Human Growth and Development, Chapter One

Question 1

What are the steps in the Scientific Method?

Answer 1

1. Begin with a theory
2. Develop a hypothesis
3. Test the hypothesis
4. Draw conclusions
5. Report the results

Question 2

What is Nature vs. Nurture?

Answer 2

Nature refers to the influence of genes, whereas Nurture refers to environmental influences beginning the health and diet of the embryo’s mother

Question 3

What are the critical and sensitive periods of development?

Answer 3

The critical period is the time when things MUST occur for normal development. The sensitive period is when a particular development occurs most easily.

Question 4

What is the difference-equals-deficit error?

Answer 4

The mistaken belief that a deviation from some norm is necessarily inferior to behavior or characteristics that meet the standard.

Essentially, the belief that someone is inferior if they are different.

Question 5

What is a cohort?

Answer 5

A cohort is a group defined by its member’s shared age (born within a few years from one another).

Question 6

What defines a person’s socioeconomic status (SES)?

Answer 6

SES reflects a person’s income, wealth, occupation, education, and place of residence.

Question 7

What constitutes an ethic group?

Answer 7

People whose ancestors were born in the same region and who often share a language, culture, and religion

Question 8

What is a social construction?

Answer 8

An idea that is based on shared perceptions, not on objective reality. A social construct is an idea created by the larger society such as “yuppie”

Question 9

What does epigenetic mean?

Answer 9

Epigenetic refers to the effects of environmental forces on the expression of an individual’s or a species’, genetic inheritance.

Question 10

What does it mean when development is referred to as being “plastic”?

Answer 10

The term “plasticity” refers to the molding of human traits while still allowing for individuals to maintain a certain durability of identity.

Question 11

What are mirror neurons?

Answer 11

Mirror Neurons are cells in an observer’s brain that respond to an action performed by someone else in the same way they would if the observer had actually performed the action themselves.

Question 12

What is the Psychoanalytic theory?

Answer 12

Psychoanalytic theory is a theory of human development developed by Sigmund Freud that holds that irrational, unconscious drives and motives, often originating in childhood, underlie human behavior.

Question 13

What are the five (5) “stages” of Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory?

Answer 13

Birth to 1 year: Oral Stage
1-3 years: Anal Stage
3-6 years: Phallic Stage
6-11 years: Latency
Adolescence: Genital Stage
Adulthood: continuance of Genital Stage

Question 14

What is the Oral Stage of Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory?

Answer 14

Birth to 1 year: The oral stage focuses on the lips, tongue, and gums as areas of pleasurable sensations in infants. Sucking and feeding are the most stimulating activities.

Question 15

What is the Anal Stage of Freud’s

Psychoanalytic Theory?

Answer 15

1-3 years: The anus is the focus of pleasurable sensations, and toilet training is the most important activity.

Question 16

What is the Phallic Stage of Freud’s

Psychoanalytic Theory?

Answer 16

3-6 years: The phallus (penis) is the most important body part. Boys are proud of their penises; girls wonder why they do not have one.

Question 17

What is the Latency section in Freud’s

Psychoanalytic Theory?

Answer 17

6-11 years: Not really a stage, latency is an interlude during which sexual needs are quiet and children put psychic energy into conventional activities like schoolwork and sports.

Question 18

What is the Genital Stage of Freud’s

Psychoanalytic Theory?

Answer 18

Adolescence through adulthood: The genitals are the focus of pleasurable sensations, and the young person seeks sexual stimulation and satisfaction in heterosexual relationships.

Question 19

What is behaviorism?

Answer 19

Behaviorism is a theory of human development that studies observable behavior. It is also called “learning theory,” because it describes the laws and processes by which behavior is learned.

Question 20

What are the eight (8) stages in Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial theory?

Answer 20

Birth-1 year: Trust vs. Mistrust
1-3 years: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
3-6 years: Initiative vs. Guilt
6-11 years: Industry vs. Inferiority
Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation
Adulthood (cont.): Generativity vs. Stagnation
Adulthood (cont.): Integrity vs. Despair

Question 21

What is conditioning?

Answer 21

Conditioning is the process by which a response becomes linked to a particular stimuli.

Question 22

What are the two types of conditioning?

Answer 22

Classical: Also called “respondent conditioning,” classical conditioning refers to the process in which an animal or person learns to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus.

Operant: Also called “instrumental conditioning,” operant conditioning refers to when an animal or person performs an action and a response occurs.

Question 23

What is reinforcement?

Answer 23

Reinforcement refers to any consequence that follows a behavior and makes the person or animal likely to repeat that behavior.

Question 24

What is social learning theory?

Answer 24

Social learning theory is an extension of behaviorism that emphasizes the influence that other people have over a person’s behavior. Even without reinforcement, every individual learns through observation and imitation of other people.

Question 25

Who is the most famous cognitive theorist?

Answer 25

Jean Paiget

Question 26

What are the four (4) steps in Paiget’s periods of cognitive development?

Answer 26

Birth to 2 years: Sensorimotor
2-6 years: Preoperational
6-11 years: Concrete Operational
12 years through adulthood: Formal Operational

Question 27

What is the difference between assimilation and accommodation?

Answer 27

In assimilation new ideas are interpreted to fit into an individual’s existing mindset. (change the world)

In accommodation an individual’s existing mindset is restructured to include new experiences. (change self)