Introduction to Developmental Science Flashcards
The Foundations of Development Psychology (49 cards)
What is the main focus of developmental science?
How and why people change over their lifespan.
Besides scientific curiosity, what has significantly driven the study of development?
Social pressures to improve people’s lives and solve practical problems.
Give an example of how social pressures about education influenced the study of development.
The beginning of public education led to a demand for knowledge about how to teach children of different ages.
Why is the field of developmental science considered interdisciplinary?
It involves the combined efforts of researchers and professionals from many different fields of study (e.g., psychology, sociology, education, medicine).
Define the term “theory” in the context of psychology.
An structured set of ideas that describes, explains and predicts human behaviour and mental processes
How does a scientific theory differ from a mere opinion or belief?
A theory’s continued existence depends on scientific verification through testing and replication of findings.
Why does the study of development often involve multiple theories?
Humans are complex and change in many ways; different theories help us understand these various aspects, and researchers learn by comparing them.
Name the three basic issues on which theories of human development often take a stand.
- Continuous vs. Discontinuous Development.
- One Course vs. Many Courses of Development.
- Nature vs. Nurture.
What is the central question in the “Continuous or Discontinuous Development?” issue?
Continuity refers to the view that development is a gradual, continuous process. Discontinuity refers to the view that development occurs in a series of distinct stages
Describe the “continuous development” perspective and give an example
Continuous development is a gradual process where infants and adults differ mainly in the amount or complexity of their skills or characteristics. i.e Growth happens gradually & consistently throughout a person’s lifespan
Example: A child’s physical growth, where they gradually add inches to their height year after year.
Describe the “discontinuous development” perspective.
Development occurs in distinct stages, where infants and children have unique ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving different from adults. i.e Individuals move through identifiable, non-overlapping phases of growth, with significant changes occurring at specific points in time.
Example: The emergence of object permanence in infancy, where a child suddenly understands that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.
What are “stages” in the context of developmental theories?
Qualitative changes in thinking, feeling, and behaving that characterize specific periods of development.
What is the central question in the “One Course of Development or Many?” issue?
Does everyone follow the same developmental path, or are there multiple possible paths?
What are “contexts” in developmental science?
Unique combinations of personal (e.g., heredity, personality) and environmental (e.g., family, culture, time period) circumstances that influence development.
How do different contexts influence development? Give an example.
Different contexts can lead to different experiences, intellectual capacities, social skills, and feelings. For example, a child’s socioeconomic status significantly impacts their access to quality education, healthcare, and nutrition, all crucial for development.
What is the central question in the “Relative Influence of Nature and Nurture?” issue?
What has a greater impact on development: our genetic inheritance (nature) or our environment and experiences (nurture)?
Define “nature” in the context of the nature-nurture debate.
The hereditary information we receive from our parents at conception (genetics). Essentially, it’s the pre-wiring that comes from genes and heredity (internal forces)
Define “nurture” in the context of the nature-nurture debate.
The influence of environmental factors and experiences on an individual’s development and behaviour after conception. This includes everything from prenatal care to social interactions, education, and cultural influences. Essentially, nurture is the impact of external forces.
What is the concept of “stability” in developmental psychology?
The idea that individuals who have a characteristic will remain so at later ages, often linked to the influence of heredity or early experiences (i.e consistent and predictable)
What is the concept of “plasticity” in developmental psychology?
The idea that development is open to change throughout life in response to influential experiences. (i.e change and adapt)
How has the understanding of the basic issues in development (continuous/discontinuous, one/many courses, nature/nurture) evolved?
Many theorists now hold more balanced views, recognizing the interplay of both extremes (e.g., both continuous and discontinuous change).
What major factor led to a shift in the understanding of development to include the entire lifespan?
Increased average life expectancy due to improvements in nutrition, sanitation, and medical knowledge. It challenged the idea that development stops at adolescence.
What is the lifespan perspective on human development?
A view that development is a perpetually ongoing process from conception to death, shaped by a complex network of biological, psychological, and social influences.
What are the four key assumptions of the lifespan perspective?
- Development is lifelong.
- Development is multidimensional & multidirectional.
- Development is highly plastic.
- Development is affected by multiple, interacting 1 forces.
