Chapter 4 - Human growth and development

Stage theory

A theory of development characterized by distinct periods of life

Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development

Domain of lifespan development that examines emotions, personality, and social relationships

Trust vs Mistrust

1st stage during the first year of life, infants learn to trust when they are cared for in a consistent warm manner

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

2nd in which a toddler learns to exercise will and to do things independently

Initiative vs. Guilt

3rd stage in which the child finds independence in planning, playing and other activities

Industry vs. Inferiority

4th stage between 6 and 11 years, when the child learns what their skills are

Identity vs. Role Confusion

5th stage where adolescents try to figure out where they fit in and what direction their life should take

Intimacy vs. Isolation

6th stage in which individuals form deeply personal relationships, marry, begin families or they never find a partner and stay alone due to isolation

Generativity vs. Stagnation

7th stage of social development in which middle-aged people feel like they do something useful in life or have a mid-life crisis

Integrity vs. Despair

Final stage in which those near the end of life look back and evaluate their lives

Teratogens

Harmful substances or environmental factors that can negatively affect the development of an embryo or fetus during pregnancy.

Reflexes at birth

Sucking, rooting, and grasping

Harry Harlow's attachment research

Studied infant attachment using baby monkeys showing that contact comfort is more important than food for attachment

Mary Ainsworth's strange situation

Experiment that observed a babies behavior when the mom was present, when mom left, when a "stranger" enters, and when mom returns (reunion was most important)

Jean Piaget's cognitive developmental theory

Theory that children develop thinking through four stages, building knowledge through experience as they mature.

Sensorimotor stage

Learn through senses and actions; develop object permanence (0-2 yrs)

Preoperational stage

Children use language and imagination but are not yet able to think logically (2-7 yrs)

Concrete Operational Stage

Children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events (7-11 yrs)

Formal Operational Stage

Children can solve non-physical problems and show abstract thinking (11+ yrs)

Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Moral reasoning develops through 3 levels and 6 stages as people mature

Preconventional Morality

1st level happens before age 9, Right and wrong are based on avoiding punishment and getting rewards

Stage 1: Punishment & Obedience

A behavior is wrong if it leads to punishment

Stage 2: Instrumental-Relativist

A behavior is right if it benefits you or gets a reward

Conventional Morality

Second level happens w/ teens and adults; believes right and wrong are based on following rules and meeting society's expectations

Stage 3: Interpersonal Concordance

People behave to gain approval and be seen as "good."

Stage 4: Law and Order

What's right is to obey formal laws and rules in order to maintain social order.

Postconventional Morality

Final level with few adults believing right and wrong are based on personal values and universal moral principles

Stage 5: Social Contract

Recognize that rules are social agreements that can be changed when necessary

Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles

People follow their personal moral principles, even if they conflict with the law

proximodistal development

Development from inside to outside

cephalocaudal development

Development from head to toe.

Schemas

Concepts or mental frameworks that organize and interpret information.

Assimilation

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

Accommodation

adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information