Unit 1 Quiz

Question 1

What is developmental psychology?

Answer 1

Scientific study of the changes that occur over time in an individuals:

• thoughts
• behaviours
• reasoning
• functioning

Question 2

Types of studies psychologists in this field do

Answer 2

• nature vs. nurture
• child psychology (learning, interacting)
• lifespan developments
• patterns of behaviour

Question 3

Psychodynamic

Answer 3

your subconscious; memories and thoughts

Question 4

Behavioural

Answer 4

learn by watching others; outcomes or rewards and punishments

Question 5

Humanistic

Answer 5

needs and desires; personal growth

Question 6

Evolutionary

Answer 6

survival instincts; natural selection

Question 7

Cognitive

Answer 7

mental process; how one processes information or perceives situations, storage and recollection of thoughts

Question 8

Sociocultural

Answer 8

influence of community (family, school, etc.)

Question 9

6 stages of development

Answer 9

1. preconception/birth
2. infancy (0-2)
3. early childhood (2-6)
4. middle childhood (6-12)
5. adolescence
6. adulthood

Question 10

Development is not caused simply by age- explain.

Answer 10

• maturation and experience are the main causes

- development requires the correct environment, experiences and teaching, and biological ability

Question 11

Levels of environment that influence development

Answer 11

Physical: biological influences impacting an individual
Social: interactions/experiences; e.g. methods of discipline used by parents, peer influence

Question 12

Developmental changes occur because of the influences from…

Answer 12

• biological changes (physical)
• individual changes (cognitive)
• environmental experiences

Question 13

Nature vs. Nurture Question

Answer 13

The question of whether nature or nurture is more influential in human development

Question 14

Areas of interest in the field of psychology?

Answer 14

• lifespan developments

- patterns of growth, change, stability, and others related to behaviour

Question 15

What do psychologists do in working with people?

Answer 15

• research children (observe, how they play, how they change)
• work in the community (with parenting groups, support groups for parents with children who have special needs)
• work with teachers (those who teach children with special needs or learning disabilities)
• work with social welfare groups (involved with legal issues)

Question 16

Lifespan Perspective: Lifelong

Answer 16

no age period dominates development

Question 17

Lifespan Perspective: Multidimensional

Answer 17

development occurs biologically, emotionally, and spiritually

Question 18

Lifespan Perspective: Multidirectional

Answer 18

some aspects of development increase while others decrease

Question 19

Lifespan Perspective: Changing

Answer 19

depending on the individual’s life conditions, development may take many paths

Question 20

Lifespan Perspective: Historically embedded

Answer 20

development is influenced by historical conditions (behaviour of parents during gestation, genetics, etc.)

Question 21

Lifespan Perspective: Multidisciplinary

Answer 21

several scientific areas of study are involved in understanding development throughout the lifespan

Question 22

Lifespan Perspective: Contextual

Answer 22

depending on the context of the influence (biological make-up, physical environment, social context, historical or culture context)

Question 23

Explain which of Nature and Nurture are more significant in the development of an individual

Answer 23

Both are essential, and they cooperate in two ways:

1. there must be the right nature sources in order for nurture experiences to accomplish development
2. the right learning environment will be wasted on biology that has not reached the right age

Question 24

Influences of nature

Answer 24

• biological factors
• maturation stages
• traits, abilities, capacities inherited from parents
• any factor produced by predetermined genetic info

Question 25

Influences of nurture

Answer 25

- education - stimulated environment - nutrition - physical activities - social influences - values - personality ~ physical and social environment

Question 26

Example of Nature vs. Nurture study

Answer 26

Toilet training: whether nature or nurture determines success/age of success

Question 27

How are identical twins different from fraternal twins?

Answer 27

Identical twins started as one fertilized egg which then split and developed into two fetuses, with nearly identical genetic codes. Fraternal twins result when two separate eggs are fertilized by two separate sperm, and have different genetic codes.

Question 28

Describe ways identical twins may differ from birth

Answer 28

physical environment influences; e.g. medical issues, size of womb, condition of mother

Question 29

Explain why scientists previously believed it was beneficial to separate identical twins

Answer 29

helped them to become more fully developed individuals, improved psychological development

Question 30

Define epigenetics, and its effect in twins

Answer 30

- turns genes "off" or "on" without changing the underlying genetic code - when twins are born and through their early years their environments are commonly very similar, but as they age different environmental factors can "activate" or "silence" different genes