Developmental psychology
a branch of psychology that examines development from infantry to adulthood. → Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social.
Enduring Themes
continuous and discontinuous development, nurture and nurture, Stability and change.
Discontinuous Development
marked by age-specific periods of time. It’s like moving up a staircase one step at a time.
Continuous Development
a relatively even process without distinct stages – Like riding an escalator.
Nature vs. Nurturer
DNA vs. Environment
Stability and Change
a debate centered on whether the traits an infant displays are enduring or whether they change as the growing person interacts with other people / the culture in which they are reared. (“Do adults continue to change?”)
Longitudinal Design
when researchers study individuals at several points during the lifespan. (Data collected repeatedly over time).
Cross-Sectional Design
when researchers compare different groups based on variables such as age, socioeconomic status, and gender. – less expensive and faster than a longitudinal study but can have confounding factors. (ONE-TIME OBSERVATION.)
