Topic 1 (introduction) Lecture 1 & 2

Question 1

What is the best definition of developmental psychology according to Leman et al.

Answer 1

“a field of study that seeks to understand and explain changes in individuals cognitive, social and other capacities, first by discovering changes in the childs observed behaviours, and second by uncovering the processes that underlie these behaviours”

Question 2

what are 3 reasons to study development?

Answer 2

1. we can better understand differences in adult abilities and conditions by looking at their development in childhood
2. understanding issues in development can be helpful for intervention and prevention
3. To inform social policy

Question 3

what are the stages of development?

Answer 3

1. prenatal
2. infancy (birth-18months)
3. preschool (18months-4years)
4. early childhood (5yrs-7years)
5. middle-late childhood (8-12yrs)
6. adolescence (13-20yrs)
7. young adulthood (21-30yrs)
8. middle adulthood (31-59yrs)
9. late adulthood (60+ years)

Question 4

what scientific approaches are the idea of nature and nurture associated with?

Answer 4

Nurture is associated with empiricism

Nature is associated with nativism

Question 5

describe the differences between continuity vs. discontinuity in development

Answer 5

CONTINUITY

• smooth and gradual
• New abilities build on existing ones

DISCONTINUITY

• There are abrupt changes in abilities
• For example stage theories

Question 6

what is the difference between critical and sensitive periods?

Answer 6

Critical periods- a time during which certain periods are required for development to happen in a typical way

Sensitive periods- a time during which certain experiences are optimal for development to happen in a typical way

Question 7

whata is the difference between domain general and domain specific in developmental psychology

Answer 7

domain specific- mechanisms are specific to a particular area or domain

domain general - mechanisms are related to other areas or domains

Question 8

what are 4 different perspectives on development?

Answer 8

• individual differences in development
• cultural differences in development
• biological influence on development
• ecological perspective (thinking about all of the different systems together)
• lifespan perspective (what are the different influences on development in different developmental periods