Human Development

Question 1

Developmental Psychology

Answer 1

changes in physical + psychologicaly processes

conception - death

change is inevitable

age changes + age differences

(nature vs nurture)

Question 2

Developmental Psychology

Define maturation

Answer 2

biologically based changes

orderly sequence

age-related timetable

Question 3

Developmental Psychology

Define critical periods

Answer 3

periods of special sensitivity to specific types of learning + sensory stimulation

shape capacity of future development

Question 4

Developmental Psychology

Define sensitive periods

Answer 4

times that are more important to subsequent development than others

Question 5

Developmental Psychology

Define development stages

Answer 5

steps through which everyone progresses in the same sequence (discontinuous)

Question 6

Developmental Psychology

Define continuous development

Answer 6

steady/gradual change

Question 7

Research Methods

cross-sectional studies

Answer 7

compare groups of different ages at a single time to see whether differences exist among them

useful for: providing snapshot of differences/variations

limitation: don’t directly assess changes, cohort effect

Question 8

Research methods

longitudinal studies

Answer 8

assess same individual overtime - age changes

useful for: reveal differences among individuals and changes within

limitations: cohort effect

Question 9

Developmental Psychology

Research methods

sequential studies

Answer 9

study multiple cohorts longitudinally

study of group of people at one age + follow them overtime

cross sectional + longituidinal

Question 10

Developmental Psychology

Normative investigations

Answer 10

chronological age = time passing since birth

developmental age = how closely a persons physical/mental development parallels with normal developmental milestones

Question 11

Congnitive Development

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

Answer 11

children develop knowledge by: inventing, constructing reality out of own experience (observations + own ideas about the world)

Question 12

Congnitive Development

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

Processes of cognitive adaptation - ASSIMILATION

Answer 12

new cognitive elemts are fitted with old elements or modified to fit more easily

(interpreting actions/avents in terms of ones present schemas)

Question 13

Congnitive Development

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

Processes of cognitive adaptation - ACCOMMODATION

Answer 13

restructuring cognitive structures so that new info can fit into them more easily

(modification of schemas to fit reality)

Question 14

Congnitive Development

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

Processes of cognitive adaptation - EQUILIBRATION

Answer 14

driving force behind cognitive development

balancing assimilation + accommodation to adapt to the world

Question 15

Congnitive Development

Stages of cognitive development

1. Sensorimotor stage

Answer 15

0-2

think with their hands, mouth, senses to learn about world

object permanence

egocentric

Question 16

Congnitive Development

Stages of cognitive development

2. Preoperational phase

Answer 16

2-7

symbolic thoughts, thought becomes detached from action

limited by egocentrism

centration = focus on 1 feature of an object without consideration of other relevant features

fairly literal

Question 17

Cognitive Development

Stages of cognitive development

3. Concrete operational phase

Answer 17

7-11/12

capable of operating on/mentally manipulating internal representations of objects that are reversible

conservation = recognition that basic properties of an object remain stable eben though superficial properties may change

Eg: 500ml of water remains the same even when in other jugs

Question 18

Congnitive Development

Stages of cognitive development

4. Formal operational stage

Answer 18

11-adulthood

abstract + hypthetical thinking

Question 19

Congnitive Development

Stages of cognitive development

Criticisms

Answer 19

focus on rational thinkning - ignored biased, irrational thinking influenced by emotions/motives

assumption of one stage or the other = development more continuous

underestimated capacity of children

disregard of culture

Question 20

Cognitive Development

Cognitive development as information processing

Answer 20

processing speed
automatic processing/automisation
knowledge base
cognitive strategies
metacognition

Question 21

Cognitive Development

Cognitive development in adulthood - intelligence

Answer 21

crystalised intelligence = knowledge from prior learning, rooted in experience, inc with age

fluid intelligence = think/reason abstractly, solve problems, peaks at young adulthood, dec with age (speed processing)

widsom = experience, knowledge, good judgement

Question 22

Social Development

Answer 22

• learn beliefs, values, skills, behaviour patterns of their society
• way in which individuals social interaction changes across lifespan

issues: attachment/adult functioning, socialisation, moral reasoning changes

Question 23

Social Development

Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development

Answer 23

developing in biological maturation + changing social demands

1. psychosocial stages = stages in development, social being
2. development task = challenge that is normative for that period of life
   = successive task provokes crisis - achievement/derailment

Question 24

Social Development

Attachment

Answer 24

enduring emotional tie between child and primary caregiver

• proximity, security, distress when absent, not unilateral, temperament + caregivers response

Question 25

Social Development Temperament

Answer 25

**reactivity, self-regulation, sociability - role in social development** long term effects = how well they adjust to life (family, school, wider community) NEG: risk factor, difficulties in r/ships POS: protective factor

Question 26

Social Development Konrad Lorenz - Imprinting

Answer 26

**tendency of young animals to follow an animal to which they were exposed to during a sensitive period early in their lives** evolutionary adv = fed, protected, skills for survival

Question 27

Social Development John Bowlby - Theory of Attachment

Answer 27

* attachment behaviour prewired, biologically predisposed * 'emotional refuelling' * this attachment forms life long schema for social r/ships * attachment as template for expectations about future social interactions

Question 28

Social Development Measuring attachment/attachment patterns

Answer 28

Mary Ainsworth = children vary in responses to separation Strange situation test 1. _secure_ attachment style 2. _avoidant_ attachment style 3. _ambivaltent_ attachment style 4. _disorganised_ attachment style

Question 29

Social Development What affects attachment style?

Answer 29

biological - separation = distress, norepinephrine inc in infants environmental - sensitivity of mother to infant, interaction, nuturance, stimulates, encourages temperament of infant - easy, difficult, slow to warm

Question 30

Social Development Early attachment + later development

Answer 30

attachment predicitve of: self-control, peer acceptance, classroom performance different patterns of/satisfaction with interactions adult attachment patterns predict = want of children, attachment pattern of their children, coping with stressful events

Question 31

Social Development Role of parents - parenting styles

Answer 31

1. authoritarian - obedience, respect, punishment 2. permissive - no control, no punishment 3. authoritative - set standards, give/take, explain views 4. uninvolved - own needs above children

Question 32

Moral Development

Answer 32

3 components: cognition, emotion, behaviour morality = rules people use to balance conflicting interests of themselves/others

Question 33

Moral Development Piaget

Answer 33

**_morality of constraints_** = 1st stage of moral judgement, beliefs of morals being absolute, before 9, focus on consequence **_morality of cooperation_** = moral rules can be changed as long as those involved agree, focus on intention

Question 34

Moral Development Kohlberg

Answer 34

changes in moral reasoning = changes in cognitive structures 1. _preconventional morality_ - follow moral rules to avoid punishment/obtain reward 2. _conventional morality_ - define morals by standards of others 3. _postconventional/principled_ - abstract/self defined principles that may/not match dominant morals