Psychology Unit 3 Test study guide

Question 1

Piaget

Answer 1

He studied children and how they thought differently than adults. He saw children in 4 stages, explained Cognitive Development, and focused on the difference between development and learning (development is mostly universal)

Question 2

Vygotsky

Answer 2

He studied Sociocultural Theory and believed that social interactions were the key to learning. He believed that culture, community, role models, imitation, guided learning, and collaboration were imperative for development

Question 3

Kohlberg

Answer 3

He studied Moral Development and believed that not everyone progresses to the highest stage of moral development (like Piaget). He had three primary levels and six stages of moral development

Question 4

What is the ZPD?

Answer 4

Zone of Proximal Development- distance between the actual developmental level and the potential developmental level (where you are - where you need to be)

Question 5

What is the difference between the development of identical twins and fraternal twins?

Answer 5

Identical twins share 100% of the same DNA, they split in the womb from a single egg and are always the same gender. Fraternal twins are two separate eggs that both were released and fertilized simultaneously, they share 50% of the same DNA and can be different genders

Question 6

What stage is a person statistically at their peak physical fitness?

Answer 6

Young adulthood (20s)

Question 7

Explain the concept of a social clock.

Answer 7

Culturally preferred timing of events (marriage, parenthood, etc)

Question 8

Create an example of the pressure of a social clock.

Answer 8

Someone in their 30s feeling pressure to settle down with another person and have children

Question 9

When do babies begin to develop depth perception?

Answer 9

Around 9 months

Question 10

What is the critical period?

Answer 10

A point in development in which a person will best learn a particular skill or behavior

Question 11

What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

Answer 11

Classical conditioning is physical responses that are mostly involuntary, the response comes before the behavior to develop a relationship with the response. Operant conditioning is any voluntary behavior and a consequence or reward

Question 12

How does observational learning occur?

Answer 12

A person can learn by observing or watching others

Question 13

Give an example of classical conditioning.

Answer 13

Someone eats food that gives them food poisoning. They will associate that food with pain and may not eat it again (Pavlov’s dogs)

Question 14

Give an example of operant conditioning.

Answer 14

A parent giving their child money after they clean their room

Question 15

Explain the debate in development about Nature vs. Nurture.

Answer 15

Some people believe that Nature is the most important part of a person’s development. This includes what they are predisposed to like their genetics, family history, and the way they look and grow. Others believe that a person’s nurture is more important in their development through life. This includes the environment they grew up in and their experiences while growing up

Question 16

Give an example of a nurture influence on development.

Answer 16

Children becoming strong readers because their parents read to them every night

Question 17

Give an example of a natural influence on development.

Answer 17

Eye color and skin pigmentation

Question 18

What is the difference between long-term memory and short-term memory?

Answer 18

Long-term memory is the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system (knowledge, skills, experiences) while short-term memory is activated memory that holds a few items briefly (such as the 7 digits of a phone dumber while dialing) before the information is stored or forgotten

Question 19

What is a mirror neuron?

Answer 19

Neuron that fires when we perform certain actions and when we observe other performing those actions; neural basis for imitation and observational learning

Question 20

Why are mirror neurons important?

Answer 20

They promote observational learning

Question 21

Define forgetting.

Answer 21

An increase in errors when trying to bring back material from memory, then decay in a memory finally with extinction of that memory all together

Question 22

What is the difference between explicit memory and implicit memory?

Answer 22

An explicit memory is one that requires effort to put into long-term memory (consciously retrieve). Implicit memories are memories that automatically are put into long-term memory (does not require conscious recollection, individual is unaware remembering has occurred)

Question 23

Give an example for both explicit and implicit memory.

Answer 23

Explicit- remembering information you have learned while taking a test
Implicit- singing a familiar song

Question 24

How does information go from short-term to long-term memory?

Answer 24

Through the process of rehearsal

Question 25

How is information initially stored in memory?

Answer 25

As sensory memories

Question 26

What is a phoneme?

Answer 26

The basic unit of sound that makes a meaningful difference in language

Question 27

What does it mean to overextend language?

Answer 27

To use a word to refer to more than its intended referent

Question 28

Give an example of overextending language.

Answer 28

Referring to all animals as “dog”

Question 29

What does it mean to underextend language?

Answer 29

To use a word to refer to less than its intended referent

Question 30

Give an example of an under-extending language.

Answer 30

The label “dog” only applies to the family pet

Question 31

List and explain the five stages of grief.

Answer 31

Denial- the first reaction, individuals usually believe that it is a mistake
Anger- when the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue and becomes frustrated
Bargaining- hope that the individual can avoid a cause of grief or negotiate to extend someone’s life or bring them back
Depression- deep sadness over the situation
Acceptance- individuals embrace mortality or the inevitable future and try to cope with the situation