Psychology Perspectives on Development

Perspectives on Development

• Perspective is a viewpoint; no single perspective is definitively "correct."

Nature and Nurture

• Nature: Hereditary information from parents.
• Nurture: Environmental influences (physical and social) on biological and psychological development (e.g., language).
• Syndrome: A collection of symptoms.
• Neuroregeneration: Brain cells can regenerate.
• Idealists/Rationalists (Plato, Descartes): Believed some knowledge is innate.
• Empiricists (John Locke): Believed the mind is a blank slate (tabula rasa) at birth, with knowledge arising from experience.

Sequences and Stages

• Continuity-Discontinuity Issue: Developmental psychology examines if development is a continuous process or occurs in distinct stages.
• Continuous Development: Skills accumulate gradually (quantitative).
• Discontinuous Development: New, different abilities emerge at specific, predetermined stages (qualitative).
• Gait: How a child walks.
• Ataxia: Impaired balance in walking.

Internal and External Influences (Modern Developmental Psychology)

• Maturation: Genetically programmed sequential changes (universal, relatively insensitive to environment).

  • Menarche: First menstrual period.

• Timing of Experience: Maturation interacts with experience, highlighting critical/sensitive periods.

• Critical Period: Specific environmental input is essential for development. -Example: Kitten needing early light exposure for depth perception.
  -Example: The developing penis needing a specific time frame to develop for the correct sex

• Sensitive Period: Optimal time for experience/ development (but isn’t required). Language development is an example.

• Inborn Biases/Constraints: Development is shaped by prior biases, limiting possible developmental paths (e.g., object movement). Example: Children understand unsupported objects fall.

Fourth Perspective:

• Behaviour Genetics: Studies genetic influences on behaviour (variations among individuals).

• Research Focus: Twins (identical/fraternal), adopted children.

• Gene-Environment Interaction: Genes influence the environment; environment interacts with genes.

• Core Value: Values gained early (3-4 years old) influence ongoing development. Examples: feeling loved, different, etc.

• Internal Models of Experience: Internal interpretations/views of experiences are pivotal, influencing future experiences

• Aslin's Model of Environmental Influence (5 models): Details the ways in which the environment affects development. The models range from no environmental effects (maturation) to pure environmental effects (induction):

• Maturation: A purely maturational pattern without environmental impact (e.g., eye color).

• Maintenance: Environmental input is needed to maintain a skill already developed (e.g., swimming).

• Facilitation: A skill or behavior develops earlier than usual due to experience (e.g., language).

• Attunement: Particular experiences lead to permanent skill gains or heightened performance (e.g., reading).

• Induction: Purely environmental effect: behavior doesn't develop without experience (e.g., playing piano).

• Ecological Perspective: Focuses on external factors impacting development.

• Bronfenbrenner's Model: Child develops within interconnected environments (family, culture, society).

• Culture: Individualistic or collectivist cultures significantly affect development.

Explore the various viewpoints on development in psychology, including the nature vs. nurture debate and the continuity-discontinuity issue. This quiz examines key concepts like neuroregeneration, idealists vs. empiricists, and developmental stages. Test your understanding of these fundamental theories in developmental psychology.