Psychology: Nature vs. Nurture Debate

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Questions and Answers

According to Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, what level of the environment focuses on the relationships between different microsystems?

Exosystem

Macrosystem

Microsystem

Mesosystem (correct)

What is the term for the process by which an individual shapes their own environment and experiences?

Self-socialization (correct)

Sensitive Period

Self-actualization

Maturation

What is the term for the biological changes that follow an orderly sequence?

Critical Period

Maturation (correct)

Discontinuous Development

Sensitive Period

What is the term for the optimal time for development to occur, but with less critical impact if delays occur?

Sensitive Period Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the gradual alteration of behavior?

Continuous Change Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the stages of growth that are qualitatively different and usually ordered in a fixed sequence?

Discontinuous Development Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the events that most people experience at certain ages, such as puberty?

Normative Events Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the atypical or unexpected events that potentially alter a person's trajectory, such as a disaster or loss of a parent?

Non-normative Events Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of quantitative differences in developmental trajectories?

Individuals with developmental delays go through the same stages of development, but at a slower pace. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of cross-sectional research designs?

They are prone to cohort effects. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of longitudinal research designs?

They are able to capture age-related changes over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which new experiences are incorporated into existing schemas, according to Piaget?

Assimilation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development?

Social interaction and its role in shaping cognitive development. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs?

Sequential design Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of qualitative differences in developmental trajectories?

Individuals with developmental delays go through different stages of development. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the state of imbalance between existing schemas and new experiences, according to Piaget?

Disequilibrium Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Nature vs. Nurture

Nature (genes) contributes strongly to some characteristics, such as size, appearance, and height.
Nurture (environmental influences and experiences) also plays a significant role in shaping more complex traits, such as intelligence and personality.
Heredity creates predispositions, and environmental influences determine how they develop.

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory

The theory describes the relationships between an individual and their environment as bi-directional.
Five levels of the environment:
- Microsystem: most immediate surroundings (friends, family, teachers).
- Mesosystem: relations between microsystems (connection between home and workplace, etc.).
- Exosystem: social settings that affect the individual without them playing an active role (e.g., workplace policies).
- Macrosystem: operates at the outer level (e.g., cultural values, laws).
- Chronosystem: represents changes that occur over time.

Critical Period and Sensitive Period

Critical Period: the brain is set to acquire a function during a limited period of time, and if key experiences don't occur during this time, the function may not develop or fully develop.
Sensitive Period: optimal time for development to occur, but not as critical if delays occur.
Maturation: biologically based changes that follow an orderly sequence.

Continuity and Discontinuity

Strong consistencies over time in:
- Intelligence.
- Personality.
- Social skills.
Factors contributing to continuity:
- Biological characteristics.
- Individuals shaping their environment and experiences.
- Cumulative effects of positive or negative experiences.
- Age-related normative events.
- Non-normative events.

Differences in Developmental Trajectories

Quantitative differences:
- Individuals with developmental delays or intellectual disabilities usually go through the same stages but at a slower pace.
Qualitative differences:
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorders develop social and emotional skills differently than typically developing peers.

Research Designs

Cross-sectional design:
- Participants of different ages are compared at one point in time to determine age-related differences.
- Advantages: cheaper, easier.
- Disadvantages: completely different people, development may be affected by own experiences, subject to cohort differences.
Longitudinal design:
- The same participants are studied at various ages to determine age-related changes.
- Advantages: can capture individual changes over time.
- Disadvantages: expensive, participants drop out or die, could be affected by world events.
Sequential design:
- Combines cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.
- Examines different age groups at multiple points in time.
- Reduces cohort effects.

Cognitive Development

Piaget's theory:
- Children are active agents trying to make sense of the world and constructing theories/schemas.
- Stage model: children's thinking changes qualitatively with age.
- Schemas: organized patterns of thoughts and action.
- Assimilation: the process of incorporating new experiences into existing schemas.
- Accommodation: the process of changing existing schemas to fit new experiences.
- Disequilibrium: an imbalance between existing schemas and new experiences.
Vygotsky's theory:
- Development through social interaction.
- Constructivism: children construct schemas/mental representations through engaging with the world.

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Description

Explore the debate between the role of genetics and environmental influences in human development. Learn how nature and nurture interact to shape characteristics, personality, and intelligence.