HD 205 Exam 1

Researchers who have different views of the nature-nurture controversey most likely disagree about\_____

the relative influence of genetic and environmental factors in development

The developmental period of early childhood spans the approximate age range from:

2 to 6 years

Theories are vital tools because

provide organizing frameworks for our observations of children

Justin spent his first 18 months in an orphanage. Justin's adoptive mother believes sensitive caregiving will help him overcome his early stressful experiences. She is emphasizing the role of \____ in development

nurture

The discontinuous view of development holds that \______

infants and children have ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that differ qualitative from those of adults

Physical Development

-body size and proportions, appearance
-functioning of body systems, health
-perceptual and motor capacities

cognitive development

Intellectual abilities including language

Emotional and social development

- emotional communication
-self-understanding, knowledge about others
-interpersonal skills and relationships
-moral reasoning and behavior

continuous development

a process of gradually adding more of the same types of skills that were there to begin with
EX: vocabulary

discontinuous development

view that development takes place in unique stages, which happen at specific times or ages (Sudden and abrupt)
EX: learning to walk

Nature

genetics, physical appearances, biological influences

Nurture

environment, upbringing, social influences

Medieval Era

childhood regarded as separate phase with special needs and protection until 7 or 8

16th century

Puritan "child depravity" ,Children born evil and stubborn, had to be civilized

17th century

John Locke's "tabula rasa" or "blank slate" view; strongly emphasized nurture influence

18th century

Jean-Jacques Rousseau "noble savages" view; natural maturation

Evolutionary Theory

Darwin's ideas of natural selection and survival of the fittest are still influential

Normative Approach

Stanley Hall (father of adolescence) and Arnold Gesell;
-Age-related averages based on measurements of large numbers of children
-Developed sophisticated observational techniques: such as one-way viewing screens and recording methods that did not distract children

Id

-largest portion of mind
-unconscious instincts, present at birth
-biological desires
- "devil on shoulder"

Ego

-conscious, rational part of personality
-redirects id impulses
-realistic part
-develops in early infancy

Superego

-moral conscience
-develops from age 3-6 from interactions with caregivers
- "angel on shoulder"

Freud Weaknesses

Inconsistent, difficult to test, too much emphasis on sexual feelings

Freud strengths

supported by research, very influential, emphasizes early experience on later development

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

supports smooth coordination of movement on both sides of the body

In correlational design, researchers \__________

examine relationships between participants' characteristics and their behavior or development

\_______ occurs when neurons that are seldom stimulated lose their connective fibers

Synaptic pruning

The \_________, located at the base of the brain, releases two hormones that induce growth

pituitary gland

What is the leading cause of childhood mortality in industrialized nations?

unintentional injuries

In an experiment examining how much children share when adults are and are not watching, the dependent variable would be \________

how much the children share

Which fine motor skill typically develops last?

tying shoes

The \_______ plays a vital role in memory and spatial understanding

hippocampus

Erik Erikson

Known for his 8-stage theory of Psychosocial Development;

Erikson strengths

captured central development issues in the 8 stages, impactful on research and identity issues faced during adulthood

Freuds theories are driven by \_____

biological forces and that early experiences outweigh later experiences

Eriksons theories are driven by \_____

social forces and that both early and late experiences are equally important

critical period

a particular event that has the greatest, irreversible, consequences such as nutrition, teratogens

sensitive period

optimal period for a certain capacity to emerge
-boundaries are less clearly defined than critical period
EX: attachment

social learning theory

the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished; developed by bandura

Bandura strengths

-Observational learning contributed greatly to understanding of development
- Theory is precise and stable
\-

Bandura weaknesses

too little emphasis on biological influences

Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory

Children actively construct knowledge by manipulating and exploring their world.
- schemas, assimilation, accomodation

Piaget: Sensorimotor Stage

birth-2 infants think by acting on the world

Piaget: Preoperational Stage

2-7 years; preschoolers use symbols and make believe play, lacks logic

Piaget: Concrete operational stage

7-11 years; reasoning becomes logical and organized, thinking is not abstract

Piaget: Formal operational stage

11 on; abstract thinking, hypothesis, logic, inferences

Piaget weaknesses

underestimates young children thinking, little emphasis on parents, one way development

Piaget strengths

most influential theory in child development, widely applied, impacts on education

information processing theory

the human mind viewed as a symbol-manipulating system through which information flows

Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory

emphasizes how culture and social interaction guide cognitive development

Scaffolding

children learn cognitive skills guided by an adult who structures learning

zone of proximal development

gap between what a learner can accomplish independently and what they can accomplish with the guidance of a skilled partner

Ecological Systems Theory

views the person as developing within a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment

Microsystem

immediate environment

Mesosystem

interplay between microsystems

Exosystem

social settings that a person may not experience firsthand but that still influence development

Macrosystem

consists of cultural values, laws, customs, and resources

Chronosystem

historical changes that influence the other systems

case study

brings together wide range of information; best used to study unique types of individuals

Ethnography

observation of a culture or social group

correlational research

researchers gather info and make no effort to alter participants experiences

How much of synaptic pruning occurs in early childhood?

40%

Cerebellum

structure that aids in balance and control of body movement

reticular formation

a structure in the brain stem that maintains alertness and consciousness

Amygdala

inner-brain structure that processes novelty and emotional functioning

\_____ are twice as likely to be injured and more severely

Boys

gross motor skills

physical abilities involving large body movements, such as walking, jumping, running

fine motor skills

physical skills that involve the small muscles, such as hands, and eye-hand coordination
EX: writing, using utensils

Scribbles carry \______

representational meeting

Boys are ahead in skills requiring \________

power and force

Girls are advantaged in fine motor skills and in skills requiring \_______

good balance and foot movement

Daily routines support \______

fine motor development