Developmental Psychology

what is developmental psychology

-study of changes across life span

-attempt to explain how humans change throughout the course of their lives

-from conception to death

What is continuous development

the gradual and ongoing changes that occur throughout a person's life without sudden shifts or stages.

-harder to see development

what is discontinuous development

the development characterized by distinct and separate stages, where changes happen in a step-like fashion rather than gradually.

-easier to see development

what are issues in developmental pyschology

nature and nurture

change and stability

continuity and stages

what is nature and nurture and how does it impose an issue on developmental psychology

Nature refers to genetic inheritance and biological factors, while nurture involves environmental influences and experiences.

issue arises in developmental psychology as it examines how both elements interact to shape individuals' development.

what is change and stability and how does it impose an issue on developmental psychology

Change refers to how individuals develop and differ over time, while stability indicates the consistency of certain traits and behaviors.

issue arises in determining whether development is driven by changing influences or if inherent traits remain stable throughout life.

what is continuity and stages and how does it impose an issue on developmental psychology

Continuity refers to gradual and ongoing development, while stages represent distinct phases. The issue lies in whether development occurs smoothly or in separate stages, impacting understanding of growth patterns.

what is brain development

specific areas within the brain mature and become functional

the regions of the brain learn to communicate with one another through synaptic connection

what is myelination

white matter in brain

in early stages of life- not much

later stages of life- more myleanation

what does more myleanation suggest

-more developed brain

-better communication, and faster neural connections

what is an oligodendrocyte

glial cell responsible for the formation of myelin sheath around nerve fibers in the central nervous system, aiding in faster neural transmission.

aids in keeping the shape of nucleus

what is synaptic pruning

synaptic connections in the brain that are used are preserved where as those that are not used decay and disappear

is gray matter nature or nurture

primarily nurture (experiences)

how does the brain organize itself

In response to its environmental experiences preserving connections it needs in order to function in a given context and pruning (get rid of) out others (gray matter)

Synaptic pruning

Synaptic connections in the brain that are preserved where as those that are not used decay and disappear

What is the babinski reflex

Touch bottom of babies foot, the toes will curl (evolutionary)

What is the Moro reflex

Startle reflex to a loud noise

What is the rooting reflex

Touch infants cheek and it will turn its head to the stimulation

What is the grasping reflex

Will squeeze things pressed into its hand (goes away after a few weeks)

How does perception increase with age during infancy

Born newborn- near sighted

2 months- blurry

6 months- visual acuity

DUE TO OCCIPITAL LOBE DEELOPMENT

Habituation

Getting used to (bored with) a stimulus after repeated exposures

— bad smelling room eventually stops smelling at all

What is morality

System of beliefs, values, and judgements about the rightness/wrongness of human acts

— a 5 year old will have a less complex conclusion than a 19 year old

What are the principles/ assumptions of kohlbergs theory of moral development

-can be in one stage at a time, changes when you move to next stage

-go through stages in a fixed order, hold onto what you had for definitions of right and wrong and then add to them

-each stage is more complex than previous

-same stages occur in every culture (not perfectly universal)

What is level one of moral development

Preconventional (before age 9)

What is the primary concern of the preconventional stage

Personal consequences (tangible rewards)

What are the stages to the preconventional stage

-STAGE 1 avoid punishment—> don’t get punished, keep doing wrong until punished

STAGE 2 seek rewards—> if behavior is rewarded, must be the right thing to do

What is level 2 of moral development

Conventional (early adolescence)

What is the primary concern of the conventional stage

Societal standards (social rewards)

What are the stages of the conventional stage

• STAGE 3 gain social approval—> something is good/bad as long as you gain intangible rewards

• STAGE 4 conformity to social norms—> as long as its illegal/legal its bad/good )what society/government things at least)

What is level 3 of moral development

Post conventional (adolescence and beyond)

What is the primary concern of the post conventional stage

Personal ethics

What are the stages in the post conventional level

• STAGE 5 community vs individual rights—> what is actually right/wrong, politics, human rights

• STAGE 6universal ethical principles—> basically think you’re god.

Who had the best theory of cognitive development

Jean Piaget

Swiss psychologist 1896-1980

What was jean piaget’s theory of cognitive development

Kids have a underlying bias that may be natured

Kids actively seek out nurturing experiences

A kid is never mindless everything they do has a purpose

What were the 3 assumptions of jean Piaget theory of cognitive development

-children are cognitively active and intensive: kids think a lot, even infants (not super complex thoughts, but still cognitive thoughts)

-knowledge is acquired through experience

-knowledge has a purpose: do it through action not lecturing, kids learn through doing not listening

What are the 4 stages of piagets cognitve development theory

Sensorimotor (birth-2)

Preoperational (2-7)

Concrete operational (7-11)

Formal operational (adolescence-adulthood)

What is object permanence (sensorimotor stage- birth to 2 years)

Understanding that object exists/behaves independently of child’s understanding and awareness

-for a 2 year old if not seeing tasting or smelling the object is completely gone

—someone older would know to go look for the object

What is the A not B error

Babies know to look for an object

Baby sees where the object was hidden, but bay looks where the object is not hidden

ALL infants make this error at one point in their life

What are schemas (sensorimotor stage)

Metaphorical mental structure, like a way to organize thoughts

What are two ways you can manipulate schemas

Assimilation and accommodation

What is assimilation

Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas

What is accommodation

Changing existing schemas (or creating new ones) to explain new experiences

How is the preoperational stage characterized

Overgeneralization of schemas (they’re used too much)

What does being egocentric mean

Not being able to take perspective of other person (rely on self-schemas)

What is centration

Can only attend to a single dimension (pays attention to only 1 characteristic at a time)

How is the concrete operational stage (7-12) characterized

Begin to use logic in reasoning

Master the conservation test while applying logic

What is identity in the concrete operational stage

Realization that if something isn’t added or removed it will be the same amount

What is reversibility in the concrete operational stage (7-12)

Reversing things in our mind

What is decentration in the concrete operational stage (7-12

Thinking about multiple factors at once

What are the milestones of the formal operational stage (12+)

Abstract thoughts

Scientific reasoning

Moral reasoning: consider hypotheticals, see a given scenario from multiple perspectives and analyze them

Critical analysis

Perspective taking: identify reasons behind actions of others and remove their own biases from understanding

Language development

What is “theory of mind”

Understanding that other people have their own thoughts feelings and inner experiences outside of your own

-people with autism usually lack a theory of mind

What is the false belief task

-put a toy in a box

-someone moves it to another box

-depending on stage, person will either go to look for the toy, or they will immediately give up after noticing the toy isn’t there.

What is temperament

Individual style of expressing needs and emotions (based on nervous system reactivity)

What percent of babies are easy babies

(40%)

What are characteristics of easy babies

Establish regular routines’

Cheerful

Easily adapt

What percent of babies are difficult babies

15%

What are characteristics of difficult babies

Irregular routines

Slowly adapt

React intensely (sensitive nervous system)

What percent of babies are slow to warm up

15%

What are characteristics of slow to warm up babies

Inactive

Low key reactions

Negative mood

Slowly adapt

What percent of babies are ambiguous

30%

What is a parent child bond

Emotional tie between the parent and child

What is attachment

Active affectionate reciprocal relationship between 2 people

Forms at about 12 months

Shaped by consistency and quality of care

What percent of children are secure attachment style

60%-70%

What percent of children are avoidant attachment style

15%-20%

What percent of children are resistant attachment style

10%-15%

what percent of children are disorganized/disoriented  (mix of all)

5%-10%

what are characteristics of secure children

cooperative

compliant and controlled

less lonely

socially and emotionally competent

enthusiastic and persistant

popular and playful

better problem solvers