Chapter 4: Human Development

Question 1

Developmental Psychology

Answer 1

Study of behaviour and mental processes change over time, and factors that influence changes.

Question 2

Cross-Sectional

Answer 2

Individuals of different ages are compared at same time to determine differences.

Question 3

Longitudinal Design

Answer 3

Same age group of people studied at different periods of time.

Question 4

Advantages of Cross-Sectional

Answer 4

Easy, straightforward, convenient, and yields information about age differences.

Question 5

Disadvantages of Cross-Sectional

Answer 5

Assumes any changes are the result of age

Cannot group cohort effects from age effects

No explanation how or when age related changes occurred

Question 6

Advantages of Longitudinal

Answer 6

Observed changes are a function of time and developmental experiences.

Question 7

Disadvantages of Longitudinal

Answer 7

Takes long time, many drop-out, cohort effects not controlled, costly.

Question 8

Cohort-Sequential Design

Answer 8

Combines both designs; both how different ages groups compare to one another and follow them over time.

Question 9

Critical Period

Answer 9

Development of when child’s environment is sensitive, making it easier to acquire certain brain functions and behaviours.

Question 10

Sensitive Period

Answer 10

Broader time frame; certain experiences have longer time, but strong impact on brain development, consequences are greater.

Question 11

What drives change: Nature and Nurture.

Answer 11

Nature - Our genetic inheritance; Nurture - The environment and our experiences.

Question 12

What drives change: Maturation

Answer 12

The unfolding of development in a particular sequence and time frame.

Question 13

What drives change: Epigenetic

Answer 13

Changes in gene expression that are independent of the DNA sequence of the gene.

Question 14

Genotype

Answer 14

A person’s genetic inheritance.

Question 15

Phenotype

Answer 15

Way genes are expressed; the observed characteristics of the genes.

Question 16

Conception

Answer 16

Occurs when an ovum and a sperm join and form a conceptus (zygote), a fertilized egg.

Question 17

Germinal Stage (0-2 weeks)

Answer 17

The first two weeks after conception; the placenta begins to form.

Question 18

Embryonic Stage (3-8 weeks)

Answer 18

Most vital organs and bodily systems begin to form; a period of vulnerability.

Question 19

Fetal Stage (8-40 weeks)

Answer 19

Organs continue to grow and begin to function; brain experiences rapid growth.

Question 20

Teratogen

Answer 20

A teratogen is any substance, including some diseases, that causes damage during the prenatal period.

Depends on dose, timing/extent, and age of organism.

Question 21

Physical Development

Answer 21

Motor development skills and milestones.

Question 22

Brain Development (MANSS)

Answer 22

MANSS

Myelination - efficient, grows over time when neurons are used more

Apotosis (cell death) - POP! Unnecessary neurons

Neurogenesis - creation of new neurons
Synaptogenesis - new connections/synapses

Synaptic Pruning - dying or weak synaptic connections

Question 23

List 4 Theories of Cognitive Development

Answer 23

Changes in thinking over time - how babies learn.

1. Piaget’s Theory
2. Information-Processing Theory
3. Theory of Mind
4. Lev Vygotsky and socio-cultural Theory

Question 24

Piaget’s Theory

Answer 24

Development of first 2 years.

Question 25

Information-Processing Theory

Answer 25

Study of HOW children learn/remember/use information from environment Ex. Habituation & Baby math

Question 26

Lev Vygotsky

Answer 26

Role of socio-cultural theory: private speech, development = cultural/social interactions Zone of Proximal Development

Question 27

Jean Piaget (1896-1980)

Answer 27

Cognitive milestones - first 2 years.

Question 28

Schema

Answer 28

Organized way of interacting with the environment and experiencing the world.

Question 29

Adaptation | Hint: Schema

Answer 29

Process of constructing schemes on and in the environment Ex. Happens all the time; driving to work, flying to Japan

Question 30

Object Permanence

Answer 30

Ability to understand that objects exist even when out of sight.

Question 31

Assimilation

Answer 31

New ideas and experiences are incorporated into existing mental structures and behaviours Ex. Into schema, all the same

Question 32

Accommodation

Answer 32

Previously developed mental structures and behaviours are modified to adapt them to new experiences Ex. Bird, cat, and dogs - modifying and adapting new experience

Question 33

Equilibrium

Answer 33

Balance in mental framework.

Question 34

Piaget’s Stages of Development | List the stages.

Answer 34

Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational.

Question 35

Sensorimotor

Answer 35

Birth - 2 years; Motor abilities & 5 senses; Differentiate themselves from objects.

Question 36

Preoperational

Answer 36

2 - 6/7 years; Developing symbolic thought; Egocentrism; Unable to see other POV.

Question 37

Preoperational: Centration | Hint - Cake

Answer 37

Focus on the most salient feature of a situation | Ex. “They got more slices than I do!” No consider size of cake slices.

Question 38

Preoperational: Animistic Thinking

Answer 38

The attribution of intentions to objects or events Ex. Teddy bear is significant, snow means snowman is coming

Question 39

Preoperational: Irreversibility

Answer 39

The inability to envision undoing an action.

Question 40

Concrete Operational

Answer 40

6/7 - 11/12 years; Problem-solving, rules, & higher order symbolism. Appearance vs. Reality. Conservation: Recognizes objects can be transformed (able to reverse)

Question 41

Formal Operational | Hint - Concious

Answer 41

11/12 - Adult Hypothetical and abstract reasoning. Possibilities Imaginary audience of others; personal fable.

Question 42

Information Processing Theory | Human Development

Answer 42

The study of how children learn, remember, organize and use information from their environment.

Question 43

Habituation and Baby Math

Answer 43

At 5 months old, babies know that 1 + 1 = 2!

Question 44

Theory of Mind | Hint - Other POV's

Answer 44

Understanding of mental states such as feelings, desires, beliefs, and intentions, and their causal role in behavior Ex. Lying to mom - will impact moms feelings because we’re different

Question 45

Socio-cultural Theory

Answer 45

Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934); Development is a product of culture & social interactions with others. Private Speech.

Question 46

Zone of Proximal Development

Answer 46

The difference between what children can do on their own and what they require assistance and guidance with.

Question 47

Scaffolding

Answer 47

Guidance. What helper does for the learner.

Question 48

Emotional Development

Answer 48

Attachment - a strong emotional tie a person feels towards significant others in their lives.

Question 49

Harry Harlow (1905-1981) believed in 3 key factors … | For child development

Answer 49

Body Contact, Familiarity, Responsive Parenting.

Question 50

John Bowlby (1907-1990) believed …

Answer 50

Early interactions are crucial to development; Separation Anxiety

Question 51

Strange Situation Technique

Answer 51

Mary Ainsworth (1913 - 1999). Observing reaction of child before and after when mother leaves child room.

Question 52

Secure (LOW anxiety/avoidance)

Answer 52

explores room while the parent present missing parent and preference physical contact settles after reunion

Question 53

Ambivalent/Preoccupied (HIGH anxiety, LOW avoidance)

Answer 53

little exploration of their environment, fail to return in reunion distressed, passive, preoccupied before and during reunion has no comfort, may fuss parent inconsistent

Question 54

Avoidant/Dismissing (HIGH avoidance, LOW anxiety)

Answer 54

fails to cry when separated from the parent; ignores parent/no contact unemotional, focuses on environment

Question 55

Disorganized/Fearful (HIGH anxiety & avoidance)

Answer 55

associates with maltreatment from a parent who frightens child disorganized/disoriented behaviours in parents presence; freeze then fall, or cling/cry/lean away.

Question 56

Baumrind’s and Maccoby and Martin’s Parenting Styles

Answer 56

Parenting Style, Parent Behavior, Outcome of Child. | Authoritarian, Authoritive, Uninvovled, Permissive

Question 57

Authoritative

Answer 57

P: Warm, sensitive to child’s needs, nurturing; reasonable demands and encourages appropriate autonomy. C: High self-esteem, cooperativeness, self-control, maturity.

Question 58

Authoritarian

Answer 58

P: Cold, rejecting; makes coercive demands; frequently critical of child. C: Low self-esteem, anxious, unhappy or aggressive.

Question 59

Permissive | Hint - Overindulgent

Answer 59

P: Warm, accepting, but overindulgent and inattentive. C: Impulsive, disobedient, overly dependent, or low initiative.

Question 60

Uninvolved

Answer 60

P: Emotionally detached and depressed; little time or energy for child rearing. C: Anxious, poor communication, anti-social.

Question 61

Temperament

Answer 61

Early-emerging and long-lasting individual differences in the intensity and quality of a person’s (or animal’s) emotional reactions Ex. Mom is late for swimming class but is secure, son is anxious that he’s late!

Question 62

Adolescence involves what type of development?

Answer 62

Cognitive Development; Formal operational period (Piaget).

Question 63

Moral Reasoning - Who created the idea and what?

Answer 63

Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987); How children and adolescents acquire an appreciation of right and wrong.

Question 64

Kohlberg’s Moral Dilemmas | List them.

Answer 64

Pre-Conventional, Conventional, Post- Conventonal.

Question 65

Pre-Conventional

Answer 65

Morality centres on what you can get away with. Steal Drug: Save wife, she'll take care of his children. Not Steal: Caught and go to jail.

Question 66

Conventional

Answer 66

Morality centres on avoiding others’ disapproval and obeying society’s rules. Steal Drug: People will think "bad husband". Not Steal: If steals, people think criminal/against law.

Question 67

Post-Conventonal

Answer 67

Morality is determined by ABSTRACT ethical principles. (Rare stage) Steal Drug: Right to life is universal and precedence over right to property. Not Steal: Laws are necessary for order; cannot break or we lose all social order.