Exam 1 (Chapter 1 & 2)

Question 1

What are the underlying principles of lifespan development?

Answer 1

The underlying principles include continuity vs. discontinuity, nature vs. nurture, active vs. passive, and stability vs. change.

These principles guide the understanding of how individuals grow and change throughout their lives.

Question 2

What are the domains of lifespan development?

Answer 2

The domains are physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development.

These domains represent different areas of growth and change that occur across the lifespan.

Question 3

What are the types of life influences in lifespan development?

Answer 3

Types of life influences include normative age-graded influences, normative history-graded influences, and non-normative life events.

These influences shape individual development in various ways.

Question 4

How does socioeconomic status influence development?

Answer 4

Socioeconomic status can affect access to resources, education, healthcare, and overall quality of life, impacting development.

Lower socioeconomic status is often linked to various developmental challenges.

Question 5

What is cultural relativity?

Answer 5

Cultural relativity is the principle of understanding and evaluating cultural practices based on their own context rather than against another culture’s standards.

This concept is important in developmental psychology for appreciating diverse backgrounds.

Question 6

What is ethnocentrism?

Answer 6

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.

This perspective can lead to misinterpretation of behaviors and practices in different cultures.

Question 7

Define chronological age.

Answer 7

Chronological age is the actual age of an individual measured in years.

It is a straightforward metric used in various studies and assessments.

Question 8

What is biological age?

Answer 8

Biological age refers to the health and functioning of an individual’s body systems and organs.

This can differ from chronological age, indicating how well a person is aging biologically.

Question 9

What is psychological age?

Answer 9

Psychological age is the individual’s adaptive capacities compared to others of the same chronological age.

It encompasses cognitive and emotional maturity.

Question 10

Define social age.

Answer 10

Social age refers to the age at which a person is expected to fulfill social roles and responsibilities.

This may vary significantly across different cultures and contexts.

Question 11

What is the difference between continuity and discontinuity in development?

Answer 11

Continuity refers to gradual and cumulative changes, while discontinuity involves distinct and separate stages of development.

This debate influences various developmental theories.

Question 12

What does nature vs. nurture refer to?

Answer 12

Nature vs. nurture refers to the debate over the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.

Both aspects are essential in understanding developmental outcomes.

Question 13

What is the active vs. passive debate in development?

Answer 13

The active vs. passive debate considers whether individuals actively shape their own development or are passive recipients of environmental influences.

This debate affects how we understand learning and growth.

Question 14

What is the stability vs. change debate in development?

Answer 14

The stability vs. change debate examines whether personality traits and behaviors remain consistent or change over time.

This has implications for understanding lifelong development.

Question 15

What was Locke’s view of development?

Answer 15

Locke viewed development as a process shaped by experience and learning, famously describing the mind as a ‘tabula rasa’ or blank slate.

This perspective emphasizes the role of environment in shaping individuals.

Question 16

How is Erikson’s theory of development different from Freud’s?

Answer 16

Erikson’s theory focuses on psychosocial development across the lifespan, while Freud’s theory emphasizes psychosexual stages primarily in early childhood.

Erikson’s stages address social and emotional challenges at different life stages.

Question 17

List Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development.

Answer 17

• Trust vs. Mistrust
• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
• Initiative vs. Guilt
• Industry vs. Inferiority
• Identity vs. Role Confusion
• Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Generativity vs. Stagnation
• Integrity vs. Despair

Each stage presents a crisis that must be resolved for healthy development.

Question 18

What is behaviorism?

Answer 18

Behaviorism is a theory that focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they’re learned through interaction with the environment.

It emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.

Question 19

Define psychoanalytic theory.

Answer 19

Psychoanalytic theory is a framework that emphasizes the influence of unconscious motives and early childhood experiences on behavior and personality.

Freud is the primary figure associated with this theory.

Question 20

What is social learning theory?

Answer 20

Social learning theory posits that individuals learn behaviors through observation, imitation, and modeling, rather than through direct experience alone.

Albert Bandura is a key figure in this theory.

Question 21

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 21

Naturalistic observation is a research method involving the observation of subjects in their natural environment without manipulation.

It provides insights into real-world behavior.

Question 22

List Piaget’s stages of cognitive development.

Answer 22

• Sensorimotor
• Preoperational
• Concrete Operational
• Formal Operational

Each stage signifies a different level of cognitive capability.

Question 23

What is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory?

Answer 23

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory emphasizes the multiple layers of environment that influence individual development, including microsystems, mesosystems, exosystems, and macrosystems.

This model highlights the complexity of interactions between individuals and their environments.

Question 24

What are the limitations/disadvantages of all research methods in psychology?

Answer 24

Limitations include potential bias, ethical concerns, generalizability issues, and the influence of extraneous variables.

Each research method has its own set of challenges.

Question 25

What are the advantages of all research methods in psychology?

Answer 25

Advantages include the ability to gather diverse data, test hypotheses, and contribute to our understanding of human behavior. ## Footnote Different methods provide unique insights and strengthen research findings.

Question 26

What do correlation coefficients indicate?

Answer 26

Correlation coefficients indicate the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables. ## Footnote Values range from -1 to +1, where 0 indicates no correlation.

Question 27

What are gametes?

Answer 27

Reproductive cells that unite during fertilization to form a new organism. ## Footnote Gametes include sperm and ova.

Question 28

Define phenotype.

Answer 28

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism. ## Footnote Phenotype results from the interaction of the genotype with the environment.

Question 29

Define genotype.

Answer 29

The genetic constitution of an individual. ## Footnote Genotype determines potential traits but not necessarily their expression.

Question 30

How are monozygotic twins formed?

Answer 30

When a single fertilized egg splits into two embryos. ## Footnote This results in genetically identical twins.

Question 31

What is the most common cause of chromosomal abnormalities?

Answer 31

Errors during cell division, particularly during meiosis. ## Footnote These errors can lead to conditions such as Down syndrome.

Question 32

What are sex-linked chromosome anomalies?

Answer 32

Genetic disorders associated with genes on sex chromosomes, typically X or Y. ## Footnote Examples include hemophilia and color blindness.

Question 33

Define genotype-environment correlations.

Answer 33

The interaction between an individual's genetic makeup and their environment. ## Footnote This can influence behavior, personality, and development.

Question 34

What is epigenetics?

Answer 34

The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. ## Footnote Epigenetic changes can be influenced by environmental factors.

Question 35

Define behavioral genetics.

Answer 35

The field that examines the role of genetics in human behavior. ## Footnote It explores how traits and behaviors can be inherited.

Question 36

What is a blastocyst?

Answer 36

A hollow ball of cells formed in the early development of an embryo. ## Footnote It is the stage that implants into the uterine wall.

Question 37

What is a trophoblast?

Answer 37

The outer layer of cells in a blastocyst that provides nutrients to the embryo. ## Footnote It eventually forms part of the placenta.

Question 38

Define proximodistal growth.

Answer 38

Growth that occurs from the center of the body outward. ## Footnote This pattern is seen in motor development.

Question 39

Define cephalocaudal growth.

Answer 39

Growth that proceeds from the head downward. ## Footnote Infants gain control over their head and face before their legs.

Question 40

What is the neural plate?

Answer 40

A thickened region of the ectoderm that gives rise to the nervous system. ## Footnote It forms during early embryonic development.

Question 41

What is myelin?

Answer 41

A fatty substance that surrounds nerve fibers and increases the speed of nerve impulses. ## Footnote Myelination is crucial for proper nervous system function.

Question 42

What is ectopic pregnancy?

Answer 42

A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. ## Footnote It can be life-threatening and requires medical intervention.

Question 43

Define preterm birth.

Answer 43

Birth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation. ## Footnote Preterm infants may face various health challenges.

Question 44

What is placenta previa?

Answer 44

A condition where the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix. ## Footnote It can cause bleeding during pregnancy and delivery.

Question 45

What are types of teratogens?

Answer 45

Agents that cause malformation of an embryo or fetus, including: * Drugs * Alcohol * Infections * Radiation ## Footnote Teratogens can have significant effects on fetal development.

Question 46

What is amniocentesis?

Answer 46

A medical procedure used to obtain amniotic fluid for genetic testing. ## Footnote It can help detect chromosomal abnormalities.

Question 47

What is an ultrasound?

Answer 47

A diagnostic imaging technique that uses sound waves to visualize the fetus. ## Footnote It is commonly used during pregnancy for monitoring development.

Question 48

What is chorionic villus sampling?

Answer 48

A prenatal test that involves taking a sample of tissue from the placenta. ## Footnote It is used to test for genetic disorders.

Question 49

List the stages of labor.

Answer 49

* Early labor * Active labor * Transition * Delivery of the baby * Delivery of the placenta ## Footnote Each stage has distinct characteristics and timing.

Question 50

What is a cesarean section?

Answer 50

A surgical procedure to deliver a baby through an incision in the abdomen and uterus. ## Footnote It may be planned or performed in emergencies.

Question 51

What is an episiotomy?

Answer 51

A surgical cut made in the perineum during childbirth to facilitate delivery. ## Footnote It is less commonly performed today due to risks and alternatives.

Question 52

Define anoxia.

Answer 52

A condition of insufficient oxygen supply to the body or a region of the body. ## Footnote Anoxia during birth can lead to serious complications.

Question 53

What does preterm mean?

Answer 53

Born before 37 weeks of gestation. ## Footnote Preterm infants may require specialized care.

Question 54

Define low birth weight.

Answer 54

A birth weight of less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. ## Footnote It can be associated with various health risks.

Question 55

What does small-for-date mean?

Answer 55

A term used to describe infants whose birth weight is below the expected weight for their gestational age. ## Footnote This condition can indicate underlying health issues.