Unit 1

Question 1

What is development?

Answer 1

There are multiple definitions of development.

Question 2

What is the traditional perception of development?

Answer 2

Traditional development scientist believed development began with conception and ended with physical maturity. The scientist also believed it is positive, normative, universal, and irreversible.

Question 3

What are the propositions of lifespan development?

Answer 3

Development is:

1) Lifelong
2) Multidimensional
3) Multidirectional
4) Malleable/plasticity
5) Shaped by historical AND cultural context
6) Multiple influences
7) Multidisciplinary

Question 4

According to the lifespan view, how is development lifelong?

Answer 4

Development begins with conception and ends with death.

Question 5

According to the lifespan view, how is development multidimensional?

Answer 5

Each person takes their own individual path and changes in different ways at different rates.

Question 6

According to the lifespan view, how is development multidirectional?

Answer 6

Development involves gains and losses at every stage in life.

Question 7

According to the lifespan view, how is development malleable?

Answer 7

Development is not permanent can can be modified across a lifespan.

Question 8

According to the lifespan view, how is development shaped by historical and cultural context?

Answer 8

Development is context-specific, thus everyone will be impacted by various historical and/or cultural events.

Question 9

According to the lifespan view, how does development have multiple factors?

Answer 9

Development is caused by nature, nurture, active individuals, and active context.

Question 10

According to the lifespan view, how is development multidisciplinary?

Answer 10

Multiple disciplines are needed to understand development due to the many contexts that can affect developmental growth or loss.

Question 11

What is the primary critique of lifespan development?

Answer 11

First, it is difficult to identify what should be considered development because the concept may be too broad. Also, lifespan development is heavily contextual so scientists may sometimes overlook/ignore universal aspects.

Question 12

What is a meta-theory?

Answer 12

A set of assumptions about human nature and development.

Question 13

What are the underlying assumptions for development?

Answer 13

1) Human nature
2) Nature vs nurture
3) Active vs passive
4) Stability vs change
5) Continuity vs discontinuity
6) Universal vs context-specific

Question 14

What is a theory?

Answer 14

In science, a theory is a principle, idea, or set of propositions that explains something, solves a problem, or answers a question.

Question 15

What are the four meta-theories of development?

Answer 15

1) Maturational
2) Mechanistic
3) Organismic
4) Contextual

Question 16

What is the model and assumptions associated with the “maturational” meta-theory?

Answer 16

A plant; genes, nature, passive, stable/fixed, continuous, universal.

Question 17

What is the model and assumptions associated with the “mechanistic” meta-theory?

Answer 17

A machine; blank slate, nurture, passive, flexible/malleable, continuous/quantitative, context-specific.

Question 18

What is the model and assumptions associated with “organismic” meta-theory?

Answer 18

A butterfly; good, nature, active, flexible/malleable, discontinuous/stage/qualitative, universal.

Question 19

What is the model and assumptions associated with “contextual” meta-theory?

Answer 19

A tennis match; genes, blank slate, nature, nurture, active person, active context, stability, malleable, continuous, discontinuous, context-specific.

Question 20

What does continuity and discontinuity mean in regards to development?

Answer 20

Continuity refers to a slow, gradual process where as discontinuity refers to a more abrupt change.

Question 21

Which theory/theorist mirrors the “maturational” meta-theory?

Answer 21

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.

Question 22

Which theory/theorist mirrors the “mechanistic” meta-theory?

Answer 22

Skinner’s operant learning theory.

Behaviorism

Question 23

Which theory/theorist mirrors the “organismic” meta-theory?

Answer 23

Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory or Erikson’s psychosocial theory.

(Stage theories)

Question 24

Which theory/theorist mirrors the “contextual” meta-theory?

Answer 24

Bandura’s social-cognitive theory, Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory, or Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory.

Question 25

Which theories of development does this class focus on?

Answer 25

Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory or Erikson’s psychosocial theory.

Question 26

Which assumptions are associated with Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory?

Answer 26

1) People are born good
2) Nature
3) Active
4) Malleable
5) Discontinuity
6) Universal-specific

Question 27

Which assumptions are associated with Erikson’s psychosocial theory?

Answer 27

1) People are born good
2) Nature
3) Active
4) Malleable
5) Discontinuity
6) Universal and context-specific

Question 28

True or False:
Every person (and theory) has their own meta-theory.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

What is Erikson’s psycho-social conflict theory?

Answer 29

There is a deeper focus on emotional development than thinking/reasoning development. There are 8 stages.

Question 30

Who are two stage development theorists?

Answer 30

Piaget and Erikson.