Developmental Theories and Key Concepts in Child Psychology

Preformationism

early belief that children were 'miniature adults.'

John Locke

'Tabula rasa' (blank slate); environment and experience shape development.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

children are innately good; development unfolds naturally in stages.

G. Stanley Hall

founder of the child study movement; used questionnaires to study development.

Continuous vs. Discontinuous Development

gradual changes vs. distinct stages.

Nature vs. Nurture

biology/genetics vs. environment/experience.

One path vs. Many paths

universal stages vs. cultural/individual variation.

Ivan Pavlov

Classical Conditioning (associating two stimuli).

B.F. Skinner

Operant Conditioning (behavior shaped by reinforcement/punishment).

Albert Bandura

Social Learning Theory (learning through observation & imitation).

Reinforcement

increases behavior.

Punishment

decreases behavior.

Imitation & Observation

modeling others' behavior.

Vicarious Reinforcement

learning by watching consequences for others.

Sigmund Freud

emphasized unconscious drives and early experiences.

Id, Ego, Superego

instinct, reality, morality.

Psychosexual Stages

Oral, Anal, Phallic (Oedipus), Latent, Genital.

Erik Erikson

psychosocial stages across the lifespan (e.g., trust vs. mistrust, identity vs. role confusion).

Jean Piaget

children actively construct knowledge.

Sensorimotor Stage

(0-2 yrs) - learning through senses/motor actions.

Preoperational Stage

(2-7 yrs) - symbolic thought, but egocentric.

Concrete Operational Stage

(7-11 yrs) - logical, concrete reasoning.

Formal Operational Stage

(12+) - abstract, hypothetical thinking.

Scheme

mental framework.

Assimilation

fit new info into existing scheme.

Accommodation

adjust scheme to fit new info.

Equilibration

balance between assimilation and accommodation.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

what child can do with guidance.

Conflict

key to learning; drives growth.

Charles Darwin

natural selection, adaptive behavior.

Konrad Lorenz

imprinting in animals.

Adaptive significance

survival value of behavior.

Critical/Sensitive Periods

windows when development is most influenced.

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory

multiple environmental systems shape development (micro, meso, exo, macro, chrono).

Genes, DNA

(A, C, G, T), Chromosomes.

Heredity & Dominant-recessive transmission

the inheritance of traits.

Meiosis

cell division for gametes.

Alleles

versions of genes.

Genotype vs. Phenotype

genetic makeup vs. expression.

Reaction Range

limits set by genes; environment determines outcome.

X-linked traits

traits associated with genes on the X chromosome.

Chromosomal abnormalities

Down Syndrome, Fragile X.

Genotype → Environment Effects

Passive (parents provide environment), Evocative (child's traits elicit responses), Active (child seeks niche).

Non-shared environmental influence

siblings' unique experiences.

Experimental Method

IV, DV, control group.

Correlational Method

relationships, but no causation.

Naturalistic Observation

observing subjects in their natural environment.

Cohort effect

generational differences.

Germinal Period

(0-2w) - first stage of prenatal development.

Embryonic Period

(2-8w) - second stage of prenatal development.

Fetal Period

(8w-birth) - final stage of prenatal development.

Viability

point at which fetus can survive outside womb.

Surfactant

substance aiding lung function.

Teratogens

substances that can cause birth defects.

Amniocentesis

a prenatal screening procedure.

Stages of Labor

dilation, delivery, afterbirth.

Birth Settings

hospital, birthing center, home.

Complications

breech, anoxia, cesarean.

Neonate

newborn.

Apgar Scale

a quick test performed on a newborn.

Reflexes

sucking, rooting, palmar grasp, Moro.

Behavioral States

Regular sleep, irregular sleep, drowsy, alert inactivity, waking activity.

Vision

least developed at birth.

Hearing, taste, smell

functional from birth.