Introduction to Child Development Flashcards
What is development? What is Structure and Function?
Any change in structure or function over time. Structure is the nervous system, muscles, and mental knowledge. Function is the firing neuron, contraction of muscle, and use of strategy. They are constantly influencing one another.
What are the periods of development?
Prenatal: Conception to birth (9 months)
Infancy: Birth to 2 years
Early Childhood: 2-6 years
Adolescence: 11-18 years
Emerging adulthood: 18-25 years
What was John Watsons theory?
Everything is experience based.
What is Continuous Development?
A process of gradually adding more of the same types of skills that were there to begin with. (Stacking on top of each other). It is quantatative (Upwards)
What is Discontinuous Development?
A process in which new ways of understanding emerge at specific times. It is qualitative (staircase)
How does formal education influence learning styles?
Industrialized cultures: learn through direct instruction
Traditional cultures: learn through observational learning
What is the Maoa gene?
It metabolizes neurotransmitters. The presence or absece of the gene determines whether maltreatment affects aggression
Low MAOA-> high aggression
High MAOA-> Low aggression
What is the psychoanalytic approach
Envisions development as occurring in a series of distinct stages. Each stage involves a key conflict that must be worked through.
What is behaviourist approach?
Emphasizes that behaviour is a direct product of environment.
What is the cognitive approach?
Emphasizes how childrens thinking changes across a lifespan
Piaget: Children are active agents in their own environment
What is the ethological approach?
Emphasizes the survival value of our behaviour. Intelligence allows us to cope with our environment.
