Unit 3 Topic 3.1 - Themes and Methods in Developmental Psychology

Question 1

Developmental Psychology

Answer 1

The study of how people change physically, cognitively, and socially across the lifespan, looks both at chronological order of development and thematic issues such as NATURE VS NURTURE

Question 2

Stability and Change

Answer 2

A debate in psychology about whether traits and behaviors STAY THE SAME over time (STABILITY) or EVOLVE due to experiences (CHANGE)

Question 3

Nature vs. Nurture

Answer 3

A major theme in psychology that explores whether our traits and behaviors are primarily shaped by GENETICS (NATURE) or ENVIRONMENT and EXPERIENCES (NURTURE)

Question 4

Continous and Discontinuous development

Answer 4

Two different ways to think about how people grow. CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT happens gradually over time, while DISCONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT happens in distinct stages

Question 5

Cross-sectional Research

Answer 5

A research method that compares different age groups at one time to understand changes.

Question 6

Longitudinal Research

Answer 6

A research method that follows the same individuals for many years to observe how they develop, takes a long time to complete