IB HL Psychology (2025) - Human Development : Relevant Studies

Study related to Animal Research

Premack and Woodruff (1978):

lab raised chimp shown human actors struggling with problems

presented with photographs of objects that might help

chimp consistenyl selected the correct response which suggested she had ToM

Study related to attachment in DS

Sroufe et al:

children deemed as having a secure attachment syle by the ‘Strange Situation‘ had a more positive internal working model

and had higher social competence as pre schoolers as well as better emotional regulation and higher quality romantic bonds

Study related to Brain Maturation in HDV

Johnson et al:

lit review + brain scans + neuropsych studies

synapses are overproduced and then pruned to increase efficiency

the brain is most flexible in its early years

cognitive skills such as language emerge from the progressive tuning of neurones and synapses

Study related to Critical Periods in HDV

Case study of Genie:

she had very little human contact during the critical period and so didn’t learn language

attempted to learn language later but was never fully able to grasp it because she didnt learn during the critical period

Study related to Neuroplasticity in HDV

Draganski et al:

Ppts had a brain scan then practiced a new skill (juggling)

After three months a second brain scan showed an increase in grey matter which stayed even after juggling had been stopped for 3 months

Study related to Brain imaging techniques

Saxe and Kanwisher:

Used an fMRI scan to test if false photograph task uses Theory of Mind

activity is shown in the Right Temporo-Parietal Junction when Theory of Mind is used

RTPJ didn’t show activity meaning False Photograph task is not using Theory of Mind

Study related to Enculturation in DS

Markus and Kitayama:

investigated how culture influenced self concept

in the west people have an ‘independent self concept’

while in Japan people have an ‘interdependent self concept‘

west has individualistic culture which prioritises self and uniqueness

Japan has collectivistic culture which strives for social harmony

Study related to localisation of Function

Saxe and Kanwisher:

Used fMRI to test if false photograph task uses Theory of Mind

Right Temporo-parietal Junction didn’t show activity

ToM is localised at RTPJ, therefore FPT is not ToM

Study related to Neuroplasticity

Blakemoore and Cooper:

Kittens raised from birth in chambers with only vertical or only horizontal lines

Kittens raised in Vertical chambers struggle with horizontal perception

Kittens raised in Horizontal chambers struggle with vertical perception

Study related to Peer influence in DS

Santos et al:

interviewed students from a diverse school and a homogenous one

both sets of students’ self concept was affected by how others saw their racial group

but in the homogenous latino/a school the importance of ones racial group to their self concept was affected more by peers

while in the diverse school how positively people felt about their own racial group was affected more by peers

Study related to the role of childhood experiences in DS

Mcfarlane (1987):

using reports from teachers and parents the presence of management of post traumatic phenomena (such as intrusive memories or emotional distress) was studied

the most powerful predictors of post traumatic phenomena were:

separation from family'

continuing maternal preoccupation

changed family function

post traumatic phenomena are strong markers of developmental trauma in children exposed to extreme adversity

Study related to the role of sociocultural factors in development

Luria:

pre-schoolers school age children and adults tested on words

when given an aid the children were able to remember the words.

remembering the words was in the ZPD for the school age children, actual development level for adults, and out-of-reach zone for pre-schoolers

Study related to stage theories and continuous models in HDV

Three Mountains Task (Piaget):

children sat at a model of three mountains with a doll placed in it

children were asked what the doll could see

children above age seven were able to correctly choose the doll’s perspective

Study related to Theory of mind in understanding HDV

Wimmer and Permer:

children shown something being placed somewhere by a child

then see it moved by parent

children asked where they think the child would look

from 4-6 children began to predict correctly where the child would look (where they originally placed it)