Topic 9 - Human development Flashcards
Define critical periods
a fixed and crucial time during the early development of an organism when it is able to learn things which are essential to survival.
What is an alternative perspective to developmental stages?
Continuous development, characterised less by major transformations than by steady and gradual change
What are developmental stages?
Relatively discrete steps through which everyone progresses in the same sequence.
What are cross-sectional studies?
compare groups of participants of different ages at a single time to provide a picture of age differences.
What are longitudinal studies?
Assess the same individuals over time, providing the opportunity to assess age changes.
What are sequential studies?
minimise cohort effects by studying multiple cohorts longitudinally.
What are the 3 stages in the prenatal period?
Germinal, embryonic, foetal
What reflexes are infants born with and why?
Rooting & sucking - to ensure they will get nourishment.
What did Piaget argue?
That children develop knowledge by constructing reality out of their own experience, mixing what they observe with their own ideas about how the world works.
What is egocentric?
What did Vygotsky develop?
Zone of proximal development
What is the zone of proximal development (ZPD)?
ZPD reflects a continuum of cognitive development, ranging from the child’s individual capacity for problem solving to a more advanced and collaboratively based level of cognitive development.
What do neo-piagetian theorists do?
attempt to integrate an understanding of the broad stages of Piaget’s theory with an information-processing approach; an important factor in qualitative changes in development is an increasing capacity for working memory.
What are 5 aspects of cognitive decline in later life?
Processing speed Working memory capacity Explicit memory retrieval Problem-solving strategies Fluid intelligence
What is dementia?
Define maturation.
Biologically based changes that follow an orderly sequence, each step setting the stage for the net step according to an age-related timetable.
What influences development?
Genes & environment
What are sensitive periods?
Times that are particularly important but not definitive for subsequent development.
What is the alternative debate to critical periods?
Sensitive periods
What occurs in the 3 stages of the prenatal period?
Germinal period - fertilised egg implants in the uterus
Embryonic period - Most important period in the development of the CNS and organs.
Foetal period - muscular development
What are teratogens?
Environmental agents that harm the embryo or foetus.
E.g. drugs, radiation, toxic chemicals
Define presbycusis.
Inability to hear high frequency sounds
Define assimilation (Piaget)
Assimilation involves interpreting actions or events in terms of one’s present schemas - that is, fitting reality into one’s ways of understanding.
According to Piaget, what is a schema?
An organised, repeatedly exercised pattern of thought or behaviour.
What is Piagets process of accomodation?
The modification of schemas to fit reality.
What is equilibration (Piaget)?
Balancing accomodation and assimilation.
Define attachment.
The enduring emotional ties children form with their primary caregivers.
Includes proximity, sense of security & distress due to absence.
What are the four patterns of infant attachment?
Secure
Avoidant
Ambivalent
Disorganised
Define secure attachment.
Seek comfort from attachment figure.
What is avoidant attachment.
Shutting off needs for attachment.
What is ambivalent attachment.
Having difficulty being soothed.
Define disorganised attachment.
Behave in contradictory ways that reflect their difficulty predicting or understanding the way their attachment figures will behave.
Define socialisation.
The process by which children learn the rules, beliefs, values, skills, attitudes and behaviour patterns of their society.
What are the four parenting styles?
Authoritarian - obedience & respect for authority.
Permissive - minimal controls on kids
Authoritative - enforce standards but explain their views and encourage verbal give-and-take
Uninvolved - place their own needs above needs of children.
Define social cognition.
Understanding of oneself, others and relationships.
What is persepctive-taking?
The ability to understand other people’s perspectives or viewpoints.
What is gender constancy?
Knowledge that gender cannot be altered by changes in appearance or activities.
What are psychosocial stages proposed by Erikson? How many are there?
Stages in the development of the person as a social being.
8 stages.
