Unit 9: Developmental Psychology

Question 1

developmental psychology

Answer 1

study of how heredity and the environment influence human development throughout the lifespan

Question 2

nature versus nurture debate

Answer 2

debate on whether nature (heredical influences) or nurture (environmental influences) behavior and cognition

Question 3

prenatal development steps

Answer 3

germinal: conception to 2nd week
embryonic stage: weeks 2 - 8; embryo develops vital organs like heart, brain and spinal cord
fetal stage: 2 months to birth; other organs dev

Question 4

types of research methods

Answer 4

longitudinal: study one person throughout lifetime

cross-sectional: study collection of people of different ages in same time

Question 5

Erik Erikson

Answer 5

developed pychosocial theory of development describing 8 psychosocial challenges one must overcome in their lifetime to develop psychosocially

Question 6

Stages of Psychosocial Development

Answer 6

1. Trust vs Mistrust (0-1): decide whether or not to trust ppl
2. Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (2-3): dev independence and responsibility
3. Initiative vs Guilt (3-6): control one’s beh
4. Industry vs Inferiority (6- puberty): dev good social skills
5. Identity vs Role Confusion (adolescence): figure out identity
6. Intimacy vs Isolation (early adulthood): dev intimate rels w/ others
7. Generativity vs Self Absorbtion (middle adulthood): inspire young generation
8. Integrity vs Despair (late adulthood): try to find meaning and satisfaction w/ one’s life

Question 7

Jean Piaget

Answer 7

developed his theory of cognitive development stating that physical experiences influence cognitive development

Question 8

Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

Answer 8

1. Sensorimotor stage (0-2): infants explore world w/ senses and motor abilities, trouble w/ object permanence, symbolic thinking occurs
2. Preoperational stage (2-7): can think symbolically and use intuition but not logic, trouble w/ conservation
3. Concrete Operational stage (7-11): can think logically and do basic arithmetic
4. Formal Operational stage (11+): can think logically and abstractly

Question 9

Lev Vygotsky

Answer 9

developed sociocultural theory of cognitive development stating that social interactions, culture, and language influence cognitive development

Question 10

Lawrence Kohlberg

Answer 10

developed his moral development theory stating that one’s sense of right and wrong is directly proportional to one’s cognitive ability which progresses with age

Question 11

Theory of Moral Reasoning

Answer 11

1. Preconventional morality: right/wrong beh det by what is rewarded/punished
2. Conventional morality: right/wrong beh det by social norms
3. Postconventional morality: right/wrong beh det by personal ethical principles

Question 12

gender

Answer 12

socially determined characteristics by which a culture defines male or female