Intro to Lifespan Development

Question 1

what is developmental psychology also know as? (2)

Answer 1

human development or lifespan development

Question 2

what is developmental psychology (the ______ study of….)

Answer 2

the scientific study of ways in which people change, as well as stay the same from conception to death

Question 3

the field of developmental science is … (3)

Answer 3

scientific, applied and interdisciplinary

Question 4

development is multi________ (4)

Answer 4

multidirectional, multidisciplinary, multi-contextual and multidimensional- physical, cognitive and psychosocial

Question 5

development is ________ and characterized by ____________

Answer 5

lifelong, plasticity

Question 6

list the three influences of the lifespan perspective

Answer 6

normative age-graded, normative history-graded and non-normative life influences

Question 7

define non-normative age-graded influences

Answer 7

influences that are linked to age and experience by most adults as they grow older

Question 8

define the “biological clock” (include which influence it falls under)

Answer 8

patterns of change over adulthood in health and physical functioning (normative age-graded)

Question 9

define the “social clock” (include which influence it falls under)

Answer 9

patterns of change over adulthood in social roles: time schedule of the normal sequence of adult life experience (normative age-graded)

Question 10

define “ageism” (include which influence it falls under)

Answer 10

discrimination against those are in a later (or earlier) period of adulthood (normative age-graded)

Question 11

define normative history graded influences

Answer 11

effects connected to historical events and conditions that are experienced by everyone within a culture at that time

Question 12

define “cultures” (think in terms of development)

Answer 12

large social environment in which development takes place

Question 13

define “cohort” (which influence is this a part of?)

Answer 13

group of people who share a common historical experience at the same stage of life (normative history graded)

Question 14

define what “non-normative life events” are

Answer 14

aspects that influence one’s life that are unique to the individual

Question 15

context if a broad term that includes ….

Answer 15

all the settings in which development occurs

Question 16

children develop in how many and in which contexts?

Answer 16

(4) family, schools ,community and culture

Question 17

define “socioeconomic status”

Answer 17

a way to identify families and households based on their shared levels of education, income and occupation

Question 18

define “poverty level”

Answer 18

an income amount established by the federal government that is based on a set of income thresholds that vary by family size

Question 19

define “ethnocentrism”

Answer 19

the belief that our own culture is superior

Question 20

when does ethnocentrism become a road block?

Answer 20

when it inhibits understanding of cultural practices from other societies

Question 21

define “cultural relativity”

Answer 21

an appreciation for cultural differences and the understanding that cultural practices are best understood from the standpoint of that particular culture

Question 22

list the four ways that school helps in development

Answer 22

academic skills: reading, writing and arithmetic. prepare for higher education, prepare for entry into the workforce, and civic socialization

Question 23

list four characteristics of the community in which children live can impact development

Answer 23

quality of schools, neighbourhood safety economic adversity and environmental pollutants

Question 24

define “lifespan”

Answer 24

(or longevity) refers to the length of time a species can exist under the most optimal conditions

Question 25

define “life expectancy”

Answer 25

the predicted number of years a person born in a particular time period can reasonably expect to

Question 26

define “chronological age”

Answer 26

based on the number of years since your birth

Question 27

define “biological age”

Answer 27

how quickly the body is aging

Question 28

define “psychological age”

Answer 28

our psychologically adaptive capacity compared to others of our chronological age

Question 29

define “social age”

Answer 29

based on the social norms of our culture and the expectations our culture has for people of our age group