Developmental Psychology Overview
22 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the gestation period for human development?

  • 38-40 weeks (correct)
  • 40-42 weeks
  • 36-38 weeks
  • 30-32 weeks

    • What is the term for the forming of synapses between neurons that continues until about 2 years old?

  • Synaptogenesis (correct)
  • Neural pruning
  • Myelination
  • Neurogenesis

    • Which of the following substances are known as teratogens?

  • Antibiotics
  • Tobacco (correct)
  • Nutrients
  • Vaccines

    • What is the impact of exposure to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) during infancy?

    <p>Longer reaction times (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to synapses that are not regularly used after the age of 2?

    <p>They get trimmed away (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The concept of neural plasticity refers to which ability of the brain?

    <p>To form and maintain synapses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one potential effect of air pollution on newborns according to research?

    <p>Genetic mutations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common cognitive challenge experienced by preschoolers with FASD?

    <p>Decreased attention span (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cognitive ability do infants not grasp during the sensorimotor stage?

    <p>Object permanence (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what age do children typically start to exhibit the beginnings of mental imagery according to Piaget's stages?

    <p>2-7 years (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the error called when infants continue to reach for the original location of a hidden object instead of its new location?

    <p>A-not-B error (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which stage is characterized by an inability to understand others' perspectives due to egocentrism?

    <p>Pre-operational (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which stage do children begin to apply logical operations but only in concrete situations?

    <p>Concrete operational stage (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What concept refers to the understanding that the appearance of an object does not change its fundamental properties?

    <p>Conservation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what stage do children develop the capacity for abstract thought and hypothetical reasoning?

    <p>Formal operational stage (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Piaget's view of children as constructivists characterize their learning process?

    <p>Children actively construct their understanding of the world (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What task illustrates a child's inability to recognize that others have different perspectives?

    <p>Three mountain task (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theorist's stage theory is focused on psychosexual stages rather than cognitive development?

    <p>Sigmund Freud (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What leads to the reasoning errors children make when judging quantity during the pre-operational stage?

    <p>Inability to conserve (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of Piaget's stages of cognitive development?

    <p>Egocentric stage (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one consequence of children being egocentric during the pre-operational stage?

    <p>Inability to understand others' points of view (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which developmental theory emphasizes that a child learns best through interactions with their environment and social experiences?

    <p>Constructivism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Developmental Psychology

    The study of how and why biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social abilities develop throughout childhood.

    Nature vs. Nurture

    A debate in developmental psychology about the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to development.

    Teratogen

    A substance that can cause atypical development in a child if exposed during pregnancy.

    Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

    A range of physical, mental, and behavioral impairments caused by alcohol exposure in the womb.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Myelination

    The process of insulating nerve fibers in the brain with myelin, which enhances signal transmission.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Synaptogenesis

    The formation of connections (synapses) between neurons in the brain.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Neural Plasticity

    The ability of the brain to change and form new connections throughout life.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Gestation Period

    The period of time from conception to birth (approximately 38-40 weeks).

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Object Permanence

    The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sensorimotor Stage

    The first stage of Piaget's theory, from birth to 2 years, where infants learn through their senses and actions.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Preoperational Stage

    The second stage in Piaget's theory, from 2 to 7 years, where children develop language and symbolic thinking but struggle with logical reasoning.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Concrete Operational Stage

    The third stage in Piaget's theory, from 7 to 12 years, where children start to understand logical principles and can reason about concrete objects.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Formal Operational Stage

    The final stage in Piaget's theory, starting around 12 years, where individuals develop abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and scientific reasoning.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    A-not-B Error

    The tendency for infants in the sensorimotor stage to reach for an object in the last place they found it, even if they see it moved to a new location.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Perseveration

    The tendency to repeat a behavior even when it's no longer effective or appropriate.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Egocentrism

    The inability of young children to see or understand situations from another person's point of view.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Conservation

    The understanding that changing the appearance of an object does not change its essential properties, such as quantity, volume, or mass.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Operations

    Logical mental rules that can be used to solve problems or make judgments.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Constructivism

    The idea that children actively construct their own understanding of the world through their experiences, rather than simply absorbing information.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Three Mountain Task

    A task designed to assess egocentrism in children, where they have to describe what a doll sees from a different perspective.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Why Do Children Fail Conservation Tasks?

    According to Piaget, children in the pre-operational stage fail conservation tasks because they lack the mental operations necessary to understand the concept.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    How Do Children Develop?

    Piaget proposed that children progress through a series of cognitive stages, each characterized by different abilities and ways of thinking.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is Piaget's Main Point?

    Piaget argued that children are active learners who construct their understanding of the world through their experiences, and they develop in stages.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Study Notes

    Developmental Psychology Overview

    • Explores how biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social abilities develop throughout childhood.
    • Key debates include stability vs. change, continuity vs. discontinuity, nature vs. nurture, and critical vs. sensitive periods.
    • Understanding development helps us understand adult minds, clinical conditions, and typical abilities in childhood.

    Infant Development

    • Human development begins in the womb (during gestation).
    • Typical gestation period is 38-40 weeks (9 months).
    • Infant brain structure resembles an adult brain but is significantly smaller (about a quarter the size).
    • By 6 months, the brain has already reached 50% of adult size.

    Infant Development - Prenatal and Postnatal

    • At birth, neurons are not fully myelinated or interconnected.
    • Myelination and synaptogenesis (formation of synapses) continue until approximately age 2.
    • Unused synapses are pruned throughout development (after age 2).
    • Neural plasticity (brain's ability to form and maintain synapses) diminishes with age (Huttenlocher, 2002).

    Prenatal Influences on Infant Development

    • Damage to the infant brain can occur before birth.

    • Teratogens are substances that cause atypical development if encountered during gestation.

    • Examples include exposure to air pollution (Perera et al., 2002), or PVC elements (Latini et al., 2003) leading to genetic mutations, or shortened pregnancies, respectively.

    • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Alcohol exposure can cause physical, mental, and behavioral impairments.

    • FASD impairments can include:

    • Infancy: Slower reaction times.

    • Preschool: Decreased attention, hyperactivity.

    • Childhood: Learning problems, memory deficits.

    • Adulthood: Impaired problem-solving, increased substance dependence.

    Historical Perspectives on Developmental Psychology

    • The Industrial Revolution increased the need for an educated workforce, driving interest in cognitive development.
    • Later research expanded to emotional and social development, and to adult development.
    • Key figures include John B. Watson (mid-1800s), Charles Darwin (1877), and Wilhelm Preyer (1882).
    • A surge in empirical studies emerged by 1880 (across Europe and North America).
    • Key figures of the 1900s include Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and John Bowlby.

    Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

    • Jean Piaget, a Swiss child psychologist, developed a stage theory of cognitive development.
    • He observed his own children in forming his theory.
    • Other important stage theories include Sigmund Freud's psychodynamic theory and Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory.
    • Key concepts in Piaget's theory including Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operations
    • Sensorimotor (0–2 years): Infants explore through senses and motor activity; object permanence is not fully developed.
    • Preoperational (2–7 years): Children show egocentrism (difficulty seeing from another's perspective). They struggle with conservation tasks (understanding quantity, volume, and mass are consistent despite changes in appearance).
    • Concrete Operational (7–12 years): Children develop logical reasoning skills for concrete (tangible) problems.
    • Formal Operational (12 years – adulthood): Individuals can consider hypothetical situations and engage in abstract thought, like systematic reasoning used in science.

    Key Cognitive Concepts

    • Object Permanence: Understanding that objects exist even when out of sight.
    • A-not-B error: Infants persist in searching for a hidden object in a previous location, even if it's relocated. This demonstrates perseverative reaching in which infants persist with a response even when it is inaccurate.
    • Egocentrism: Difficulty understanding another person's perspective.
    • Operations: Mental rules to solve problems.
    • Conservation: Understanding quantity, volume, mass are unaffected by changes in appearance.
    • Constructivism: Children actively construct their understanding of the world rather than passively receiving information.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    This quiz covers the key aspects of developmental psychology, including stages of human development from prenatal to postnatal. It delves into critical debates surrounding stability, change, and the principles governing cognitive and emotional growth in children. Understanding these concepts is pivotal for grasping adult behaviors and psychological conditions.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser