lifespan psychology Flashcards
three types of development?
continuous, discontinuous and sequential
describe continuous development
a cumulative process that involves gradually improving skills over life.
describe discontinuous development
takes place in unique stages that occur at specific times throughout life
describe sequential development
begins with simple thoughts, feelings and behaviours. they eventually progress to be more complex over time.
describe how quantitative data can be measured
amount of words in vocab, height, weight
describe how qualitative data can be measured
changes in the quality/type of speaking/movements
what are the two research methods?
longitudinal and cross-sectional
explain cross-sectional studies and advantages/disadvantages
they research multiple groups of people at varying ages at one point in their life. advantage is it takes less time, disadvantage is it does not control extraneous variables
explain longitudinal studies and advantages/disadvantages
longitudinal studies follow the same individuals over a period of time and observe changes as they grow older. advantages is extraneous variables stay the same so can be controlled/considered. disadvantage is it takes time.
what are hereditary factors?
hereditary factors are biological factors that can influence development
give an example of a hereditary factor
gene vulnerability. increased likelihood of developing disorders or conditions due to genes
what are environmental factors? give examples
external factors that influence development. home life, way we were raised, culture.
what is an enriched environment?
enriched environment are when all basic needs such as love and nutrition are met. good exposure to necessary stimuli
what is a deprived environment?
basic needs aren’t met, impaired development
how do twin/adoption studies look at the difference between hereditary and environmental factors.
-identical and fraternal twins compare how genes impact development (hereditary)
- adoption looks at how environmental factors impact development
why is attachment important for emotional development?
attachment is innate. it gives an infant a sense of security and allows them to feel like they have someone to depend on and have a safe haven.
what are the three types of attachment?
- secure attachment
- anxious avoidant
- anxious resistant
describe secure attachment
child feels loved. feels safe with mother, scared without, and embraces her return
describe anxious avoidant
child feels unloved and rejected. does not care whether mother is present or not
describe anxious resistant
child feels angry and confused. they are constantly terrified of stranger, and regect mothers support when she comes back
what are the three types of thinking?
- concrete thinking
- symbolic thinking
- abstract thinking
what is concrete thinking?
thought processes that rely on real life experiences
what is symbolic thinking?
the ability to mentally represent people/objects/events that havent actually happened (imagination)
what is abstract thinking?
thinking logically, in terms of general concepts rather than of specific people/objects/events
what is a schemata?
schematas are categories of knowledge that help us to interpret/understand the world
what is the process of assimilation?
the process of taking new information into a pre-existing schemata (seeing something eg a puppy, and recognising it as a dog)
what is the process of accommodation?
changing or making a new schemata based off of new information (telling the difference between a cat and a dog)
what are piaget’s four stages of cognitive development?
- sensorimotor stage
- preoperational stage
- concrete operational stage
- formal operational stage
describe the sensorimotor stage
The sensorimotor stage occurs between 0-2.
- infants begin to understand the world through sensory and motor sensations
describe the preoperational stage
- occurs between 2-7
- symbolic thinking begins
- begin to assimilate and accommodate info into schematas
describe the concrete operational stage
- occurs between 7-12
- start to think logically/abstractly
- can organise and classify things
describe the formal operational stage
- abstract and logical thinking
how is piaget’s theory of development differ from vygotsy’s?
- piaget sees cognitive development as a discontinuous process, whereas vygotsky sees it as continuous. –
- vygotsky believes that childrens knowledge is developed through the help of others.
what is eriksons 8 stage of psychosocial development theory.
- a persons personality and social skills develops over 8 stages
- a psychological crisis is faced at each stage
- the way we react to this crisis forms our personality
what is stage 1? describe its features
- trust vs mistrust
- ages 0-2
- “am I safe”
- develops the virtue of hope
what is stage 2? describe its features
- autonomy vs shame/doubt
- 2-3
- gains control of bodily functions and makes choices
- develops the virtue of will
what is stage 3? desctibe it
- initiative vs guilt
- 3-5
- asserting control, dictating things such as play
- develops virtue of purpose
what is stage 4? describe it
- industry vs inferior
- 5-12
- influence from others to be good at things
- develops virtue of competenceh
what is stage 5? describe it
- identity vs role confusion
- 12-21
- “who am I” discovers values, interests
- develops virtue of fidelity
what is stage 6? describe it
- intimacy vs isolation
- 21-39
- “will i be loved or alone”
- develops virtue of love
what is stage 7? describe it
- generativity vs stagnation
- 39-65
- cares and nurtures for things that will outlast them. wants to leave an impact on the world
- develops virtue of care
what is stage 8? describe it
- integrity vs despair
- 65+
- “am i happy with my acheivements?”
- develops virtue of wisdom
