Developmental Psychology: Themes & History

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on the themes and history of child development.

Nature vs. Nurture

The ongoing debate regarding the interaction of genetic and environmental influences on development.

Innate Knowledge

The idea proposed by Plato that humans are born with inherent knowledge.

Tabula Rasa

Locke's concept that children are born as a blank slate, shaped by experiences.

Active Child

The notion that children actively shape their own development through their choices and interactions.

Continuous vs. Discontinuous Development

The debate over whether development occurs gradually or in distinct stages.

Research Designs

The methodologies used to study developmental psychology, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Ethical Issues in Child Research

Considerations that ensure the safety and well-being of child participants in research.

Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model

A framework that examines how various environmental systems influence child development.

Correlational Design

A research method that assesses the relationship between two variables but cannot determine causation.

Longitudinal Study

A research design in which the same subjects are observed repeatedly over a period of time.

Cross-Sectional Study

A research design that examines different subjects at a single point in time.

Nature vs. Nurture

The ongoing debate regarding the interaction of genetic and environmental influences on development.

Innate Knowledge

The idea proposed by Plato that humans are born with inherent knowledge.

Tabula Rasa

Locke's concept that children are born as a blank slate, shaped by experiences.

Active Child

The notion that children actively shape their own development through their choices and interactions.

Continuous vs. Discontinuous Development

The debate over whether development occurs gradually or in distinct stages.

Research Designs

The methodologies used to study developmental psychology, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Ethical Issues in Child Research

Considerations that ensure the safety and well-being of child participants in research.

Bronfenbrenner
’s Bioecological Model

A framework that examines how various environmental systems influence child development.

Correlational Design

A research method that assesses the relationship between two variables but cannot determine causation.

Longitudinal Study

A research design in which the same subjects are observed repeatedly over a period of time.

Cross-Sectional Study

A research design that examines different subjects at a single point in time.

Experimental Design

A research method that involves manipulating one or more variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Microsystem

In Bronfenbrenner's model, the immediate environment where a child directly interacts, such as family, school, and peers.

Mesosystem

In Bronfenbrenner's model, the connections and interactions between different microsystems (e.g., parent-teacher conferences).

Exosystem

In Bronfenbrenner's model, external settings that indirectly affect the child, such as a parent's workplace or community resources.

Macrosystem

In Bronfenbrenner's model, the broader cultural context, including societal values, laws, customs, and ideologies.

Chronosystem

In Bronfenbrenner's model, the influence of time and historical changes on a child's development, including life transitions and sociohistorical events.