Lesson 1: Introduction, Concepts, Theory, Methods Flashcards
What does developmental psychology primarily focus on today compared to the past?
Initially, it focused on infants and children, but now it encompasses adolescence, aging, and the entire lifespan.
What is a common assumption about early childhood experiences?
Early childhood experiences were once believed to dictate the future entirely, but now it is understood that growth and change occur throughout life.
How has the focus on adulthood changed in developmental psychology?
Adulthood is now seen as a dynamic period with continued cognitive, social, and psychological development.
What applied fields does developmental psychology inform?
Educational psychology, psychopathology, and forensic developmental psychology.
What basic research fields does developmental psychology complement?
Social psychology, cognitive psychology, and comparative psychology.
Why is the concept of lifespan development significant?
It highlights that development is continuous and influenced by multiple factors throughout life.
What are the principles of the lifespan perspective identified by Paul Baltes?
Development is lifelong, multidirectional, multidimensional, multidisciplinary, plastic, and multicontextual.
What does “multidimensional development” mean?
Development occurs across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains, which influence one another.
How is plasticity related to development?
Plasticity refers to the ability to change and adapt, exemplified by the brain’s ability to learn from experience or recover from injury.
What are “normative age-graded influences” in development?
They refer to shared experiences and changes within specific age groups, like toddlers or seniors.
What are “normative history-graded influences”?
These are influences shaped by the historical time period and societal events experienced by a cohort.
What are “non-normative life influences”?
Unique experiences, such as losing a parent at a young age, that shape an individual’s development.
How does socioeconomic status (SES) influence development?
SES impacts lifestyles, stressors, parenting styles, and access to resources, affecting physical and psychological well-being.
What is the role of culture in human development?
Culture shapes behaviors, values, and traditions, influencing how individuals interact and grow within their society.
What is ethnocentrism, and how does it affect understanding development?
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s culture is superior, which can hinder understanding other cultural practices.
What is biological age?
Biological age reflects how quickly the body ages based on factors like nutrition, activity levels, and genetics.
What does psychological age encompass?
It includes cognitive capacity and emotional beliefs about one’s age compared to peers.
What is social age?
Social age is based on cultural expectations and social milestones, such as marriage or retirement.
Why is chronological age not the sole determinant of development?
Because physical, psychological, and social ages can vary, offering a more complex view of an individual.
How are cultural changes influencing social age relevance?
Milestones like education or starting families are shifting, making social age less prescriptive.
How does the concept of age influence self-perception?
Individuals may feel younger or older than their chronological age based on physical, emotional, or societal factors.
What are the key stages in Table 1.2?
Prenatal, Infancy and Toddlerhood, Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Adolescence, Emerging Adulthood, Early Adulthood, Middle Adulthood, Late Adulthood.
What characterizes infancy and toddlerhood?
Dramatic growth, development of senses, and mobility.
How is early childhood distinct?
It focuses on language development, self-awareness, and independence.
What is a defining feature of adolescence?
Physical growth and cognitive ability to think abstractly.
What differentiates young-old from oldest-old in late adulthood?
The young-old (65-84) are healthier and more active, while the oldest-old (85+) face higher health risks.
How does middle adulthood impact productivity?
It is often a peak period for productivity in work and personal relationships.
What are the risks associated with late adulthood?
Increased risks of diseases such as cancer, arteriosclerosis, and cerebrovascular disease.
How do caregivers evolve during infancy and toddlerhood?
They transition from managing basic needs to guiding and ensuring safety for mobile children.
What is “emerging adulthood,” and why is it significant?
A transitional phase from adolescence to full adulthood marked by identity exploration and independence.
What is the nature vs. nurture debate?
It explores whether heredity (nature) or environment (nurture) plays a more significant role in development.
What is the difference between continuous and discontinuous development?
Continuous development is gradual, while discontinuous involves distinct stages.
How does the active vs. passive debate define development?
It questions whether individuals actively shape their development or are shaped by external forces.
What is the stability vs. change debate?
It examines whether personality traits remain stable or change over time.
Which theorists support the idea of discontinuous development?
Freud, Erikson, Piaget, and Kohlberg with their stage theories.
How does personality development illustrate stability vs. change?
Some traits persist, but social and cultural factors may lead to significant changes over time.
How does cognitive development reflect the continuity vs. discontinuity debate?
It involves both gradual skill enhancement and qualitative stage changes, as seen in Piaget’s theory.
What did John Locke believe about children’s minds?
He viewed them as “blank slates” shaped entirely by their environment.
What was Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s perspective on development?
He believed in natural development guided by biological stages.
How did Arnold Gesell contribute to developmental psychology?
He emphasized maturation and the genetic activation of development.
What is a key critique of Freud’s theories?
They are difficult to test scientifically and focus heavily on unconscious drives.
How did Freud view early childhood?
As critical in shaping personality and behavior.
What was the preformationist view of children?
Children were seen as little adults with fully formed capabilities that unfolded over time.
What distinguishes Erikson’s psychosocial theory?
It identifies eight stages of development with specific psychosocial crises.
What is reciprocal determinism in Bandura’s Social Learning Theory?
It refers to the interplay between individual personality and environmental influences.
How does Piaget’s theory define cognitive development?
As progressing through four stages: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational.
What is Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory?
It emphasizes the role of culture and social interaction in cognitive development.
How does Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory explain development?
By analyzing the impact of multiple systems, from immediate family (microsystem) to broader societal influences (macrosystem).
What is the role of the mesosystem in Bronfenbrenner’s theory?
It encompasses organizational structures like schools and their influence on the microsystem.
How does the chronosystem impact development?
It reflects the historical and generational context influencing life experiences.
What is the significance of observational learning in Bandura’s theory?
It highlights how individuals learn behaviors by observing and imitating others.
How do social norms influence Erikson’s stages?
They shape the challenges and expectations encountered at each psychosocial stage.
What is the goal of descriptive research?
To create a snapshot of the current state of affairs.
What is a limitation of case studies?
They may not be generalizable to larger populations.
What is the difference between naturalistic and laboratory observations?
Naturalistic observations occur in everyday settings, while laboratory observations occur in controlled environments.
What is the primary benefit of surveys?
They gather information from large groups quickly and cost-effectively.
What does experimental research aim to determine?
Causal relationships between variables.
How does longitudinal research differ from cross-sectional research?
Longitudinal studies track the same participants over time, while cross-sectional studies compare different groups at one point in time.
What is the purpose of sequential research designs?
To combine the strengths of longitudinal and cross-sectional designs, reducing limitations like cohort effects.
Why is ethical consideration crucial in developmental research?
To ensure participant well-being, informed consent, confidentiality, and protection from harm.
Compare the main goals of descriptive developmental research questions with explanatory developmental research questions
Demonstrate change vs stability questions.
Demonstrate the difference between active and passive development.
Illustrate an example of correlation in developmental psychology.
