Introduction

Question 1

What does developmental psychology aim to do?

Answer 1

It aims to understand the way in which infants, children, young people, and adults develop.

Question 2

Name four characteristics of developmental psychology?

Answer 2

1. Lifelong.
2. Multi-dimensional.
3. Multi-directional.
4. Has the ability to change.

Question 3

What is Erik Eriksons psychosocial development theory called?

Answer 3

The eight stages of man.

Question 4

Describe the basis of Erik Eriksons psychological development theory.

Answer 4

According to his theory we experience eight stages of development over our lifespan, from infancy through late adulthood. He proposed that how we interact with others at each stage is what affects our personality. At each stage there is a conflict, or task, that we need to resolve.

Question 5

What does Erik Erickson say the completion of tasks at each stage results in?

Answer 5

A sense of competence and healthy development.

Question 6

Name four limitations of Erik Eriksons psychosocial theory of development.

Answer 6

1. Criticised for assuming that completion of one crisis is a requirement for the next.
2. Focused on societal expectations that are found in some cultures but not in all.
3. Focused on men.
4. Little empirical evidence to support.

Question 7

Name five topics covered in Erik Eriksons psychosocial theory of development.

Answer 7

1. Trust.
2. Autonomy.
3. Identity.
4. Intimacy.
5. Integrity.

Question 8

What is the basis of cognitive development?

Answer 8

Concerned with thinking – the mental activities through which we acquire and process knowledge.

Question 9

Name the four processes Piaget proposed.

Answer 9

1. Schemas.
2. Disequilibrium/equilibrium.
3. Assimilation.
4. Accommodation.

Question 10

Describe a schema.

Answer 10

Mental representations of the world. Born with a set of these. They allow us to catagorise and interpret information.

Question 11

What is Piagets description of disequilibrium/equilibrium?

Answer 11

New experiences force us to adapt our schemas to return to equilibrium.

Question 12

What is Piagets description of assimilation?

Answer 12

A process to adapt schemes. New experience fits into existing schema.

Question 13

What is Piagets description of accommodation?

Answer 13

A process to adapt schemas. Create new schemas to accommodate new information.

Question 14

List the four stages of development as proposed by Piaget.

Answer 14

1. Sensorimotor.
2. Preoperational.
3. Concrete operational.
4. Formal operational.

Question 15

What are three limitations of Piagets cognitive development theory?

Answer 15

1. Overemphasised the role that physical maturation plays in cognitive development.
2. Underestimated the competences of infants and children.
3. Underestimates the role of culture and experience.

Question 16

What does Vygotsky’s socio-cognitive theory of development emphasise?

Answer 16

That social interaction is a key aspect of cognitive development.

Question 17

What is Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development?

Answer 17

The ZPD represents problems and ideas that are too complex for the child to understand on their own.
They can be explored with the help of an adult. This allows the child to develop more complex thinking and develop more skills.

Question 18

What are two limitations of Vygotsky’s socio-cognitive theory?

Answer 18

1. Neglected the biological side of development.
2. Didn’t place enough emphasis on children’s capacity to shape their own development.

Question 19

How does Bronfrenbrenner’s socio-ecological model of development view development?

Answer 19

Views the person as developing within a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment.