Foundations of developmental psychology

Flashcards for PYB203 Developmental Psychology Week 1 Lecture

The field of study that explores patterns of stability, continuity, growth, and change that occur throughout a person’s life.

Developmental Psychology

The growth of the body and its organs including the brain, physical signs of aging, changes in motor abilities etc.

Physical domain of development

Changes and continuities in perception, language, learning, memory, problem-solving, and other mental processes.

Cognitive domain of development

Changes and continuities in personal and interpersonal aspects such as motives, emotion, personality traits, interpersonal skills, relationships, and roles played in the family and in society.

Psychosocial domain of development

reflexes, sensory tracking, calming responses

Prenatal

language, attachment, object permanence

Infancy

motor skills, social play, vocabulary

Early childhood

skills, friendships, identity development

Middle childhood

Puberty, astract thinking, growth spurt

Adolescence

Physical peak, formal thinking, close relationships

Early adulthood

Fertility declines, family shifts, practical intelligence

Middle Adulthood

Physical decline, wisdom, retirement

Late Adulthood

Biogenetic and hereditary influences

Nature

Environmental influences (relationships, culture)

Nurture

Developmental changes that occur over time (due to biology) regardless of experiences.

Maturation

Developmental changes related to specific experiences.

Experience

Gradual development, with change happening in increments over time.

Continuity

Development occurs in distinct stages or steps, with each stage bringing different behaviors and qualities than previous stages.

Discontinuity

Individuals are active agents in their own development, seeking out opportunities to grow, learn, and master increasingly difficult tasks.

Active development

Development occurs through events in the environment that require individuals to respond, leading to changes in behavior.

Passive development

A general trend/pattern of development that is applicable to all individuals and groups.

Universal Development

Specific Development

Patterns of development are specific to a particular context or setting (e.g., individual experiences or cultural circumstances).

Unconscious, selfish instincts and biological needs and desires (pleasure principle).

Id

Reality and problem-solving, learning how to redirect desire for instant satisfaction to realistic pursuits (reality principle).

Ego

Conscience and sense of right and wrong.

Superego

The mouth is the focus of stimulation and interaction; feeding and weaning are central.

Oral Stage

The anus is the focus of stimulation and interaction; elimination and toilet training are central.

Anal Stage

children become aware of their genitals, becomes interested in difference between boys and girls and become aware of the roles in family. essentially this stage is focused in the genitals.

Phallic Stage

A period where sexual activity is inactive; energies shift to physical and intellectual activities.

Latency stage

The genitals are the focus of stimulation with the onset of puberty; mature sexual relationships develop.

Genital Stage

Focus on oral-sensory activity; development of trusting relationships with caregivers and of self-trust (hope).

Trust vs mistrust

Focus on muscular-anal activity; development of control over bodily functions and activities (will).

Autonomy vs shame and doubt

Focus on locomotor-genital activity; testing limits of self-assertion and purposefulness (purpose).

Initiative vs guilt

Focus on mastery, competence, and productivity (competence).

Industry vs inferiority

Focus on formation of identity and coherent self-concept (fidelity).

Identity vs role confusion

Focus on achievement of an intimate relationship and career direction (love).

Intimacy vs isolation

Focus on fulfillment through creative, productive activity that contributes to future generations (care).

Generativity vs stagnation

Focus on belief in the integrity of life, including successes and failures (wisdom).

Ego integrity vs despair

Situations in which the person has face-to-face contact with influential others

Microsystem

Relationships between microsystems; the connections between situations

Mesosystem

Settings in which the person does not participate but in which significant decisions are made affecting the individuals who do interact directly with the person

Exosystem

Blueprints' for defining and organizing the institutional life of the society

Macrosystem

Environmental events and transitions over the life course and sociohistorical conditions.

Chronosystem

Learning process where behaviour is shaped by reinforcements (rewards or punishments)

Operant conditioning

Learn through modeling: observing others doing something, then imitating the behavior.

Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

Coordination of sensory and motor activity; achievement of object permanence.

Sensorimotor stage

Use of language and symbolic representation; egocentric view of the world, make-believe play.

Preoperational stage

Logical thinking, classification, and thinking is not abstract.

Concrete operational stage

Abstract reasoning and solutions

Formal operational stage

Fitting new information into existing cognitive structures or schemas. (updating info!)

Assimilation

When assimilation doesn’t work, new schemas are formed.
(new info!)

Accommodation

When existing schemas are deepened or strengthened through processes of assimilation or accommodation.

Adaptation

the zone where a child cannot achieve knowledge without support of others

Zone of proximal development

The framework of support and assistance provided by others (e.g., teachers, parents, peers).

Scaffolding