to become a contributing member of society.

Question 12

Freud’s Psychosexual Stages Order

Answer 12

Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latency
Genital

Question 13

Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages Order

Answer 13

Basic trust vs. mistrust
    Birth–1 year
Autonomy vs. shame/doubt
    1–3 years
Initiative vs. guilt
    3–6 years
Industry vs. inferiority
    6–11 years
Identity vs. role confusion
    Adolescence
Intimacy vs. isolation
    Early adulthood
Generativity vs. stagnation
    Middle adulthood
Integrity vs. despair
    Late adulthood

Question 14

Behaviorism

Answer 14

Only study what you can directly observe

Internal processes aren’t important.

Question 15

Piaget

Answer 15

Cognitive-developmental theory: ‘children actively construct knowledge as they manipulate and explore their world’.

Question 16

Correlational Research

Answer 16

Reveals relationships between participants’ characteristics and behavior.
Does not permit cause-and-effect inferences.

Question 17

Experimental Research

Answer 17

Participants randomly assigned to treatment conditions
Detects cause-and- effect relationships
Findings may not apply in real-world conditions.