Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Question 1

What is developmental psychology?

Answer 1

The study of how behaviour changes over the life span and how we become the people we are

Question 2

How is change demonstrated?

Answer 2

1. physical maturation
2. cognitive development
3. social experiences

Question 3

What are three areas of study in developmental psychology?

Answer 3

1. physical development e.g. body changes, motor skills
2. cognitive e.g. perception, language, memory
3. psychosocial e.g. personality, emotions, gender

Question 4

What is a change?

Answer 4

Systematic changes are orderly patterned and relatively enduring - developmental milestones e.g. crawling to walking

Question 5

What are continuities?

Answer 5

Refer to the ways in which we remain the same or consistent over time e.g. attachment from infancy to adulthood; personality

Question 6

What happens at conception?

Answer 6

A sperm cell fertilises an egg where the genes from mother and father combine producing a zygote.

Question 7

What is the germinal stage of pregnancy?

Answer 7

Between days 5-9 after fertilisation where the zygote divides and doubles becoming a blastocyst.

Question 8

What is the second stage of prenatal physical development in pregnancy?

Answer 8

The blastocyst becomes an embryo as different cells begin to assume different functions. Occurs from the second to eighth week of development as the limbs, facial features and major organs of the body begin to take shape

Question 9

What is the third stage of prenatal physical development in pregnancy?

Answer 9

After the major organs are established and the heart begins to beat, the embryo becomes a foetus. At this stage, the child fleshes out what is already there

Question 10

When does brain development first occur in babies?

Answer 10

The brain begins to develop 18 days after fertilisation and continues well into adulthood. Between 18th day of pregnancy and the end of the 6th month, neurons develop at astronomical rate (proliferation). In the 4th month, migration of cell begins to occur

Question 11

Survival instincts in infant motor development

Answer 11

Babies are born with large sets of automatic motor behaviours which are triggered by specific types of stimulation e.g. sucking reflects

Question 12

What are the factors influencing motor development?

Answer 12

1. physical maturation - allows children to acquire necessary strength and coordination
2. weight of child - heavier babies tend to achieve milestones slower than lighter babies as they need to build up more muscle to hold themselves up
3. cultural and parenting practices

Question 13

What are teratogens?

Answer 13

External factors that can damage the process of development such as radiation, infections, chemicals, drugs and alcohol

Question 14

What is the empirical support for sensitive periods?

Answer 14

1. neurological development found to occur in the first three years with extensive myelination of nervous system
2. Studies of Romanian orphans - children unable to catch up in language development

Question 15

What are some conceptual challenges in developmental psychology?

Answer 15

Early experiences certainty do matter however, humans are complex beings and have great capacity for resilience

Question 16

What are the four major theories of development?

Answer 16

1. Psychoanalytic theory
2. Cognitive development theory
3. Social cognitive theory
4. Ethological theory

Question 17

What is the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 17

Revolves around whether certain developmental outcomes are due to genetics (nature) or environmental factors (nurture)

Question 18

What is maturation?

Answer 18

The unfolding of genetically programmed behaviour patters by the environment
e.g. swaddle/wrap babies which influences babys’ development of postural system

Question 19

What is nature VIA nurture?

Answer 19

Nature can impact the type of environment children experience whereby children with certain genetic dispositions often seek out and create their own environments. Nurture provides children the opportunity to express their genetic tendencies

Question 20

What is the phenomenon of gene expression?

Answer 20

Environmental experiences actually turn on and off throughout life. e.g. children with genes predisposing them to anxiety may never become anxious unless a highly stressful event triggers the gene to become active.

Question 21

What are the three major ways that cognitive development theories differ?

Answer 21

1. some propose stage-like changes others are more continuous changes in understanding
2. domain-general account (changes in cognitive skills affect most/all areas of cognitive function) vs domain-specific (cognitive skills develop independently and at different rates)
3. differ in views of the main sources of learning e.g. some emphasise physical experience, emphasise social interaction, biological maturation