Developmental Psychology is the scientific study of age-related changes and consistencies in what 5 abilities?
Our thinking, emotions, relationships, personalities and physical abilities.
Explanations for differences observed in individuals of different ages were originally rooted in?
Philosophy.
In the Original Sin (Augustine) Philosophical perspective, what is the child’s inherent predisposition?
Sinful.
In the Blank Slate (Locke) Philosophical perspective, what is the child’s inherent predisposition?
Neutral.
In the Innate Goodness (Rousseau) Philosophical perspective, what is the child’s inherent predisposition?
Good.
In the Original Sin (Augustine) Philosophical perspective, what is the parent’s responsibility?
Intervene to correct.
In the Blank Slate (Locke) Philosophical perspective, what is the parent’s responsibility?
Shape behaviours.
In the Innate Goodness (Rousseau) Philosophical perspective, what is the parent’s responsibility?
Nurture and protect.
How did Charles Darwin study child development?
Baby Diaries - records of his own children’s development
Who identified the importance of establishing norms/average ages for developmental milestones?
G. Stanley Hall
Arnold Gessell proposed the concept of maturation (sequential genetic pattern of change) what did this mean?
It meant certain changes were due to biology –> children did not need to be TAUGHT these changes
Why is studying Life span development important?
Increased life expectancy in developed countries.
Life changes for adults.
Capacity for plasticity later in life.
What are the 3 Domains of development? (Age-related changes occur in 3 categories)
Physical
Cognitive
Social
Continuity in Development
Changes in amount or degree.
Involves continuous additions to development (quantitative change)
Discontinuity in Development
Changes in type or kind.
Involves reorganization or emergence of strategies, qualities, or skills (qualitative change)
ex. stage theories, large shifts
What are universal changes?
Common to every individual in a species.
ex. walking, communication capacity
What are group-specific changes?
Shared by all individuals who grow up in a particular group/cohort.
What are individual changes?
Shaped by unique events and life experiences.
What are the four goals when studying development?
Describe
Explain
Predict
Influence
3 Research Methods
Case Study
Naturalistic Observation
Survey
Correlation
a relationship between two variables
- closer to |1.00| the stronger the relationship
- sign indicates the direction of relationship
Does correlation = causation?
No.
Cross-sectional design experiment
groups of DIFFERENT ages are compared
Longitudinal design experiment
follows the same individuals OVER TIME
