Questions and Answers
In the 4th century, what was the view of children according to the Christian doctrine of Original Sin?
According to John Locke's philosophical view, what is the inherent nature of children?
Who believed that children are born with inherent goodness and should be nurtured and protected?
According to the concept of Original Sin, what is the parental responsibility towards children?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a view of children's inherent nature?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following accurately describes the view of children's inherent nature as proposed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
Signup and view all the answers
Which philosophical view emphasizes the role of parents in shaping a child's behavior?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a common misconception associated with the concept of 'ageism'?
Signup and view all the answers
Which research method is specifically designed to track developmental changes in individuals over time?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a potential weakness of the cross-sectional research method?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes the difference between 'continuity' and 'discontinuity' in development?
Signup and view all the answers
Which research method combines elements of both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following research methods is best suited for in-depth examinations of a single individual's development?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a strength of using experimental research strategies?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a weakness of correlational research?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one way epigenetic mechanisms can affect offspring?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the prenatal predictive-adaptive response involve?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a limitation of naturalistic observation as a research method?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement correctly describes one aspect of epigenetic changes in parents?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes a challenge when interpreting correlational data?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a primary strength of the humanistic approach to development?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following accurately describes a weakness of Psychoanalytic theory?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect does Behaviorism primarily focus on?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a significant limitation of the Piagetian Theory of Cognitive Development?
Signup and view all the answers
How does Behaviorism view the possibility of change in behavior?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the humanistic approach contribute to the understanding of development?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements is true about the Psychoanalytic approach?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a unique feature of Piagetian Theory in terms of stages of development?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does Vygotsky's Sociocultural theory emphasize in cognitive development?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a strength of Bandura’s Social-Cognitive theory?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a weakness of the Information Processing theory?
Signup and view all the answers
Which inheritance pattern requires both genes to be recessive to produce a trait?
Signup and view all the answers
How does Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory view human development?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect of cognitive development is often underestimated due to Piaget's stage concept?
Signup and view all the answers
What do epigenetic mechanisms regulate in individuals?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes the term 'heterozygous' in genetic inheritance?
Signup and view all the answers
What critical aspect does the theory of Multifactorial inheritance recognize?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a documented limitation of Vygotsky’s Sociocultural approach?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Childhood Views from 4th Century to Present Day
4th Century
- The Christian doctrine of Original Sin viewed children as sinful, emphasizing the need for parents to intervene and correct their behavior through discipline.
- This perspective saw children as inherently flawed and in need of correction.
17th Century
- John Locke's "Blank Slate" theory proposed that children are born with a neutral predisposition, devoid of inherent good or evil.
- Locke's view emphasized the role of parental influence in shaping behaviors through experience and education.
18th Century
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of Innate Goodness saw children as naturally good and pure.
- According to Rousseau, parents should focus on nurturing and protecting children, rather than correcting them, to preserve their natural goodness.
Changing Views of Children: Historical Perspectives
- 4th Century Beliefs: Children viewed through the lens of Original Sin, seen as inherently sinful requiring parental intervention for correction.
- 17th Century – John Locke: Children perceived as a 'Blank Slate' (tabula rasa), neutral in disposition; parents responsible for shaping behaviors through experiences.
- 18th Century – Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Children regarded as innately good, emphasizing the importance of nurturing and protection from societal corruption.
Developmental Theories
-
Continuity vs. Discontinuity:
- Continuity: Age-related changes viewed as gradual and incremental.
- Discontinuity: Changes occur in distinct stages, shifting in nature or type.
-
Universal vs. Group-Specific Changes:
- Universal Changes: Common developmental changes affecting all individuals linked to age, potentially leading to ageism.
- Group-Specific Changes: Variations in development influenced by shared experiences of individuals in a cohort.
-
Nature vs. Nurture:
- Nativists: Believe in inborn perceptual abilities (nature).
- Empiricists: Argue that abilities are learned through experiences (nurture).
Research Methodologies
-
Cross-Sectional Studies: Analyze participants of different ages at a single time.
- Strength: Quick data on age-related differences.
- Weakness: Ignores individual variations (cohort effect).
-
Longitudinal Studies: Follow the same group over time to observe developmental changes.
- Strength: Tracks individual development.
- Weakness: Time-consuming; findings may be limited to the study group.
-
Sequential Designs: Combine cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches.
- Strength: Provides extensive data on the same hypothesis.
- Weakness: Time-intensive, varying attribution rates across groups.
Descriptive Methods
-
Case Studies: In-depth examination of individual cases.
- Strength: Informative for making individual decisions.
- Weakness: Subjective and potentially biased.
-
Naturalistic Observation: Observing behaviors in natural settings.
- Strength: Offers insights into real-world psychological processes.
- Weakness: Risks of observer bias and missing contrary behaviors.
-
Correlational Research: Examines relationships between two variables.
- Strength: Clarifies complex variable interactions.
- Weakness: Does not establish causation.
Experimental Research Strategies
-
Random Assignment: Participants assigned to experimental and control groups to test causal relationships.
- Strength: Identifies cause-effect dynamics.
- Weakness: Limited generalizability and potential variable constraints.
Epigenetic Factors
- Gene Regulation: Epigenetic mechanisms control gene expression, signaling genes to activate when necessary.
- Parental Influence: Interaction between parents and offspring can trigger epigenetic changes, impacting genetic expression.
- Predictive-Adaptive Responses: Fetuses adapt physiologically to anticipate potential environmental conditions based on cues received in the womb.
Psychoanalytic Theory
- Developmental change results from internal drives and emotions affecting behavior; founded by Sigmund Freud.
- Highlights the critical role parents play in shaping early childhood experiences.
- Emphasizes that children’s needs evolve with age, requiring ongoing parental adaptation.
- Measurement and quantification of concepts are challenging; relies on individual case studies which may lack generalizability.
Humanistic Approach
- Focuses on the inherent goodness of humans and their unique potential for personal growth and self-actualization.
- Shifts development emphasis towards individual choices rather than external or societal factors.
- Positively views human agency in influencing well-being.
- Concepts are difficult to empirically test due to vague propositions.
Behaviorism
- Behavior is shaped by environmental conditioning, prioritizing observable behaviors over internal mental processes.
- Empirical data gathered through careful observation and measurement allows for explaining behavioral changes.
- Optimistic about change; behaviors can be altered if reinforcement systems are modified.
- Lacks a developmental perspective; does not sufficiently address changes across the lifespan.
Piagetian Theory of Cognitive Development
- Cognitive reasoning develops through four universal stages from birth to adolescence, each building different schema.
- Provides insight into how children of varying ages process and interact with the world.
- Criticized for imprecise age determination in skill acquisition; stage framework may underestimate children's reasoning.
Information Processing Theory
- Human cognitive functioning involves encoding, storage, and retrieval, influenced by brain development and experience.
- Clarifies how individuals of different ages manage information and cognitive processes.
- The complexity of human information processing surpasses that of computers; lacks a comprehensive developmental overview.
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
- Cognitive development is enhanced through social interactions, particularly during structured problem-solving.
- Emphasizes the essential role of sociocultural context in cognitive growth.
- Verbal guidance may not universally facilitate cognitive advancement across diverse cultures.
Bandura’s Social-Cognitive Theory
- Learning occurs through model observation, shaped by individual interpretation of situations.
- A child’s cognitive level influences their behavioral responses and environmental engagement.
- Integrates cognitive, emotional, social, and environmental factors for a holistic understanding of development.
- Doesn't provide a comprehensive development picture, especially neglecting biological influences.
Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory
- Development results from interplay between individual characteristics and contextual factors over time.
- Calls for research on complex interactions among various individual and context-related variables.
- Underestimates the impact of physical environmental factors like pollution, nutrition, and health.
Epigenetic Mechanisms
- Regulate gene expression by signaling genes to activate or deactivate based on environmental needs.
- Parental interactions can affect offspring's epigenetic mechanisms, potentially altering genetic expression.
- Epigenetic changes in parents may be inherited by children.
Predictive-Adaptive Responses
- The fetus adapts physiologically to environmental cues while in the womb, enhancing survival chances based on anticipated conditions.
- Prenatal adjustments are made to optimize future developmental opportunities for survival and reproduction.
Patterns of Inheritance
- Dominant-Recessive: One dominant gene strongly affects phenotype; two recessive genes are required for trait manifestation.
- Polygenic Inheritance: Multiple genes contribute to phenotype traits.
- Multifactorial Inheritance: Genetic traits are influenced by both genetics and environmental factors.
- Mitochondrial Inheritance: Mitochondrial DNA is inherited maternally, not from paternal sperm.
- Homozygous: Organisms with two identical dominant or recessive alleles.
- Heterozygous: Organisms with one dominant and one recessive allele.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore how views on childhood have changed from the 4th century's emphasis on original sin to John Locke's 'blank slate' theory in the 17th century. Understand the evolution of perspectives on children's nature and upbringing.
