What is developmental psychology?
Series of lasting change in human behavior and psychological processes that happen during the span of life, mostly during childhood
Developmental psychology focuses on the various changes that occur across different areas, including biological, cognitive, and social aspects.
What are the different areas of change in developmental psychology?
- Biological
- Cognitive
- Social
These areas represent the various dimensions through which individuals experience change throughout their lifespan.
What is a theory in science?
An explanation for why or how a phenomenon occurs
A theory must explain all the evidence gathered about a phenomenon and is based on repeated occurrences observed by many people.
What distinguishes a theory from a hypothesis?
A theory is an explanation, while a hypothesis is a prediction about the results of an experiment
A hypothesis is constructed before the experiment takes place.
What is the definition of a hypothesis?
A prediction on how the results of an experiment will look
Hypotheses are formulated prior to conducting an experiment.
What are facts in scientific terms?
Established knowledge that is not discussed
Facts are accepted realities that form the foundation of scientific understanding.
True or False: A theory can be considered a fact.
False
A theory is an explanation based on observations, while a fact is an established piece of knowledge.
Fill in the blank: A theory must be able to explain all the _______ gathered about a phenomenon.
evidence
This requirement ensures that the theory is comprehensive and well-supported.
What are the two types of facts?
- Easily extracted from environment
- Requires something to be observed first
What is an example of a fact that requires observation before it is established?
Diseases are caused by tiny organisms
What does a theory of development explain?
How and why behaviour and psychological processes develop/change
What is the purpose of developmental psychology?
To understand the origins of human nature
What question does developmental psychology seek to answer regarding cognition?
Is human cognition biological or cultural?
What is a key question regarding individual differences in developmental psychology?
Why do people differ?
What leads to the question of whether people are born in a particular way?
Observing big differences between people in terms of personalities and abilities
What are the two perspectives on human development discussed?
- Are people made so?
- Are they in complete control of their own destiny?
