What is developmental psychology?
The study of the physical, cognitive, & social systematic and successive changes that occur with age.
Why study child development?
Raising children
Choosing Social Policies
Understanding Human Nature
Romanian adoption study
Procedures:
Romanian babies living in orphanages where they were neglected by leaving them in their crib all day
The babies got adopted by British families at different ages.
The control group is British babies
Results:
Babies adopted earlier showed less adverse effects on the children
What are the themes in child development?
Nature and Nurture
The Active child
Continuity/Discontinuity
Mechanism of Developmental Change
The Sociocultural Context
Individual Differences
Research and Children’s Welfare
What is nature?
our biological endowment; the genes we receive from our parents
What is nurture?
the environments, both physical and social that influence our development
What is the nature and nurture debate?
The idea of whether nature (genetics) or nurture (environment) influence our development more
But in reality all human characteristics are created through the joint workings of nature and nurture
What is the Serotonin Transporter Gene example?
There is two versions a short or long allele
S-allele: much larger amygdala reactivity, stronger cortisol release, slower emotional recovery
L-allele: smaller stress response, faster emotional recovery
It changes how stressful the same life events actually are to your nervous system.
Teens with similar traumatic environment but with different allele lengths leads to different results
The idea of genetics playing a role with stress
What is the PKU example?
Lacking the enzyme essential in breaking down an amino acid that is present in various foods
The build up can lead to intellectual disability
But can be avoided by a specific diet
The idea of the interaction of environment and genetics
What is the active child?
The view that children are active unit of learning and contribute to their own development
What is the passive child?
A child is a sponge that is just soaking everything up
What are factors to consider about the individual differences in child development?
Genetic differences
Differences in treatment from parents and others
Differing effects on children of similar experiences
Children’s choices of environment
What are the main two approached to study child behavior?
Observational/naturalistic/correlational studies
Experimental studies
What is the sequence of the scientific method?
Ask a testable question
Make a theory-based prediction (hypothesis)
Design a study to test it
Collect and analyze data
Decide whether the evidence supports the hypothesis
Update the theory and ask new questions
What is a theory?
An orderly integrated statement (or set of statements) that describes, explains, and predicts behavior
What is a positive correlation?
High values of one variable are associated with high values of another variable
What is a negative correlation?
High values of one variable are associated with low values of another variable
What is a spurious correlation?
2 events are inferred to be related despite having no logical connection
What are experimental studies?
Answer questions about cause and effect
What is the independent variable?
the experience that the experimental group is exposed to
What is the dependent variable?
the behavior you measure- that may be affected by exposure to the experiment
What is random assignment?
The assignment to experimental groups must be random
What is the control group?
Your control group should match the intervention on everything except the active ingredient you care about
The different types of control group are no treatment, active control group, and placebo treatment
What is validity?
the test or experiments measures what it is intended to measure
Validity = accuracy
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Chapter 1 Lecture38
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Chapter 1 Textbook45
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Chapter 2 Teratogens Lecture22
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Lesson 2.1 Textbook33
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Prenatal Learning Lecture13
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Chapter 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 Textbook19
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Ch 2. The Newborn Lecture13
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Chapter 3 Nature and Nurture Lecture57
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Chapter 3 Textbook47
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Chapter 4 Piaget Lecture21
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Chapter 4 Textbook9
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Chapter 4 Information-Processing Theory & Dynamic Systems Lecture18
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Chapter 4: Sociocultural Theories17
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Chapter 4 Core Knowledge Theories10
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Chapter 5 Perceptual Development46
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Chapter 5 Learning21
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Chapter 5 Motor Development17
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Chapter 6: Language Development45
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Chapter 6: Theories of Language Development28
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Chapter 7: Conceptual Development46
