AP Psychology 3.1 Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is developmental psychology?
A branch of psychology that studies how people grow and change throughout life.
What four aspects of development do developmental psychologists focus on?
Physical growth, cognitive changes, emotional understanding, and social/personality development.
What are the two main approaches to studying human development?
Chronological order and thematic issues.
What is the chronological order approach in developmental psychology?
Studying development across specific life stages like infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
What is the thematic issue approach in developmental psychology?
Studying specific themes that span across an individual’s life regardless of age.
What are the three enduring themes in developmental psychology?
Stability vs. Change, Nature vs. Nurture, Continuity vs. Stages.
What does the Stability vs. Change theme focus on?
Whether personality traits remain constant or change over time.
What is the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study?
A longitudinal study in New Zealand that tracked people from birth to adulthood.
What did the Dunedin study find about personality traits?
Some traits remain stable, while others change due to life experiences.
What is a longitudinal study?
A study that follows the same group of people over a long period of time.
What are the benefits of longitudinal studies?
They track developmental changes, trends over time, and may reveal cause-and-effect relationships.
What are the downsides of longitudinal studies?
They are costly, time-consuming, and may suffer from participant attrition.
What does the Nature vs. Nurture theme explore?
Whether development is shaped more by heredity (nature) or environment/experience (nurture).
What does “nature” refer to in psychology?
Heredity and genetic predispositions.
What does “nurture” refer to in psychology?
Environmental influences and life experiences.
