Issues in Lifespan Development

Question 1

what do modern psychologists prefer over the term “nature vs. nurture”?

Answer 1

nature through nurture

Question 2

define “behavioural genetics”

Answer 2

the study of the contributions genes make to individual behaviour

Question 3

specific hereditary marks a broad range of behaviours including (4)

Answer 3

cognitive abilities, physical characteristics, personality characteristics, and pathological behaviour

Question 4

list the four issues of lifespan development (… vs. …)

Answer 4

nature vs. nurture, continuity vs. discontinuity, active vs. passive and stability vs. change

Question 5

describe “continuous vs. stage-like development” (give an example)

Answer 5

series of discontinuous stages vs. process that change child in small increments (butterfly vs. flower)

Question 6

define “quantitative change”

Answer 6

a change in the amount (or quantity) of what you are measuring (incremental theories)

Question 7

define “qualitative change”

Answer 7

alter the overall quality of a process or function, and the result is something different altogether (stage theories)

Question 8

describe the “active vs passive” development theory

Answer 8

are you at the whim of your genetic inheritance or the environment that surrounds you?

Question 9

how do some theorists vs. behaviourists view the “active vs. passive” development theory?

Answer 9

some see humans playing very active role in own development, behaviourist view humans as being passive

Question 10

describe the “stability vs. change” development theory

Answer 10

are we basically the same people we were at earlier ages, or do we reinvent ourselves along the way

Question 11

list the stable characteristics

Answer 11

anxiety, shyness and aggressiveness