Human Development Theories and Perspectives

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Questions and Answers

Which characteristic of development indicates that no specific age period dominates human development?

Multidimensional

Multidisciplinary

Lifelong (correct)

Plastic

What does the term 'multidimensional' in the lifespan perspective of development refer to?

Multiple areas of human capabilities are involved in development. (correct)

Development is influenced by only biological factors.

Only cognitive aspects are considered in development.

Individuals experience a single linear path of growth.

What is indicated by the term 'plastic' in relation to human development?

The capacity for adaptability and change in response to experiences. (correct)

The ability to remain unchanged throughout life.

A set path of development that is predictable.

An emphasis on genetic determinants of behavior.

Which of the following is NOT a focus of cognitive development according to Jean Piaget?

Unchanging cognitive frameworks throughout life. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Piaget's cognitive development theory, what is a schema?

A concept or framework that organizes and interprets information. Signup and view all the answers

The idea that individuals are influenced by and influence their culture and environment relates to which aspect of development?

Contextual Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the concept of 'multidirectional' in relation to development?

Some developmental dimensions can grow while others decline over a lifespan. Signup and view all the answers

What does regulation refer to in the context of lifespan development?

Management of conflicts arising from growth and loss. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a dimension of life stage development?

Forced change Signup and view all the answers

According to cognitive development theory, how do children differ from adults in their cognitive processing?

Children reason and think differently due to their developmental stage. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the anal stage of development according to the content provided?

The regulation of bodily functions causing frustration. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the attachment styles identified in Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation experiment?

Insecure anxious Signup and view all the answers

What is a major characteristic of the authoritative parenting style?

Parents encourage independence within limits and controls. Signup and view all the answers

During which stage of lifespan development does sexual maturation occur?

Adolescence Signup and view all the answers

What is a key reason infants form attachments to caregivers?

They are biologically predisposed to bond. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of development does the latency stage primarily focus on?

Cognitive development and cultural assimilation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of neglectful parenting as described in the content?

Children may be prone to delinquency in adolescence. Signup and view all the answers

What foundational component is vital for the development of emotional attachment in infants?

Touch and nurturing interactions. Signup and view all the answers

Which behavioral characteristic is typical of insecure avoidant babies?

They resist any attempt for contact with the caregiver. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the initial phase of physical development spanning from conception to delivery?

Zygote Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of accommodation within cognitive development?

To adapt current schemas to incorporate new information Signup and view all the answers

During which stage of cognitive development do children begin to perform simple mathematical calculations mentally?

Concrete Operational Stage Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of conservation imply in child development?

Changes in shape do not affect the quantity of an entity Signup and view all the answers

What is egocentrism in the context of cognitive development?

The inability to differentiate between one's own perspective and that of others Signup and view all the answers

At what stage do children begin to understand the concept of object permanence?

Sensorimotor Stage Signup and view all the answers

What defines the period of adolescence in Erikson's stages of development?

Identity v Role Confusion Signup and view all the answers

Which stage in Freud's stages of development focuses on oral experiences?

Oral Stage Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes a child's understanding of their own and others' mental states and how these affect behavior?

Theory of Mind Signup and view all the answers

What does Piaget's concept of organisational development refer to?

Grouping thoughts into a higher-order system Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome when a child experiences disequilibrium in Piaget's theory?

Motivation for cognitive adaptation through accommodation and assimilation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lecture Objectives

Development encompasses cognitive, psychosocial, psychosexual, attachment, and lifespan development stages.

What is Development?

Development is a pattern of change that begins at conception and continues throughout the lifespan.
Lifespan development is multidisciplinary, recognizing growth, maintenance, and regulation through a combination of individual factors, biology, socio-cultural forces.

The Lifespan Perspective

Development is lifelong, multidimensional, plastic, multidisciplinary, and contextual.
It includes various interrelated dimensions (biological, socio-cultural, etc.), and individuals adapt in different ways throughout their life.

Human Developmental Theories

Key theorists include Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Sigmund Freud.
Theories help understand human intellectual and emotional growth.

Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget: Human intellectual development follows stages.
Cognition involves mental activities like thinking, reasoning, knowing, remembering, and communicating.
Cognitive development occurs through a series of stages, each distinct.

Cognitive Schemas

Schemas are concepts that organize and interpret information about the physical and social world.
Children develop schemas (e.g., "cow") as they experience their world.

Stages of Cognitive Development: Assimilation

Assimilation: Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas.

Stages of Cognitive Development: Accommodation

Accommodation: Adapting current schemas to incorporate new information.
Occurs when new experiences don't fit existing schemas.

Stages of Cognitive Development: Sensorimotor

Sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years): infants understand their world through sensory impressions and motor activities.
Children develop object permanence in this stage (awareness things exist even when out of sight).

Stages of Cognitive Development: Preoperational

Preoperational stage (2 to 7 years): children use language but have limited mental operations, developing basic mental operations.
Conservation is a critical concept during this period—understanding that quantity doesn't change when shape changes (e.g., pouring liquid from a tall glass to a short, wide glass).

Stages of Cognitive Development: Concrete Operational

Concrete operational stage (7 to 11 years): Children develop logical operations about concrete events.
Egocentrism is present, where children have difficulty distinguishing their perspective from others'.

Stages of Cognitive Development: Formal Operational

Formal operational stage (12 years on): Abstract thinking becomes possible.
Reasoning about hypothetical situations and possibilities—not just concrete events.
Includes the ability to use symbolic logic and critical thinking.

Cognitive Development - Theory of Mind

People develop their understanding of other's mental states (feelings, perceptions, and thoughts) during adolescence.
Children can understand how others' actions can be predicted from their beliefs.

Moral Development (Kohlberg)

Kohlberg's theory builds on Piaget's cognitive theory.
Moral development proceeds through three levels.

Psychosocial Development (Erikson)

Erik Erikson outlined stages of psychosocial development.
Development involves confronting and resolving psychosocial crises during specific life stages.

Freud's Stages of Psychosexual Development

Sigmund Freud outlined stages of psychosexual development.
Each stage is associated with erogenous zones.
Conflicts during stages affect personality.

Attachment is a deep emotional bond between people.
Infants form attachments to primary caregivers.
Evidence from attachment theory includes the Strange Situation experiment and Harlow's monkey studies
There are different attachment styles.

Parenting Styles (Baumrind)

Parenting styles influence development.
Baumrind's four styles (authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and indulgent) vary in responsiveness and demandingness.

Stages of Lifespan Development

Prenatal development outlines the stages from conception to birth
Zygote, embryo, and fetus stages are highlighted.

Newborn Primed to Survive

Newborns have specific reflexes and preferences enabling interaction with the caregiver.

Infancy and Childhood (development in Motor Skills)

Child development includes milestones in fine and gross motor skills
Periods like sitting, crawling, walking, etc are highlighted.

Adolescence

Physical and emotional developmental changes in adolescence are addressed
Adolescence is a period of sexual maturation

Middle Adulthood

Biological changes in middle adulthood are noted
Changes in hormonal and reproductive abilities.

Old Age

Physical and cognitive changes in old age are examined.
General declines in physical and cognitive function.

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Description

Explore the key concepts of human development, including cognitive, psychosocial, and psychosexual changes throughout the lifespan. This quiz will cover major theories proposed by influential thinkers like Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Sigmund Freud. Test your understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of human development.