Developmental Psychology Ch.1

Chapter 1 - Introduction

development

pattern of movement or change that begins at conception and continues through the lifespan

context

a setting influenced by historical, economic, social, and cultural factors

Freud’s Theory

psychoanalysis; source of peoples problems are their minds and experiences early in life, primary motivation for human behavior is sexual in nature

Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory

the primary motivation for human behavior is social in nature, development occurs throughout life

Piaget’s Cognitive Developmental Theory

cognition is qualitatively different at each stage, organization and adaptation

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Cognitive Theory

culture and social interaction guide cognitive development, culture determines what and how a children should learn

information-processing theory

individuals develop a gradually increasing capacity for processing information

behaviorism

development through observable behavior that can be learned through experience with the environment

skinner - operant conditioning

development consists of the pattern of behavioral changes that are brought about by rewards and punishments

bandura - social cognitive theory

key factors in development are behavior, environment, and one’s cognitive abilities; thoughts and emotions do matter

ethnological theory

behavior is strongly influenced by biology, tied to evolution, and characterized by critical or sensitive periods

sensitive period

the time during infancy when attachment should occur in order to promote optimal development

urie bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory

development reflects the influence of several environmental systems

descriptive research

a systematic, objective observation of people

correlational research

to describe the strength of the relationship between two or more events or characteristics

correlation coefficient

(-1.00 to +1.00): a statistical measure of the relationship between two variables

experimental research

only research method that can determine causality, variables are manipulated in a controlled way

independent variable

the manipulated factor/the cause

dependent variable

the outcome/effect that is measured at the end

experimental group

their experience is manipulated

control group

a comparison group

cross-sectional approach to research

simultaneously study participants of different ages

longitudinal approach to research

the same individuals are studied over a period of time

cohort

a group of people who are born at a similar point in history and share similar experiences as a result

cohort effect

is due to a person’s time of birth, era, or generation, but NOT to actual age