Download PSYC 185 Midterm 1 Exam Questions and Answers: Developmental Psychology and more Exams Psychology in PDF only on Docsity!
PSYC 185 MIDTERM 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
What is development? the process of growth, change, and maturation that occurs throughout the lifespan, from conception to death. It encompasses physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional changes.
Period of development Prenatal: Conception to birth.
Infancy: Birth to 2 years.
Early Childhood: 2 to 6 years.
Middle Childhood: 6 to 11 years.
Adolescence: 11 to 20 years.
Early Adulthood: 20 to 40 years.
Middle Adulthood: 40 to 65 years.
Late Adulthood: 65 years and older.
Domains of development physical, cognitive, social/emotional
Physical development Changes in body size, proportions, appearance, and the functioning of various body systems.
Cognitive development Changes in intellectual abilities, including attention, memory, academic and everyday knowledge, problem-solving, imagination, creativity, and language.
Socio-emotional development Changes in emotional communication, self-understanding, knowledge about other people, interpersonal skills, friendships, intimate relationships, and moral reasoning and behavior.
Continuous development Development is a smooth and gradual accumulation of abilities.
Discontinuous development Development occurs in distinct stages, with each stage bringing about specific types of change.
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development:
Focuses on how children construct knowledge.
Four stages:
Sensorimotor (0-2 years): Learn through senses and actions.
Preoperational (2-7 years): Begin symbolic thinking but are egocentric.
Concrete Operational (7-11 years): Logical thinking about concrete events.
Formal Operational (12+ years): Abstract and hypothetical thinking.
Bandura's Social Learning Theory:
Emphasizes the role of observational learning, imitation, and modeling.
Introduces the concept of self-efficacy, the belief in one's capabilities to achieve goals.
Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory:
Focuses on how culture and social interaction guide cognitive development.
Introduces the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): the difference between what a child can do alone and with help.
Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory:
Views the individual as developing within a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment.
- Microsystem
- Mesosystem
- Exosystem
- Macrosystem
- Chronosystem
Microsystem Immediate environment (family, school).
Mesosystem connections between microsystems
Exosystem External environments that indirectly influence the individual (parents' workplaces).
Correlational method Measures the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.
Correlation coefficient (r) indicates strength and direction of the relationship.
Descriptive method Observing and describing behavior.
Naturalistic Observation: Observing behavior in natural settings.
Surveys: Gathering information using questionnaires.
Case Studies: In-depth study of a single individual or group.
Longitudinal method Studies the same individuals over an extended period of time to observe changes.
Research tools used with children Observation Interviews + questionnaires Standardized tests Neuroimaging Experimental tasks
Longitudinal studies Diaries and daily reports Play based assesments
Observation Watching children in natural or controlled settings.
Can be structured (specific tasks) or unstructured (free play).
Interviews and Questionnaires Asking children, parents, or teachers about behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
Can be structured (set questions) or unstructured (open-ended).
Standardized tests Assessments that have a set way of administration and scoring.
Examples: IQ tests, developmental milestones checklists.
Neuroimaging techniques Non-invasive methods to study brain activity.
Examples: fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), EEG
Limitations: Cannot track individual changes over time; cohort effects.
Longitudinal Study Definition: Tracks the same individuals or group over an extended period of time, often years or decades.
Advantages: Can observe individual developmental changes and patterns.
Limitations: Time-consuming, expensive; potential dropout rates; repeated testing can influence results.
Sequential (or Cross-sequential) study Definition: Combines elements of both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. It studies several age cohorts longitudinally.
Advantages: Can disentangle age effects from cohort effects; more comprehensive.
Limitations: More complex; still requires longer time than cross-sectional.
Autosomal dominant inheritance Definition: Only one copy of the gene mutation is needed for an individual to be affected.
Examples: Huntington's disease, Marfan syndrome.
Autosomal recessive inheritance Definition: Two copies of the gene mutation are needed for an individual to be affected.
Examples: Cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease.
X-linked dominant inheritance Definition: Mutation in a gene on the X chromosome. Males are more frequently affected than females.
Examples: Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome.
X-linked recessive inheritance Definition: Mutation in a gene on the X chromosome. Males are more frequently affected because they have only one X chromosome.
Examples: Hemophilia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Y-linked inheritance
growth.
Factors: Parenting styles, sibling relationships, family structure.
Peer Group Provides opportunities for socialization, companionship, and self-validation.
Factors: Friendships, peer acceptance, peer pressure.
School A major context for cognitive and social development.
Factors: Teacher-student relationships, academic achievement, school climate.
Neighborhood and community The broader setting in which families and schools are situated. Factors: Safety, resources, community involvement.
Socioeconomic status Combines income, education, and occupation to gauge an individual's or family's social position.
Factors: Access to resources, stressors, educational opportunities.
Gene environment interaction Definition: The phenomenon where the effect of genes on a trait varies based on the environment.
Example: A child with a genetic predisposition for high intelligence may excel academically in a supportive environment but may not reach their potential in a deprived environment.
Gene environment correlation Definition: The phenomenon where one's genes influence the environments they are exposed to.
Example: A child with a genetic tendency for extroversion might seek out social interactions, leading to enhanced social skills.
types of gene-environment correlations Passive: Parents provide both genes and environment. E.g., Musically talented parents might provide a musical environment for their child.
Evocative: A child's genetic traits elicit certain behaviors from others. E.g., A sociable child might receive more social engagement from peers.
Active: A child seeks out environments that fit their genetic tendencies. E.g., An adventurous child might seek thrill-seeking activities.
the heritability of certain traits.
Example: If identical twins (who share 100% of their genes) are more similar in a trait than fraternal twins (who share 50% of their genes), it suggests a genetic component to that trait.
Epigenesis Definition: The process by which nature and nurture coact to bring forth particular developmental outcomes. It emphasizes that genes and environment continuously interact, and genes can be turned on or off by environmental factors.
Mechanisms: DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA molecules.
Examples of Epigenetic Changes Dutch Hunger Winter (1944-1945): Children conceived during this famine had increased rates of health problems as adults. Research showed that prenatal exposure to famine led to DNA methylation of certain genes.
Honeybee Castes: Worker bees and queen bees have identical DNA but different diets as larvae. The royal jelly diet of future queens leads to epigenetic changes that activate queen-related genes.
Maternal Care in Rats: Rat pups that receive high levels of licking and grooming from their mothers show changes in DNA methylation patterns, leading to reduced stress responses in adulthood.
Childhood Trauma: Studies have shown that traumatic experiences in childhood can
lead to epigenetic changes, influencing the risk of mental health disorders in adulthood.
Motivations of new parenthood Biological drive Sociocultural influence Personal fulfillment Legacy and continuity Economic and practical considerations Emotional support Identity and role establishment
Biological drive The innate urge to reproduce and ensure the survival of one's genes.
Sociocultural influences Societal and cultural norms that value family and parenthood.
External pressures from family or peers to have children.
Personal fulfillment The desire to experience the joy and fulfillment of raising a child.
- Period of the Embryo
- Period of the Fetus
Period of the zygote Duration: Conception to 2 weeks.
Changes:
Fertilization occurs, forming a zygote.
Cell division begins as the zygote travels down the fallopian tube.
Implantation into the uterine wall by the end of this period.
Period of the embryo Duration: 2 to 8 weeks.
Changes:
Formation of the neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord.
Development of major organs and body systems (e.g., heart, lungs, liver).
Appearance of buds that will become arms and legs.
Formation of facial features.
Period of the fetus Duration: 9 weeks to birth.
Changes:
Rapid growth in size and weight.
Maturation of organs and systems, making life outside the womb possible
.Development of physical features, such as hair and nails.
Increased brain development and complexity.
Fetal movements become more coordinated and can be felt by the mother.
Teratogens Definition: External agents that can cause harm to the developing fetus if introduced during pregnancy.
Examples: Drugs (e.g., thalidomide, alcohol), infections (e.g., rubella, Zika virus), chemicals (e.g., lead, mercury), and radiation.
