lifespan

Question 1

What is lifespan?

Answer 1

It explains the way in which our thoughts, feelings and behaviours change throughout our lives.

Question 2

What is physical development?

Answer 2

Changes in the brain and bodily systems (e.g. brain, body and nervous system, the role of medications, neurochemistry and genetics)

Question 3

What is social development?

Answer 3

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).

Question 4

What is cognitive development?

Answer 4

Changes in mental abilities such as learning, memory and problem solving (e.g. alterations of thought, intelligence, language and memory.

Question 5

What is emotional development?

Answer 5

Changes in how one feels and expresses feelings, including recognition in others (e.g. experience of emotions and expression of feelings).

Question 6

What is the difference between nature vs nurture?

Answer 6

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).

Question 7

What is continuous development?

Answer 7

Involves gradual and on-going changes throughout the lifespan; it is a cumulative process where development builds on existing skills.

Question 8

What is discontinuous development?

Answer 8

Suggests that change takes place in distinct stages which occur at specific ages or times; changes are more abrupt.

Question 9

What is quantitative development?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is qualitative development?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What are cross-sectional studies?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

What are longitudinal studies?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Change must be…

Answer 13

… permanent to be considered developmental. Developmental changes are a result of biological, cognitive, social and emotional processes.

Question 14

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development is…

Answer 14

… 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.

Question 15

What are the stages of Piaget’s Theory?

Answer 15

Sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational and formal operational.

Question 16

Erik Erikson’s Theory of psychosocial development is…

Answer 16

characterised by eight stages of development that an individual progresses through as a function of negotiating biological and psychosocial factors.

Question 17

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory/zone of proximal development is…

Answer 17

…a continuum of a child’s current independent abilities in comparison to what they can do when assisted by more capable peers or adult guidance.

Question 18

What creates an individual’s social behaviour?

Answer 18

Individual characteristics, temperament, experiences with parents and caregivers, experiences with peers and messages conveyed by media and society to ‘fit in’.

Question 19

Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment is…

Answer 19

the belief that infants are biologically wired to form attachments with their primary caregiver(s).

Question 20

What is imprinting?

Answer 20

The tendency for young animals of certain species to follow an animal they were exposed to during a sensitive period.

Question 21

What happens if there is inadequate attachment?

Answer 21

Delinquency, aggression, depression and psychopathology.

Question 22

What are cognitive abilities?

Answer 22

Functions the brain uses to think, pay attention, process information and remember things.