What is developmental psychology?
Science of human development seeking to understand how and why people change and remain the same over time
Berger, 2008
What are the key types of development in developmental psychology?
- Physical (including neural)
- Cognitive (including intellectual)
- Social (including emotional)
These domains are interdependent.
Why is developmental psychology important?
- Understanding normal development
- Working with individuals at different stages
- Recognizing developmental issues
- Understanding factors affecting development
- Comprehending continuity and change
These aspects help in various professional applications.
What are important considerations in developmental psychology?
- Nature and nurture
- Sensitive and critical periods
- Stability and change
- Continuity and discontinuity
- Normative versus non-normative events
These considerations guide research and practice.
What does ‘nature and nurture’ refer to in developmental psychology?
The extent to which development is influenced by biological factors (nature) and environmental factors (nurture)
Heredity creates predispositions while the environment influences development.
What are sensitive periods of development?
Optimal time frames for certain experiences that can occur at other times without disrupting normal development
In contrast to critical periods.
What are critical periods of development?
Limited time frames during which certain experiences must occur for normal development to take place
Failure to experience key events may lead to incomplete development.
What is Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory?
A model highlighting the bi-directional relationships between an individual and their environment, comprising:
* Microsystem
* Mesosystem
* Exosystem
* Macrosystem
* Chronosystem
Each level represents different environmental influences.
What is stability and change in development?
Refers to the acquisition or loss of behavior or function, which can be continuous (gradual) or discontinuous (stages)
Understanding these concepts aids in assessing developmental progress.
What is the difference between normative and non-normative events?
- Normative events: Age-related events experienced by most people
- Non-normative events: Atypical or unexpected events affecting development
Examples of non-normative events include disasters or personal losses.
What are quantitative and qualitative differences in developmental trajectories?
- Quantitative differences: Same stages at a slower pace (e.g., developmental delays)
- Qualitative differences: Different development patterns (e.g., autism spectrum disorder)
These differences highlight individual variation in development.
What is cognition?
Mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Cognition is a central focus of cognitive development studies.
Who is Jean Piaget?
A theorist known for outlining developmental processes related to cognitive development, emphasizing stages of qualitative change in children’s thinking
His theories form the foundation of cognitive development.
What is Piaget’s concept of schemas?
Organized patterns of thoughts and actions that help individuals understand the world
Schemas evolve through assimilation and accommodation.
What is assimilation in Piaget’s theory?
The process by which new experiences are incorporated into existing schemas
This helps individuals make sense of new information.
What is accommodation in Piaget’s theory?
The process by which new experiences cause existing schemas to change
This is essential for adapting to new information.
What are the stages of Piaget’s cognitive development?
- Sensorimotor (birth to nearly 2 years)
- Preoperational (about 2 to 6 years)
- Concrete operational (about 7 to 11 years)
- Formal operational (about 12 through adulthood)
Each stage represents distinct cognitive abilities.
What is object permanence?
The awareness that objects continue to exist even when not perceived
This concept develops in the sensorimotor stage.
What characterizes the preoperational stage of cognitive development?
Mental representations begin, but logical reasoning is lacking; features include egocentrism and language development
This stage occurs from ages 2 to 7.
What is theory of mind?
People’s ideas about their own and others’ mental states, usually developing around 4-5 years old
It is often impaired in individuals with autism.
What is conservation in cognitive development?
The ability to recognize that a quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or position
This skill develops during the concrete operational stage.
What is the focus of Vygotsky’s theory?
The importance of social interaction in cognitive development and learning from others
This contrasts with Piaget’s emphasis on individual discovery.
What is Erikson’s psychosocial theory?
A theory outlining eight stages of psychosocial development, each characterized by a specific conflict
Each stage represents a critical challenge for the individual.
What are Kohlberg’s levels of moral development?
- Level 1: Preconventional
- Level 2: Conventional
- Level 3: Postconventional
Each level reflects different reasoning about morality.
