DEP EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
Life-Span Perspective - Answers - Scientific study of how people change over the life-
span
Emphasizes continuity over the lifespan
-Developmental change is not discrete
-Development is lifelong
4 aspects of the Life-Span Perspective - Answers - Continuity
Multidirectional
Multicontextual
Plasticity
Multidirectional - Answers - Some things are gained, others are lost
Growth, Maintenance, Regulation of Loss
Multicontexual - Answers - Many different factors affect change
-Genes, environment, culture, etc.
Multi-disciplinary - Answers - Change occurs in many ways
-Neurology, learning, intelligence, social, cultural
Plasticity - Answers - Change can occur at any time...but to varying degrees
2 theories in the biological perspective - Answers - Maturational Theory
Ethological Theory
Maturational Theory - Answers - Created by A. Gesell
Believed that development follows a pre-planned program because it's genetically
determined, that is that DNA causes development.
Ethological Theory - Answers - Created by K. Lorenz
Emphasized the role of evolution
Believed that many early behaviors are adaptive and evolutionarily programmed, such
as sucking, crying, and clinging
Also believed that environment played an important factor
Coined the term "critical periods"
Critical Periods - Answers - A time in development when specific learning can occur.
Before or after this period, this specific learning cannot take place (or is very difficult).
Who were the 2 main psychologists who focused on the psychodynamic perspective? -
Answers - Freud and Erikson
, Freud's Psychodynamic Perspective - Answers - Believed that unconscious innate
instincts drive development and that personality develops as instinctual needs are
frustrated or indulged
Erikson's Psychodynamic Perspective - Answers - Strong emphasis on psychological
and social aspects of development
His 8 stages of development each contain a "crisis" or "challenge" that must be met in
order to move to next stage.
Classic example of "stage theory" of development
The 8 Psychosocial Stages - Answers - Trust vs. Mistrust
Autonomy vs. Shame and doubt
Initiative vs. Guilt
Industry vs. Inferiority
Identity vs. Identity confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Integrity vs. Despair
Learning Perspective - Answers - Also called behaviorism, studies observable behavior
Development depends on learning & experience
Conditioning - Answers - According to behaviorism, or the learning perspective, the
processes by which responses become linked to particular stimuli and learning takes
place. Repeating the process is crucial.
Classical Conditioning - Answers - Ivan Pavlov
A learning process in which a meaningful stimulus gradually comes to be connected
with a neutral stimulus that had no special meaning before the learning process began.
Operant Conditioning - Answers - B.F. Skinner
The learning process in which a particular action is followed either by something desired
or by something unwanted
Cognitive Perspective - Answers - Thoughts and expectations profoundly affect actions
Jean Piaget - Answers - Famous cognitive theorist
Thought of babies and children as curious and naïve scientists because they were very
experimental in nature.
4 stages: sensorimotor, pre-operational thought, concrete operational thought, formal
operational thought
Contextual Perspective - Answers - Strong influence on environment (context) of
development
Analysis of Ecological Contexts - Answers - Microsystem
Life-Span Perspective - Answers - Scientific study of how people change over the life-
span
Emphasizes continuity over the lifespan
-Developmental change is not discrete
-Development is lifelong
4 aspects of the Life-Span Perspective - Answers - Continuity
Multidirectional
Multicontextual
Plasticity
Multidirectional - Answers - Some things are gained, others are lost
Growth, Maintenance, Regulation of Loss
Multicontexual - Answers - Many different factors affect change
-Genes, environment, culture, etc.
Multi-disciplinary - Answers - Change occurs in many ways
-Neurology, learning, intelligence, social, cultural
Plasticity - Answers - Change can occur at any time...but to varying degrees
2 theories in the biological perspective - Answers - Maturational Theory
Ethological Theory
Maturational Theory - Answers - Created by A. Gesell
Believed that development follows a pre-planned program because it's genetically
determined, that is that DNA causes development.
Ethological Theory - Answers - Created by K. Lorenz
Emphasized the role of evolution
Believed that many early behaviors are adaptive and evolutionarily programmed, such
as sucking, crying, and clinging
Also believed that environment played an important factor
Coined the term "critical periods"
Critical Periods - Answers - A time in development when specific learning can occur.
Before or after this period, this specific learning cannot take place (or is very difficult).
Who were the 2 main psychologists who focused on the psychodynamic perspective? -
Answers - Freud and Erikson
, Freud's Psychodynamic Perspective - Answers - Believed that unconscious innate
instincts drive development and that personality develops as instinctual needs are
frustrated or indulged
Erikson's Psychodynamic Perspective - Answers - Strong emphasis on psychological
and social aspects of development
His 8 stages of development each contain a "crisis" or "challenge" that must be met in
order to move to next stage.
Classic example of "stage theory" of development
The 8 Psychosocial Stages - Answers - Trust vs. Mistrust
Autonomy vs. Shame and doubt
Initiative vs. Guilt
Industry vs. Inferiority
Identity vs. Identity confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Integrity vs. Despair
Learning Perspective - Answers - Also called behaviorism, studies observable behavior
Development depends on learning & experience
Conditioning - Answers - According to behaviorism, or the learning perspective, the
processes by which responses become linked to particular stimuli and learning takes
place. Repeating the process is crucial.
Classical Conditioning - Answers - Ivan Pavlov
A learning process in which a meaningful stimulus gradually comes to be connected
with a neutral stimulus that had no special meaning before the learning process began.
Operant Conditioning - Answers - B.F. Skinner
The learning process in which a particular action is followed either by something desired
or by something unwanted
Cognitive Perspective - Answers - Thoughts and expectations profoundly affect actions
Jean Piaget - Answers - Famous cognitive theorist
Thought of babies and children as curious and naïve scientists because they were very
experimental in nature.
4 stages: sensorimotor, pre-operational thought, concrete operational thought, formal
operational thought
Contextual Perspective - Answers - Strong influence on environment (context) of
development
Analysis of Ecological Contexts - Answers - Microsystem
