Development Flashcards
(165 cards)
Biological aging is due to
metabolic changes
The two types of metabolic changes
anabolism - body building to peak; from birth to about 30
catabolism - body’s slow deterioration from peak to eath
psychological aging
a person’s perception of their age
“feeling old” vs “feeling young”
social aging
how one’s chronological age is viewed within the societal or cultural context; how it is affected by vocation and SES
e.g. Asian countries - old are valued
Epigenetic
The study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself
Acknowledging the relationship of nature and nurture
Most developmental theories (Freud, Erikson, Piaget) are epigenetic
Stage theories are an example of…
Discontinuous development (vs. continuous, like Skinner’s operant conditioning)
Discontinuous development
Changes in behaviors and abilities are qualitatively different from previous or subsequent behaviors and abilities
Jumping to qualitatively different and more advanced levels
Ex: Stage theories like Piaget and Erikson
Continuous development
emphasizes small shifts or gradual, sequential changs that occur over time and are difficult to separate
Ex: Skinner’s operant conditioning
Active vs reactive theories
Active theories portray people as active in regulating or governing their behavior (ex: Erikson’s psychosocial theory)
Reactive theories, people are passive and react to environmental stimuli (ex: Skinner’s operant conditioning)
Features of survey research
Large sample sizes ( >100) are needed
Sampling bias can negatively affect generalizability of findings
Cross-sectional design studies
simultaneously examine several groups from differing levels of development (e.g. 5 y.o.s, 10, 15)
Less expensive and take less time than longitudinal studies
May be influenced by “cohort effect” - people born during the same time have similar lived experiences and are qualitatively different from those born years earlier/later; differences that are unique to their age and lead to shared experiences within the cohort
Time-lag studies (AKA ____)
AKA cohort sequential studies
Involve replications of previous studies on a modern-day cohort
Ex: Study of parental discipline style conducted in 1960s is repeated today to see if styles have changed since 60s
Myelination
insulation of neurons to enhance speed of neural transmissions
By age ___, the brain begins to lose neurons
30
The brain is its full adult size by age ___
16
The 3 main areas of the brain and what they do
Hindbrain: life maintenance and survival
Midbrain: connects hindbrain and forebrain, controls eye muscles and relays auditory and visual information
Forebrain - higher-order behavior and conscious thought
Medulla oblongata
Part of the hindbrain
Regulates heart and breathing
Cerebellum
Part of the hindbrain
Regulates balance
Pons
Part of the hindbrain
connects the left and right cerebellum
Reticular activating system
Part of the hindbrain
Regulates arousal and attention
Left hemisphere
Part of the forebrain
Controls the right side of the body
Language and writing
Logical and systematic thought
Right hemisphere
Part of the forebrain Controls the left side of the body Muscle abilities Imagination Emotional expression
Corpus callosum
Part of the forebrain
Bundle of nerve cells that connect the left and right hemispheres
Allows L and R brain to integrate cognitive, emotional, and bodily functions
Cerebral cortex
Part of the forebrain
Covers the L and R hemispheres
Responsible for memory, concentration, problem-solving, muscle coordination
Has 4 lobes