PSYC1001: DEVELOPMENTAL

What is developmental psychology?

The discipline that seeks to identify and explain the changes in behavior that individuals undergo from conception until death.

What are the key areas of focus in developmental psychology?

Physical growth, motor skills, cognition and learning, emotional expression, socio-emotional skills, and personality.

Why are milestones important in child development?

Milestones help determine 'first-times' of children's behavior, such as first steps and two-word phrases.

What is a baseline in developmental psychology?

A baseline is required to measure change and determine what statistically grew over time.

What is the range of focus for infants aged 0-4 months?

Approximately 15-25 cm, with an inability to focus and coordinate eye movement.

What visual abilities develop in infants by 5-8 months?

Depth perception and well-developed color vision.

At what age do children typically begin to walk?

Around 1 year old, correlating with their ability to judge distance.

What is the primary source of motivation for a child's mobility?

The desire to get somewhere, regardless of the method used (e.g., crawling or walking).

What are gross motor skills?

Large movements using arms, legs, feet, or the whole body, such as crawling and walking.

What are fine motor skills?

Smaller movements using fingers, toes, and facial muscles, such as picking up objects.

What is the difference between assimilation and accommodation in cognitive development?

Assimilation is making sense of experiences in terms of existing schemas, while accommodation is modifying schemas to fit new experiences.

What is Piaget's stage theory?

A theory that relies on both learning and maturation to advance a child to the next developmental stage.

What characterizes the sensorimotor stage of development?

From reflexes to symbolic thought, understanding the world through hands-on, direct experience.

What is the role of interactionists in developmental psychology?

They agree that both nature and nurture are important in development but disagree on how they interact.

What does the term 'constructivism' refer to in developmental psychology?

The idea that children are born with no knowledge but construct it from their perception of the world and their actions.

What is the significance of cognitive development in children?

It involves mental activities such as thinking, problem solving, learning, remembering, and paying attention.

What is the difference between expressive and receptive language in infants?

Expressive language involves communication bids made by the infant, while receptive language involves understanding communication from others.

What is the importance of stimuli in motor skills development?

Stimuli from the physical environment and interactions with others are crucial for developing motor skills.

What is the typical developmental progression of motor skills?

Motor control develops in two directions: cephalo-caudal (head to toe) and proximo-distal (midline to extremities).

What does the term 'correlation vs causation' refer to in developmental psychology?

It refers to the distinction between a relationship between two variables and one variable causing the other.

What is the significance of emotional expression in child development?

Emotional expression is a key aspect of socio-emotional skills and overall development.

What are some challenges in assessing normal cognitive functions in children?

Growth factors can make it difficult to accurately determine normal behavior, such as variations in vocabulary size.

What is the role of personality in motor skills development?

Personality can influence a child's motivation and approach to learning new motor skills.

What is the significance of Vygotsky's sociocultural theory?

It emphasizes the role of social interaction and cultural context in cognitive development.

What is the impact of early teaching on motor skills?

There is no benefit from trying to teach motor skills early; genuine delays may indicate a need for remediation.

What is the relationship between cognitive development and language acquisition?

Cognitive development influences how children acquire and use language, impacting their ability to express themselves.

What is object permanence?

The understanding that objects have a separate and permanent existence independent of our actions on them.

Why do babies fail object permanence tests?

Due to lack of appreciation of object permanence, memory limitations, limited motor skills, and inability to translate understanding into action.

What characterizes the preoperational stage of cognitive development?

Development of symbolic thought, characterized by egocentric thinking, centration, perceptual boundness, and animism.

What is centration in child development?

When a child focuses on the most noticeable feature of an object while ignoring other features.

What is egocentric thinking?

The limited ability to take the perspectives of others.

What is the concrete operations stage in Piaget's theory?

A stage where children (ages 7-11) master mental operations such as decentering and reversible thinking, enabling classification and conservation.

What abilities develop during the formal operations stage?

Logical operations on abstract entities, capacity for abstract thought, and reflective thinking.

What is Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of cognitive development?

The theory that children's mental life is co-developed with the people around them, emphasizing social interaction in learning.

Define the zone of proximal development.

The distance between a child's actual developmental level and the higher level of potential development with guidance from more knowledgeable others.

What is the focus of research on cultural variation in child development?

The contrast between individualism in industrial-Western cultures and collectivism in indigenous and Eastern cultures.

How do Western and Eastern cultures differ in parenting approaches?

Western cultures focus on individual success and independence, while Eastern cultures emphasize collective ties and interdependence.

What is Bandura's social learning theory?

A theory that incorporates social and cognitive variables in human development, emphasizing learning through observation and imitation.

What factors influence which models children are likely to imitate?

Prestige of the model, similarity to the model, and perceived rewards received by the model.

What is 'theory of mind'?

The ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others, understanding that others have beliefs and desires different from one's own.

How do older children differ from younger children in moral judgment according to Piaget?

Older children consider intentions in moral judgment, while younger children focus solely on the outcomes of actions.

What is the difference between externally regulated and self-regulated phases in moral development?

Externally regulated phase relies on rules from others, while self-regulated phase involves internal morality and understanding of intentions.

What did Vygotsky emphasize in his theory of cognitive development?

The importance of context, culture, and language in a child's intellectual development.

What is the significance of dynamic assessment in Vygotsky's methodology?

It evaluates children's potential development levels through problem-solving with guidance, rather than just their current abilities.

What is the role of cultural tools in cognitive development according to Vygotsky?

Cultural tools mediate intellectual functioning and shape the way children learn and think.

What is pro-social behavior?

Voluntary behavior intended to benefit another person.

How do children develop self-regulation according to Bandura?

Through monitoring and regulating their own moral behavior as they grow.

What does Piaget's moral development theory suggest about individual differences?

There are enormous individual differences in moral understanding, and he was cautious about formal stages of moral development.

What did Cole (1992) find about teacher-student ratios in the US and Japan?

In the US, fewer children per teacher is preferred for individual attention, while in Japan, larger groups are valued for teaching group membership.

What is the impact of cultural upbringing on children's learning strategies?

Cultural context influences whether children use verbal or motor strategies for tasks like mental arithmetic.

What is the main focus of Vygotsky's research on cultural variation?

The differences in parenting attitudes, child behavior, and adult cognition across cultures.

What is the significance of the early environment in child development?

Children require more than food, water, and lack of disease; early environments significantly impact emotional and social development.

What were the effects of isolation on monkeys in Suomi & Harlow's study?

Isolation for 3 months led to emotional shock, while longer isolation periods resulted in persistent behavioral issues, aggression, and social misfit status.

What was the mean IQ of children placed in foster care early versus late according to Goldfarb (1945)?

Early placement had a mean IQ of 95, while late placement had a mean IQ of 72.

What cognitive disabilities were observed in children who spent over 3 years in isolation?

Lower ability to conceptualize, poorer speech development, inability to concentrate, and poorer school achievement.

What social-emotional issues were noted in children from isolated backgrounds?

Social immaturity, aggressiveness, insatiable need for affection, inability to form secure bonds, and failure to adhere to rules.

What were the findings of the English/Romanian Adoption Study by Rutter et al. (1998)?

Children adopted before 6 months showed better outcomes, while those adopted later had higher rates of cognitive impairment and mental health issues.

What was the goal of the Head Start program initiated in 1964?

To improve physical and mental health, enhance cognitive skills, and foster social and emotional development in disadvantaged children.

What were the components of the Head Start program?

Early childhood education, health screening, nutrition education, social services, and parental involvement.

What was the outcome of the Abecedarian Project?

Children in the intervention group received high-quality early education and showed improved cognitive abilities.

Who are the key figures associated with attachment theory?

John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth.

What is a secure base in attachment theory?

The attachment figure serves as a secure anchor for the infant to explore the world and promotes survival.

How does attachment theory relate to emotional regulation?

A secure base helps infants regulate emotions during stress, fostering 'felt security' through sensitive caregiver responses.

What are the categories of attachment measured in children?

Exploration/secure base behavior, separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, and reunion behavior.

What does the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) scale measure?

Adult romantic attachment styles based on anxiety and avoidance dimensions.

What are the four classic attachment styles identified in adults?

Secure, Preoccupied (Anxious-Ambivalent), Dismissive-Avoidant, and Fearful-Avoidant.

How does secure attachment affect later life outcomes?

It is associated with better emotion regulation, relationship quality, independence, and lower risk for psychopathologies.

What are the risks associated with insecure attachment styles?

Higher risks for anxiety, depression, poor social skills, aggression, and poor stress-response system function.

What are the major theoretical approaches to language development?

Empiricist, nativist, and constructionist viewpoints.

What is phonology in the context of language development?

The sounds used by the speakers of a language.

What is the impact of early social deprivation on cognitive development?

It can lead to significant cognitive impairments and lower IQ scores.

What behavioral changes were observed in monkeys after isolation for 12 months?

They became social misfits with no signs of recovery upon return to group settings.

What is the relationship between caregiver responsiveness and attachment security?

Sensitive and responsive caregiving fosters secure attachment and emotional regulation.

What is the significance of the 'Strange Situation' classification system?

It is a method developed by Ainsworth to classify infants' attachment styles based on their behavior in a controlled environment.

How does attachment style influence caregiving behavior?

Secure attachment is linked to sensitive caregiving, while insecure styles can lead to unpredictable or rejecting behaviors.

What are the long-term effects of secure attachment on academic performance?

Secure attachment is associated with better academic performance and successful social relationships.

What is secure attachment associated with?

Better emotion-regulation, relationship quality, and mental health.

List some outcomes associated with insecure attachment styles.

Higher risk for anxiety, depression, poor social skills, aggression, and poor stress-response system function.

What are the four aspects of language?

Phonology, semantics, grammar/syntax, and pragmatics.

What do empiricists believe about language development?

They believe language is learned through nurture and reinforcement.

Who is a prominent nativist theorist of language development?

Noam Chomsky.

What is the Interactionist/Constructivist approach to language development?

It suggests that language emerges from the interaction of maturation and environmental factors.

What is the 'Language Acquisition Device' (LAD)?

A set of perceptual and cognitive abilities that analyze linguistic input, proposed by Chomsky.

What is the 'wug test'?

A test that demonstrates children's mastery of grammatical rules, such as pluralization.

What is the 'vocabulary explosion' in early childhood?

Children's vocabulary grows from 100-2000 words at age 2 to 5000-20,000 words by age 7.

What does Gentner's Natural Partitions Hypothesis suggest?

Language is critical for learning concepts of relations among objects.

What was the focus of developmental psychology before the 19th century?

Children were seen as 'miniature adults' and not recognized as a distinct phase.

Who is Charles Darwin and what was his contribution to developmental psychology?

He studied infant communication and linked human behavior to biological evolution.

What was the aim of the 'Little Albert' experiment?

To condition a phobia in an emotionally stable child.

What did the Marshmallow Test aim to determine?

If delayed gratification can be an indicator of future success.

What does research say about sugar and hyperactivity in children?

Sugar does not cause hyperactivity or behavioral issues.

What is the significance of the Stolen Generation in Australia?

It involved the forcible removal of Indigenous children to assimilate them into white society, causing significant trauma.

What is the criticism of the 'Little Albert' experiment?

It lacked proper ethical standards and failed to de-condition the child.

What does the term 'conceptual essentialism' refer to?

The idea that language can attribute essences to categories and individual category members.

What does the Interactionist perspective suggest about language acquisition?

It suggests that language acquisition is a product of the interaction between maturation and environmental factors.

What was the impact of John Barnado's work?

He focused on providing free education to children living in poverty, regardless of race or circumstance.

What is the role of caregivers in the late 19th-century view of childhood?

There was a greater focus on the role of caregivers and the family in children's development.

What is the relationship between language and abstract thought?

Language may be necessary for understanding relations among objects and events.

What is the main argument of Chomsky regarding language complexity?

Language is too complex to be learned solely through behaviorist mechanisms.

What does the term 'lateralization' refer to in the context of brain function?

It refers to the specialization of certain functions in one hemisphere of the brain.