lifespan Flashcards
What is lifespan?
It explains the way in which our thoughts, feelings and behaviours change throughout our lives.
What is physical development?
Changes in the brain and bodily systems (e.g. brain, body and nervous system, the role of medications, neurochemistry and genetics)
What is social development?
Changes in relationships with others and skills in interacting, involving online and with technology alongside in-person (e.g. the way an individual interacts with their family, peer/group relationships, culture and socioeconomics).
What is cognitive development?
Changes in mental abilities such as learning, memory and problem solving (e.g. alterations of thought, intelligence, language and memory.
What is emotional development?
Changes in how one feels and expresses feelings, including recognition in others (e.g. experience of emotions and expression of feelings).
What is the difference between nature vs nurture?
Nature refers to genes and hereditary factors (physical appearance and personality characteristics), whilst nurture is defined by environmental variables (early childhood experience, how we were raised, social relationships and surrounding culture).
What is continuous development?
Involves gradual and on-going changes throughout the lifespan; it is a cumulative process where development builds on existing skills.
What is discontinuous development?
Suggests that change takes place in distinct stages which occur at specific ages or times; changes are more abrupt.
What is quantitative development?
Utilises numbers to describe a change:
- usually based on larger sample sizes representative of the population
- research can be replicated
- analysis of results are more objective
What is qualitative development?
Utilises words or imagery to describe a change:
- in-depth analysis of a few participants to garner rich and detailed data
- uses interviews, case studies and observational studies
What are cross-sectional studies?
Compare groups of participants of different ages at a single time to see whether differences arise among them. However, it is subject to ‘cohort effects’ where histroical events influence developmental trajectories of generations.
What are longitudinal studies?
Assess the same individuals over a period of time, providing the oppotunity to observe age changes as opposed to age differences. However, it is subject to ‘cohort effects’ where histroical events influence developmental trajectories of generations
Change must be…
… permanent to be considered developmental. Developmental changes are a result of biological, cognitive, social and emotional processes.
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development is…
… orientated around the cognitive changes that occur as part of the developmental course. We develop mental abilities as we adapt to the changing world around us.
What are the stages of Piaget’s Theory?
Sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational and formal operational.
