Midterm #1 - Ch.1 Lifespan Theories Flashcards
development
- pattern of movement/change
- starts at conception and continues throughout the lifespan
life expectancy
average number of years that a person born in a particular year can expect to live
when did most of the gains in life expectancy occur?
1921-1951
life span perspective
- development is lifelong
- biological, sociocultural, and individual
plastic
the capacity for change
context
- the setting in which development happens
- influenced by historical, economic, social, and cultural factors
normative age-graded influence
- common
- same thing happens to everyone at that age
normative history-graded influence
- generational
- ie. covid
normative life events
- specific to individual
- ie. death of a loved one
culture
behaviour patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a group passed on through generations
cross cultural studies
- compare across cultures
- info about similarity of child development
biological processes
- changes in physical nature
- environment affects gene expression
cognitive processes
- changes in an individuals thoughts, intelligence, or language
socioemotional processes
- changes in an individuals relationship with other people, emotions, and personality
chronological age
years since birth
biological age
- health, functional capacities of organs
- younger bio = live longer
psychological age
- adaptive capacities
- flexibility, motivation, positive personality
social age
- connectedness with others and social roles
- better social relationship = happier and live longer
normal aging pattern
- most people
- peak functioning at middle age
pathological aging pattern
- greater than average decline
- mild cognitive impairment in early old age
successful aging pattern
- positive physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development maintained longer
stability vs change
- debate about the degree to which early traits and characteristics persist through life or change
- stability: heredity and early life experiences
- change: later experiences
scientific method steps
- conceptualize problem or process to study
- collect research info
- analyze data
- conclusions
psychoanalytical theory
- unconscious mind and development
- behaviour = surface characteristic
cognitive theory
- stages in development
- development is age related
- Piaget and Vygotsky
behavioural and cognitive theory
- behaviours learned through interactions with surroundings
- rewards and punishments
- observational learning
ethological theory
study of behaviour of animals in natural habitat
humanist theory
- holistic
- self improvement and intrinsic motivators
positive psychology
happiness can facilitate growth and development
neuroscience and neuroplasticity
- formation of patterns in the brain triggered by events
- brain connects experiences with neurotransmitters
evolutionary theories
- natural selection and survival of the fittest
observational research
- systematic
- control some factors
an eclectic theoretical orientation
approach that selects and uses the best parts of multiple theories
survey/interview research
- ask directly or self report
- should be clear and unbiased
descriptive research
- observe and record behaviour
correlational research
- relation between 2 or more events or characteristics
- predictions
experimental research
- carefully regulated factors believed to influence behaviours being studied
cross-sectional research
compares individuals of different ages
longitudinal
same individuals studied over a long period of time
8 periods of development
- prenatal
- infancy
- childhood
- adolescence
- early adulthood
- middle adulthood
- late adulthood
