Me 3.1 Themes and Methods in Developmental Psychology Flashcards
Developmental psychology
branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the lifespan.
Cross-Sectional Studies
research that compares people of different ages at the same time
Longitudinal Studies
research that follows and retests the same people over time
Nature vs. nurture
How does our genetic inheritance (our nature) interact with our experiences (our nurture) to influence our development?
Continuity vs. stages
What parts of development are gradual and continuous, like riding an escalator? What parts change abruptly in separate stages, like climbing rungs on a ladder?
end-of-history illusion
A psychological illusion in which people believe that although they believe themselves to have experienced significant growth in the past, they believe it won’t happen in the future.
Stability vs. change
Which of our traits persist through life? How do we change as we age?
