Psych U1 2. psychological development 1

exam rev

What are the three key aspects of psychological development?

Emotional development (managing feelings), cognitive development (thinking, memory, language), and social development (interacting and forming relationships).

What does the "nature" side of the nature vs nurture debate focus on?

It focuses on hereditary influences like genetics, brain structure, and hormonal functioning.

What does the "nurture" side of the debate focus on?

It looks at environmental factors such as parenting, culture, education, and life experiences.

What is the nature vs nurture debate in psychological development?

It's the debate over whether genetic inheritance (nature) or life experiences (nurture) have a greater impact on development.

What are the three components of the biopsychosocial (BPS) model?

Biological (genetics, brain structure), psychological (thoughts, emotions), and social (relationships, culture).

How does the biopsychosocial model explain psychological development and mental wellbeing?

It shows that development and mental health are influenced by the combined effects of biological, psychological, and social factors, not any single cause.

What is the mental health continuum?

A range showing levels of mental health from optimal wellbeing (mental fitness) to moderate difficulties, to mental illness.

What is a risk factor for mental health?

Any biological, psychological, or social factor that increases the chance of developing mental health problems, e.g., trauma or isolation.

What is a protective factor for mental health?

Any condition or attribute that helps reduce the risk of mental illness and supports wellbeing, e.g., strong relationships or coping skills.

How does the BPS model apply to psychological development?

It helps understand how genetic traits, emotional responses, and social environments interact to influence how a person develops over time.

What did Harlow’s monkey experiment show about attachment?

It showed that infants seek comfort and security more than food, highlighting the importance of emotional bonding in development.

What is Piaget’s theory of cognitive development?

A theory that describes how children's thinking evolves in four stages as they grow and learn.

What is assimilation in Piaget’s theory?

is when a person fits new information into their existing mental frameworks or schemas.

What is accommodation in Piaget’s theory?

is when a person changes or creates new schemas to incorporate new information.

What are the first two stages of Piaget’s cognitive development theory?

Sensorimotor stage (0–2 yrs): learning through senses and actions; object permanence develops. Preoperational stage (2–7 yrs): symbolic thinking grows; egocentrism and lack of logical reasoning.

What are the last two stages of Piaget’s cognitive development theory?

Concrete operational stage (7–12 yrs): logical thinking develops; understands conservation. Formal operational stage (12+): abstract and hypothetical thinking emerges.

What is Bandura’s theory of social learning?

It suggests people learn by observing others, especially role models, and imitating their behavior, especially if it’s rewarded.

What were the main stages of Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment?

Children watched adults act either aggressively or calmly toward a doll; children then imitated the behavior they observed, showing learned aggression.