Theories, Approaches & Biological Approaches / Infancy

Question 1

1. Define lifespan human development

Answer 1

Lifespan human development is the growth and maturation of humans from conception through to death

Question 2

Unit 1)

2. What is the developmental perspective?

Answer 2

It is an approach which studies the way infants and young children develop their abilities, mature and gain new skills. It laid the foundations that guide the scientific study of human maturation throughout their lives.

Question 3

Unit 1)

3. Summarize the 5 key issues associated with understanding human development.

Answer 3

i. Nature vs Nurture (child playing bubbles)
Nature - Behaviour that can be explained by genetic and biological traits.
Nurture - Behaviour influenced by the environment, including social, economic and geographic factors.

ii. Continuity vs Discontinuity (dancer)
Continuity - A characteristic/feature of a person that stays the same as they mature throughout lifespan.
Discontinuity - A characteristic/feature that changes as they mature.

iii. Developmental Stability vs Instability (chart compared to peers)
Developmental Stability - Developing the same rate as peers
Instability - Changing in different ways compared to peers

iv. Normative vs Non-Normative (Historical event/age related)
Normative - An event that matches what has sequentially or historically happened together with peers.
Non-normative - An event that does not normally happen to everyone or happens at a different time than others.

v. Socio-cultural Variation
Ethnicity, race, gender, culture and socio-economical status which affect the way an individual matures due to its implications and effects.

Question 4

Unit 1)

4. What are Piaget’s 4 stages of cognitive development?

Answer 4

1) Sensorimotor Stage (birth - age 2)
Limits: Lack object permanence
Abilities: Uses senses and motor skills to develop cognitively.
E.g: Play with food

2) Preoperational Stage (age 2 to 7)
Limits: Lack reversibility, cannot perform operations.
- Intuitive thinking vs logical reasoning.
- Egocentric thinking (unable to consider another point of view)
- Animistic thinking (all things are living)
Abilities: Has significant language and thinks symbolically
E.g: the moon follows them

3) Concrete Operational (ages 7 - 11)
Limits: cannot think abstractly, tied to concrete, tangible objects.
Abilities: can perform operations on concrete objects
- Understands conservation (things can be reversed)
- Less egocentric
- Think logically about concrete objects
E.g: Begin to question Santa’s existence

4) Formal Operational (ages 11 and over)
Limits: Adolescent egocentrism begins, personal fable and imaginary audience.
Abilities: Abstract and hypothetical thinking
E.g: Great concern for physical appearance