Key Concepts in Developmental Psychology

Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational

Scheme

A mental framework that organizes and interprets information

Reflex

An automatic response to a stimulus

Assimilation

Using existing schemes to understand new experiences

Accommodation

Changing schemes to fit new experiences

Simple Reflexes (0-1 mo)

Infants use inborn reflexes to interact with the world

First Habits & Primary Circular Reactions (1-4 mo)

Infants coordinate separate actions into single, integrated activities

Secondary Circular Reactions (4-8 mo)

Infants repeat actions that bring desired results with the outside world

Coordination of Secondary Circular Reactions (8-12 mo)

Goal-directed behavior emerges with coordination of schemas

Tertiary Circular Reactions (12-18 mo)

Infants experiment and explore new behaviors

Beginnings of Thought (18-24 mo)

Symbolic thought and mental representation begin

Preoperational Stage (2-7 years)

Use of symbols, egocentrism, lack of conservation, animism, centration

Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years)

Logical thinking, conservation, reversibility, classification

Formal Operational Stage (11+ years)

Abstract and hypothetical thinking, metacognition

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The difference between what a child can do alone and with help

Scaffolding

Support given during learning that is gradually removed

Cultural Tools

Objects and language that promote learning in a culture

Konrad Lorenz's experiment

Studied imprinting in goslings to understand attachment

Harlow's research

Monkey studies showed importance of comfort in attachment

John Bowlby

Father of attachment theory; infants seek closeness to caregivers

Strange Situation (Ainsworth)

Assessed infant attachment by observing separations and reunions

Secure Attachment

Child is upset when caregiver leaves, comforted when they return

Avoidant Attachment

Child shows little distress when caregiver leaves or returns

Ambivalent Attachment

Child is clingy, angry when caregiver returns

Disorganized-Disoriented Attachment

Child shows inconsistent, confused behavior

Interactional Synchrony

Coordinated interaction between caregiver and infant

Stranger Anxiety

Fear of unfamiliar people

Separation Anxiety

Distress from being separated from a caregiver

Emotional Self-Regulation

Ability to manage emotional responses

Disengagement Theory

Elderly withdraw from society to reflect

Activity Theory

Elderly remain active for better satisfaction

Continuity Theory

Elderly maintain past habits and behaviors for well-being

Easy Babies

Adaptable, positive mood, regular routines

Difficult Babies

Irregular, slow to adapt, intense reactions

Slow-to-Warm Babies

Inactive, moody, slow to adapt but gradually improve

The Big Five Personality Traits

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism

Erikson's Stage 1 (Birth-18 mo)

Trust vs.

Mistrust

Virtue: Hope

Erikson's Stage 2 (18 mo-3 yrs)

Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt — Virtue: Will

Erikson's Stage 3 (3-6 yrs)

Initiative vs. Guilt — Virtue: Purpose

Erikson's Stage 4 (6-12 yrs)

Industry vs. Inferiority — Virtue: Competence

Erikson's Stage 5 (12-18 yrs)

Identity vs. Role Confusion — Virtue: Fidelity

Erikson's Stage 6 (Young Adult)

Intimacy vs. Isolation — Virtue: Love

Erikson's Stage 7 (Middle Adulthood)

Generativity vs. Stagnation — Virtue: Care

Erikson's Stage 8 (Late Adulthood)

Ego Integrity vs. Despair — Virtue: Wisdom

Piaget's Moral Development

Heteronomous and Autonomous Morality

Social Learning Theory on Morality

Moral behavior learned through observation and reinforcement

Abstract Modeling

Observing general moral principles from others

Empathy

Understanding and sharing the feelings of others

Prosocial Behavior

Helping behavior intended to benefit others

Kohlberg's Moral Stages

Preconventional, Conventional, Postconventional

Gilligan's Moral Theory

Females focus on care and responsibility in moral decisions

Authoritarian Parenting

Strict rules, low warmth — leads to fearful or rebellious children

Authoritative Parenting

Firm limits + warmth — leads to independent, socially competent children

Permissive Parenting

High warmth, few rules — leads to immature, dependent children

Uninvolved Parenting

Low warmth and involvement — leads to emotional detachment

Chiao Shun

Chinese parenting emphasizing obedience and discipline

Fowler's Faith Development

Stages of faith that change through lifespan experiences

Instrumental Aggression

Aggression used as a means to an end

Relational Aggression

Aggression aimed at harming social relationships

Freud's Theory of Aggression

Thanatos — the death instinct drives aggression

Lorenz's View on Aggression

Aggression is instinctual and biologically driven

Sociobiologists' View on Aggression

Aggression has evolutionary benefits

Cognitive View of Aggression

Aggression is based on interpretation of social cues

Social Learning View on Aggression

Aggression is learned by observing others

Cycle of Domestic Violence

Tension building → Acute battering → Honeymoon phase

Child Abuse

Physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect of children