Lecture 1

Question 1

Continuity/discontinuity

Answer 1

degree of consistency in group means

Question 2

Stability/instability

Answer 2

• Degree of consistency in individual differences
• Homotypic = measure same behaviour at multiple time points
• Heterotypic = measure same emotions but shown through different behaviours e.g. aggressive outbursts can be shown in multiple ways

Question 3

Domain specific theory

Answer 3

• Focus on particular behaviour

- Narrow effect

Question 4

Domain general theory

Answer 4

• Focus on range of behaviours

- Broad effect

Question 5

Skinner on language

Answer 5

• Grammatical structures learnt through reinforcement

- Get rid of language when not reinforced

Question 6

Chomsky on language

Answer 6

• Nativist
• Poverty of stimulus argument = can never be enough examples of reinforcement to learn all language
• People brought up in different environments but learn same language
• Universal grammar = born ready to learn grammar

Question 7

Pragmatism

Answer 7

• Half way between nature and nurture
• What children bring to a situation and how their actions trigger development
• Active learners

Question 8

Constructionism

Answer 8

• Piaget
• Cognitive development occurs through stages, fixed order but not fixed ages
• Process of development:
• -> Reciprocal relation between stimulus and response
• -> New info filtered through existing schema = assimilation
• -> Schema modified to fit reality = accomodation
• Social interaction insufficient without assimilation

Question 9

Lev Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural theory

Answer 9

• Cognition develops through social interactions with more skilled members of the culture
• Development = process of internalisation
• Zone of proximal development (ZPD) = development decreased the gap between what can you can do alone and what you can do with assistance

Question 10

Nature and nurture: a false dichotomy?

Answer 10

• Misbehaviour in childhood not just to do with environment, also genes e.g. found biological parents had unstable mental health
• Genotype of children can shape adoptive parents behaviour
• Epigenetics:
• -> rats raised by mothers with high licking and grooming = less anxious
• -> when rats moved to low licking/grooming with foster mother = anxious
• -> Licking/grooming alters (methylates) a stress gene
• Not all people maltreated are depressed, only occurs when coupled with 5-HTT gene

Question 11

Developmental systems theory

Answer 11

• Bronfenbrenner
• Ecological view of development
• Interaction between individual and environment over time