A Topical Approach to Lifespan Development Summary and
Flashcards Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Cognitive developmental theories
Answer: Piaget's cognitive
theory
Information Processing Theory
Neo Piagetian (Case, Fisher)
Question 2: Contextual developmental theories
Answer: Bronfenbrenner's
ecological systems theory
Vygotsky's sociocultural theory
Ethological theory
Question 3: Adulthood and lifespan developmental theories
Answer: Normative-crisis model
Timing of events model
Dynamic systems perspective
Question 4: Ecological system model
Answer: Individual develops within a
complex system of relationships and contexts which are sets of
people, settings, recurring events, cultural values and programs
related to one another, have stability and influence the person over
time.
Question 5: Microsystem
Answer: Situations in which the person has face-to-
face contact with influential others. For example; family, school, peer
group, church, workplace
Question 6: Mesosystem
Answer: Connections and relationships that exist
between two or more microsystems and that influence the person
because of their relationships. For example; home-school,
workplace-family, school-neighbourhood
Page 1
, Question 7: Exosystem
Answer: Settings in which the person does not
participate but still experiences decisions and events that affect
them indirectly. For example; Spouse's place of work, local school
board, government
Question 8: Macrosystem
Answer: Overarching institutions, practices and
patterns of belief that characterise society as a whole and take the
smaller micro-, meso-, exosystems into account. For example;
ideology, social policy, shared assumptions about human nature, the
'social-contract'.
Question 9: Normative and non-normative perspective
Answer: Emphasises
the nature of development and important historical influences on
development. Includes three influences determined by interaction of
environmental and biological factors.
Question 10: Normative age-graded
Answer: Strong relationship with
chronological age for example; puberty
Question 11: Normative history graded
Answer: War, plague, famine,
introduction of television
Question 12: Non-normative graded
Answer: Injury, divorce etc
Question 13: Developmental systems perspective
Answer: Emphasis on how
individual carries out transactions with their environment and how,
through these transactions, their biological, psychological,
behavioural and environment elements change or remain constant.
Individuals mind, body, physical and social worlds, and experiences
as constantly in motion, creating an integrated system that is
dynamic and constantly evolving.
Page 2
Flashcards Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Cognitive developmental theories
Answer: Piaget's cognitive
theory
Information Processing Theory
Neo Piagetian (Case, Fisher)
Question 2: Contextual developmental theories
Answer: Bronfenbrenner's
ecological systems theory
Vygotsky's sociocultural theory
Ethological theory
Question 3: Adulthood and lifespan developmental theories
Answer: Normative-crisis model
Timing of events model
Dynamic systems perspective
Question 4: Ecological system model
Answer: Individual develops within a
complex system of relationships and contexts which are sets of
people, settings, recurring events, cultural values and programs
related to one another, have stability and influence the person over
time.
Question 5: Microsystem
Answer: Situations in which the person has face-to-
face contact with influential others. For example; family, school, peer
group, church, workplace
Question 6: Mesosystem
Answer: Connections and relationships that exist
between two or more microsystems and that influence the person
because of their relationships. For example; home-school,
workplace-family, school-neighbourhood
Page 1
, Question 7: Exosystem
Answer: Settings in which the person does not
participate but still experiences decisions and events that affect
them indirectly. For example; Spouse's place of work, local school
board, government
Question 8: Macrosystem
Answer: Overarching institutions, practices and
patterns of belief that characterise society as a whole and take the
smaller micro-, meso-, exosystems into account. For example;
ideology, social policy, shared assumptions about human nature, the
'social-contract'.
Question 9: Normative and non-normative perspective
Answer: Emphasises
the nature of development and important historical influences on
development. Includes three influences determined by interaction of
environmental and biological factors.
Question 10: Normative age-graded
Answer: Strong relationship with
chronological age for example; puberty
Question 11: Normative history graded
Answer: War, plague, famine,
introduction of television
Question 12: Non-normative graded
Answer: Injury, divorce etc
Question 13: Developmental systems perspective
Answer: Emphasis on how
individual carries out transactions with their environment and how,
through these transactions, their biological, psychological,
behavioural and environment elements change or remain constant.
Individuals mind, body, physical and social worlds, and experiences
as constantly in motion, creating an integrated system that is
dynamic and constantly evolving.
Page 2
