Unit 1 Flashcards
What is a theory?
A theory is an orderly, integrated set of statements that describes, explain, and predict behaviour.
What are theories vital for?
- They provide organising frameworks for our observation of people. They guide and give meaning to what we see.
- Theories are verified by research provide a sound basis for practical action.
how do theories differ from opinions and beliefs?
Theories are influenced by cultural values and beliefs but differ in an important way from opinions and beliefs because the existence of the theory depends on scientific verification.
Does the study of development provide an ultimate truth?
No
What does the continuous view of development suggest?
that development is a gradual process of augmenting the same type of skills present from the beginning
How does the continuous view describe the difference between immature and mature individuals?
the difference between immature and mature individuals is just a matter of how many skills they have or how complex those skills are
How are changes in development described, in the continuous view?
gradual and cumulative
What does the discontinuous view of development suggest?
that infants and children have unique ways of thinking, feeling and behaving, different from adults
According to the discontinuous view, how does development occur?
in distinct stages, with new ways of understanding and responding emerging at specific times
What is a key concept of the discontinuous view?
Development takes place in stages.
How can we define the stages from the discontinuous development?
qualitative changes in thinking, feeling, and behaving that characterize specific periods of development
In the discontinuous view, when do new behaviors and understanding emerge?
at specific times in life, as part of developmental stages
What do stage theorists assume?
that people everywhere follow the same sequence of development.
How has the field of human development changed over time?
it has become more aware that children and adults live in distinct contexts
How do contemporary theorists view development?
as shaped by many-layered and complex contexts
What factors do contemporary theorists consider on the personal side of development?
heredity and biological makeup
What factors do contemporary theorists consider on the environmental side of development?
immediate settings, like home, school and neighborhood, as well as remote circumstances like community resources & social values
How do people interact with the context in which they develop, according to contemporary theorists?
both affected by and contribute to the context of their development
What do contemporary theorists emphasize about culture in development?
cultural diversity and its impact on development
What does nature refer to in development?
Nature refers to the hereditary information we receive from our parents at the moment of conception
What does nurture encompass in development?
Nurture includes the complex forces of the physical and social world that influence our biological makeup and psychological experiences before and after birth
How do theories view the roles of nature and nurture?
All theories grant roles to both, but vary in their emphasis. This affects how they explain individual differences
What is the concept of stability in developmental theories?
Stability theorists emphasize that individuals who are high or low in a characteristic will remain so later in life.
-> early experiences establish lifelong pattern of behavior
What is the plasticity view in developmental theories?
Plasticity theorists believe that development has substantial plasticity throughout life
-> open to change in response to influential experiences
What was widely assumed in the first half of the twentieth century?
that development stopped at adolescence
what are infancy, childhood, adulthood and aging each viewed as?
Infancy and childhood: periods of rapid transformation
adulthood: plateau
aging: period of decline
why is the average life expectancy increasing?
because of improvements in nutrition, sanitation and medical knowledge
What does the lifespan perspective contain?
it contains four assumptions about what development is
What are the four assumptions of the lifespan perspective?
Development is..
- Lifelong
- Multidimensional and multidirectional
- highly plastic
- affected by multiple interacting forces