Developmental Psychology: Piaget, Attachment, and Language Acquisition

What are schemas?

Basic ideas your brain uses to organize information.

Give an example of a schema.

Thinking all fruit is sweet.

What is assimilation?

Adding new information into what you already know.

Give an example of assimilation.

Calling a pear a fruit because it fits your idea.

What is accommodation?

Changing your thinking when new info doesn't fit.

Give an example of accommodation.

Learning lemons are sour, so not all fruit is sweet.

What is equilibration?

Fixing confusion by adjusting what you know.

Give an example of equilibration.

Updating your idea of fruit to include sour ones.

What process is a toddler using when they call a cat 'doggie'?

Assimilation.

What is the reasoning behind the toddler calling a cat 'doggie'?

Using an old idea (everything = dog).

What process is a toddler using when they begin to distinguish between dogs and cats?

Accommodation.

What is the reasoning behind the toddler distinguishing between dogs and cats?

Changes their thinking.

What process is a child using when they pick up a fork and use it like a spoon?

Assimilation.

What is the reasoning behind the child using a fork like a spoon?

Applies old knowledge to something new.

What is the age range for the sensorimotor stage?

0-2 years.

What is a key milestone of the sensorimotor stage?

Object permanence.

What is a limitation of the sensorimotor stage?

No logical thinking.

What is the age range for the preoperational stage?

2-7 years.

What is a key milestone of the preoperational stage?

Language development.

What is a limitation of the preoperational stage?

Egocentrism.

What is the age range for the concrete operational stage?

7-11 years.

What is a key milestone of the concrete operational stage?

Logical thinking.

What is a limitation of the concrete operational stage?

Difficulty with abstract ideas.

What is the age range for the formal operational stage?

12+ years.

What is a key milestone of the formal operational stage?

Abstract thinking.

What is a limitation of the formal operational stage?

Can think unrealistically.

What concept is the child failing to demonstrate when shown two identical rows of coins?

Conservation.

What Piagetian stage is a 4-year-old likely in if they fail to demonstrate conservation?

Preoperational.

What cognitive limitation explains the child's error in the conservation task?

Centration (focus on appearance).

What method did Baillargeon use to challenge Piaget's timeline for object permanence?

Looking time.

What did Baillargeon find regarding object permanence?

Babies understand object permanence earlier.

Why did Piaget's tasks underestimate infant abilities?

Tasks were too hard physically.

What broader lesson about research methodology does Baillargeon's findings illustrate?

How you test matters.

What attachment style is characterized by an infant being upset when the caregiver leaves?

Secure.

What is the typical caregiving pattern for a secure attachment style?

Consistent and responsive.

What attachment style is characterized by an infant showing little distress?

Avoidant.

What is the typical caregiving pattern for an avoidant attachment style?

Distant or unresponsive.

Why is physiological data important in attachment studies?

Shows hidden stress.

What attachment style is characterized by an infant being extremely distressed?

Ambivalent.

What is the typical caregiving pattern for an ambivalent attachment style?

Inconsistent.

What attachment style is characterized by an infant freezing?

Disorganized.

What is the typical caregiving pattern for a disorganized attachment style?

Chaotic or frightening.

Is it accurate to say that your attachment style as a baby determines your personality for life?

Not fully accurate — early attachment matters, but people can change with new relationships and experiences.

What age is associated with self-recognition in the rouge test?

~18 months.

What does self-recognition in the rouge test indicate?

Self-awareness.

What age is associated with theory of mind in the false belief task?

~4 years.

What does theory of mind indicate?

Understanding others think differently.

What is the relationship between egocentrism and understanding others' perspectives in children?

Kids move from egocentrism to understanding others' perspectives.

What is the key claim of the nativist perspective on language acquisition?

Born with language ability.

What evidence supports the nativist perspective?

Learn quickly.

What is a limitation of the nativist perspective?

Ignores environment.

What is the key claim of the social-interactionist perspective on language acquisition?

Learn through interaction.

What evidence supports the social-interactionist perspective?

Talking helps learning.

What is a limitation of the social-interactionist perspective?

Doesn't explain biology.

What is the key claim of the learning/emergentist perspective on language acquisition?

Learn from experience.

What evidence supports the learning/emergentist perspective?

Practice improves language.

What is a limitation of the learning/emergentist perspective?

Too simple.

Should a parent be worried if their child is learning grammar rules?

No — this shows the child is learning grammar rules.

What do teens experience that can override logical thinking according to the dual-systems model?

Strong emotions and peer pressure.

What Marcia identity status is a college sophomore likely in if they are exploring options?

Moratorium.

Is being in a moratorium status concerning or healthy for a college sophomore?

Healthy — exploring is normal.

What does Arnett's framework suggest about young adults?

They take longer due to more options and life paths.

What attribution style is characterized by blaming others but excusing oneself?

Dispositional + fundamental attribution error.

What pattern is noticed in attribution scenarios?

We blame others but excuse ourselves.

What increases conformity in Asch's line study?

Group pressure and uncertainty.

What decreases conformity in Asch's line study?

Having an ally and confidence.

What is the definition of normative influence?

Fit in.

Give an example of normative influence.

Dressing like friends.

What is the definition of informational influence?

Be correct.

Give an example of informational influence.

Copying answers.

What did Milgram's study reveal about participants?

Not sadists — situation mattered.

What are three features that influenced obedience in Milgram's study?

Authority figure, gradual steps, less responsibility.

What does the fundamental attribution error (FAE) explain?

Blames personality instead of situation.

What are the processes involved when witnessing someone collapse?

Diffusion of responsibility, pluralistic ignorance, fear of judgment.

Why did the $1 group change their attitude?

To reduce discomfort.

What is cognitive dissonance?

A psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes.

Provide an example of cognitive dissonance.

'I'm healthy' vs pizza → 'It's okay sometimes.'

What is the difference between foot-in-the-door and door-in-the-face techniques?

Foot-in-the-door: Small → big; Door-in-the-face: Big → small.

What is the peripheral route in persuasion?

Used when not thinking deeply.

What is a limitation of the peripheral route?

Not long-lasting.

What does Tajfel's minimal group paradigm demonstrate?

People favor their group easily — bias forms quickly.

What are the steps in the Robbers Cave experiment?

Competition, cooperation, shared goal.

What is the rank order of predictors of attraction?

Proximity > Similarity > Reciprocity > Attractiveness.

What is Freud's concept of the id?

The part of the mind in which innate instinctive impulses and primary processes are manifest.

What is Freud's concept of the ego?

The part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious.

What is Freud's concept of the superego?

The ethical component of the personality.

What are some examples of defense mechanisms?

Sublimation, repression, projection, rationalization, displacement, denial.

What is congruence in psychology?

Real = ideal.

What is incongruence in psychology?

Mismatch.

What is a scenario that illustrates incongruence?

Feels not good enough.

How does unconditional positive regard (UPR) help with incongruence?

Accept self.

What is a critique of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

People don't always follow order.

What are the Big Five personality traits?

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.

What is the difference between introversion and shyness?

Introvert = likes alone; Shy = nervous.

What is reciprocal determinism?

Thoughts, behavior, environment all interact.

What is the maturity principle in psychology?

People become more stable over time.

What are the four Ds in psychology?

Depends on how much it affects life.

What are the types of anxiety disorders?

GAD: worry, Panic: attacks, Phobia: specific fear, Social: fear of judgment, OCD: thoughts + actions.

What is a common misunderstanding about OCD?

Real OCD = distress and uncontrollable thoughts.

How do biological, cognitive, and behavioral factors work in anxiety?

All work together to maintain anxiety.