Understanding Life-Span Human Development

Flashcards covering key concepts from 'Understanding Life-Span Human Development, Chapter 1,' including definitions of development, life periods, cultural influences, theoretical perspectives, research methodologies, and ethical considerations.

How is development defined?

Systematic changes and continuities in individuals between conception and death.

What is biological/physical development?

The growth of the body and its organs, the functioning of physiological systems including the brain, physical aging, and changes in motor abilities.

What does cognitive development encompass?

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

What is psychosocial development?

Changes and continuities in personal and interpersonal aspects of development involving motives, emotions, personality traits, social skills and relationships, and roles played in the family and society.

How do biologists define growth?

Physical changes that occur from conception to maturity.

What is biological aging?

The deterioration of organisms that leads to inevitable death.

What is an example of progressive development?

Learning to walk or talk.

What is an example of regressive development?

Declines in cognitive functioning with age.

What does 'aging' involve?

Gains, losses, neutral changes, and continuities throughout the lifespan.

What is the age range for the Prenatal Period?

Conception to birth.

What is the age range for Infancy?

The first 2 years of life (the first month is the neonatal or newborn period).

What is Emerging Adulthood?

A transitional period between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, typically ages 18-25, but possibly up to 29.

What caused the emergence of the 'Emerging Adulthood' period?

Increased complexity of jobs requiring more education after WWII, leading adolescents to attend college and postpone marriage/parenthood.

What are characteristics of emerging adults?

They explore identities, lead unstable lives, are self-focused, feel 'in between' being adult-like, and believe they have limitless possibilities.

What is an 'Age Grade'?

A socially defined age group in a society assigned different roles, responsibilities, statuses, and privileges.

What is a 'Rite of Passage'?

A ritual that marks a person's 'passage' from one status to another, such as body painting, bar mitzvahs, or Quinceañeras.

What are 'Age Norms'?

Society's way of telling people to 'act their age,' influencing decisions on how to lead their lives.

What is the 'Social Clock'?

A person's sense of when things should be done and when they are ahead of or behind the schedule dictated by age norms.

How is 'Ethnicity' defined?

People's classification or affiliation with a group based on common heritage or traditions.

What is 'Socioeconomic Status (SES)'?

Standing in society based on occupational prestige, education, and income.

What are some impacts of poverty on human development?

Lower academic achievement, poorer mental health and wellbeing, increased stress, noise, crowding, family disruption, hunger, and exposure to violence.

According to the life-span perspective, what are some key characteristics of development?

Development is lifelong, multidimensional, involves gains and losses, is plastic, shaped by the historical-cultural context, multiply influenced, and multidisciplinary.

What is 'Neuroplasticity'?

The brain's ability to change in response to experience throughout the life span.

What were 'Baby Biographies'?

Observational studies where scholars documented the growth and development of their own children, often difficult to compare and not generalizable.

Who is considered the founder of developmental psychology?

G. Stanley Hall.

What is a 'theory' in developmental psychology?

A set of ideas to describe and explain certain phenomena; a good theory is falsifiable and supported by data.

What is the 'Nature-Nurture' issue?

The debate over whether development is primarily the product of genes, biology, and maturation, or of experience, learning, and social influences.

What is the 'Activity-Passivity' issue?

The debate over whether humans actively shape their own environments and contribute to their development, or are passively shaped by forces beyond their control.

What is 'Evolutionary Theory' in development?

A theoretical approach that looks to the evolution of the human species for explanations of why humans are as they are and develop as they do.

What is 'Psychoanalytic Theory' focused on?

The development and dynamics of personality, emphasizing motives, emotional conflicts, and earliest family experiences.

According to 'Social Cognitive Theory,' what plays a critical role in learning and development?

Humans' active processing of information as cognitive beings.

How did Piaget view intelligence?

As a process that helps an organism adapt to its environment.

What do 'Systems Theories' view regarding life-span changes?

Changes arise from ongoing transactions in which a changing organism and a changing environment affect one another.

Name the five major systems in Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model.

Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem, and Chronosystem.

What are the four main goals of studying life-span development?

Description, Prediction, Explanation, and Optimization.

What is the 'Scientific Method'?

The belief that investigators should allow facts to determine the merits of their thinking.

What is a 'Hypothesis'?

Specific predictions generated from theories.

What is a 'Sample' in research?

A group of individuals studied.

What is 'Random sampling'?

A method where all members of a larger population are identified, and then a portion is randomly selected for study.

What are general limitations of using verbal reports for data collection?

They cannot be used with certain populations (e.g., infants) and rely on participants' self-awareness and honesty.

What is 'Naturalistic observation'?

Observing people in their everyday surroundings.

What are some drawbacks of naturalistic observation?

Some behaviors occur too infrequently, it's hard to pinpoint causes, and the observer's presence can alter behavior.

What is 'Structured observation'?

Achieving greater control over conditions by creating special stimuli or situations designed to elicit specific behaviors.

What is fMRI and what does it measure?

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measures increases in blood flow to an area of the brain when it is active.

What is a 'Case study'?

An in-depth examination of an individual or a small number of individuals.

What is the primary strength of the 'Experimental method'?

It allows an investigator to manipulate an independent variable to assess its causal effects on a dependent variable.

What are the three critical features of a true experiment?

Random assignment of participants, manipulation of the independent variable, and experimental control.

What does the 'Correlational method' determine?

Whether two or more variables are related in a systematic way.

What is a 'correlation coefficient'?

An index of the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, ranging from +1.00 to -1.00.

What is a major limitation of correlational studies?

They cannot establish a causal relationship between variables due to directionality and third-variable problems.

What is 'Meta-analysis'?

A research method where results of multiple studies addressing the same question are combined to produce overall conclusions.

What is the main confounding issue in a 'Cross-sectional design'?

Age effects and cohort effects are confounded.

What does a 'Longitudinal design' provide information about?

Age changes rather than age differences, indicating how characteristics and behaviors remain consistent over time.

What key challenge is faced by developmental scientists regarding cultural sensitivity?

Most developmental research is WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic), which can lead to ethnocentrism.

What are 'Research ethics'?

Standards of conduct designed to protect research participants from physical or psychological harm.

What is 'Informed consent' in research?

Voluntary agreement obtained from participants (or their 'assent' in vulnerable populations) after being informed of the study's purpose and ensuring their right to refuse or withdraw.

What is 'Debriefing' in research?

Telling participants about the true purpose of the study afterward, especially if deception was used, and ensuring they don't leave feeling upset.

What is the ethical responsibility concerning 'Confidentiality' in research?

To keep information collected confidential, sharing it only with explicit participant permission or when legally required.