Dev PSYCH exam 1

Studying of Lifespan def. (how/why)

Scientific study of human development and seeks to understand the how/why people change over time

4 Critical Elements of Life Span Research

1. based on science

2. focus on how/why

3. focus on diversity

4. focus on change

What is the scientific method?

Testing hypothesis with research and drawing conclusions

Nature vs. Nurture historically

Development is either nature or nurture, not both.

Nature vs Nurture Present Day

Nature and nurture work together in development

Differential Susceptibility def.

People vary on sensitivity due to genes or past events

What are the 5 Characteristics of Life Span Perspective?

Multidirectional, Multicontextual, Multicultural, Multidisciplinary, Plasticity

Define Multidirectional (Life Span Perspective)

The how/why people change over time. Development is dynamic and impacted by age/maturation.

Difference between critical period and sensitive period (for development)

Critical period is a set time in which event must occur for normal development, sensitive period is where development occurs more easily at a certain time, but not need to be developed exclusively at that time.

Define Multicontextual (Life Span Perspective)

How individuals develop within certain circumstances. This can be physical, cultural, ecumenical, historical, etc.

5 Components of the ecological-system approach

Microsystems, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, chronosystem

What is microsystem? (ecological-system approach)

The environment has a DIRECT impact on a child

What is the mesosystem? (ecological-system approach)

The interaction between 2+ microsystems

What is ecosystem? (ecological-system approach)

The environment has an INDIRECT impact on a child

What is macrosystem? (ecological-system approach)

Both INDIRECT and DIRECT environment affect a child

What is the chronosystem? (ecological-system approach)

The historical time in which it affects a child

Define Multicultural (Life Span Perspective)

Different cultures contain different beliefs, values, norms, that impacts development.

Why is it important to understand different cultures for studying development?

Helps us know different development patters based on the norms of different cultural groups.

What is the difference-equals-deficit-error?

Beliefs that people unlike us are inferior to us.

Define Multidisciplinary (Life Span Perspective)

Many disciplines contribute to the study of human development

What are the 3 domains of multidisciplinary

1. Biosocial: physical approach

2. Cognitive: thought process

3. Psychosocial: individual and society

Define Plasticity (Life Span Perspective)

The capacity to change. Easier development in earlier life stages.

What is developmental theory?

Provides a framework for understanding how and why people change

What do developmental theories do?

Form basis for a hypothesis, generate discoveries, and offer practical guidance

3 Types of developmental theories

1. Grand: focus on large, broad groups

2. Minitheories: focus on 1 specific group

3. Newer: recent theories

What is the psychoanalytic theory

Based on nature, development is influenced by unconscious drives/ motives and unfolds in specific stages.

What is the psychosexual theory? (Freud)

The unconscious feeling of guilt, anger, fear.

What is Ericksons Psychosocial theory?

8- age related stages based on biological maturation and society

Behaviorism def. (John Watson)

Learned associations between external stimuli and observable responses

Radical behaviorism def. (B.F. Skinner)

Behavior is a function of reinforcement learned. Focuses ALSO on internal thoughts.

Social Learning Theory def. (Albert Bandura)

Learning is a function of observation of modeled behavior.

Operate Conditioning def.

Learning process which behaviors are modified through rewards/ punishment

Cognitive Theory def. (Piaget)

Explains human behavior by studying internal mental processes

Intelligence def.

Basic life functions that help an organism adapt to its environment.

Assimilation vs Accommodation

Assimilation uses existing shemas to understand, accommodation changes, modify, and revise shemas based on learning.

Information Processing def.

Links the human mind to a computer. Input, programming, memory, output.

Socialcultural theory def. (Vsgotsky)

Development is based on interactions between a person and surrounding society

Evolutionary Theory def.

Humans impulses, needs, behaviors evolved for survival

What are the 3 lessons about genes

1. genes affect everything

2. nurture always matters

3. whether or not a gene is expressed depends on social context

3 Key elements of genes (and meanings)

1. genotype: genetic inheritance

2. phenotype: observable characterisics

3. environment: all environmental studies surrounding the individual