Human Growth and Development Class Notes 1-6 questions and answers

Definition of Human Growth and Development The scientific study of processes of change and stability throughout the human life span (conception to death). Based on idea that every portion of the lifespan is influenced by earlier events and will in tunr affect later events. Human development occurs through: --Processes which are biologically programmed --Interaction w/environment --Aggression to Regression Why study lifespan development? --Provides organized account of development -Demonstrates interconnections between earlier and later events. -Explains mechanisms responsible for development -Specifies biological, psychological and environmental factors that shape an individual's development What are the principles of lifespan development? -Development is life-long -Development involves both gain and loss (multidirectional) -The relative influences of biology and culture shift over the lifespan -Development involves a changing allocation of resources (selection). -Development is modifiable (plasticity) -Development is influenced by the historical and cultural context (embedded in history) Lifespan development is interdisciplinary It involves psychology, psychiatry, sociology, anthropology, biology, genetics, family science, education, history, philosophy, and medicine. What are the goals of the study of lifespan development? -Describe behavior -Explain behavior -Predict behavior -Modify behavior (most difficult to accomplish) Lifespan development is every evolving due to: -Progress in understanding -Building on previous knowledge -Advances in technology -Changes in cultural attitudes Changes to lifespan development are: -Quantitative: change in #, amt., freq. -Qualitative: change in kind, structure, org. What are the physical domains of development? -Growth of body/brain and change/stability in sensory capacities, motor skills and health. What are the cognitive domains of development? -Change/stability in mental abilities (learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning and creativity) What are the psychosocial (social-emotional) domains of development? -Change/stability in emotions, personality and social relationships. What are the periods of the lifespan? -A social construction (idea widely accepted by members of society. -8 periods accepted in Western Industrialized Societies What are the 8 periods of the lifespan? -Prenatal (conception to birth) -Infant and Toddler (0-3) -Early Childhood (3-6) -Middle Childhood (6-11) -Adolescence (11-20) -Young Adulthood (20-40) -Middle Adulthood (40-65) -Late Adulthood (65+) -Death and Dying What are the influences on development during the lifespan? -Heredity -Environment -Maturation -Milestones: landmarks of development, or average age for occurrence of certain events --When deviation from average is extreme, development is considered exceptionally advanced or delayed Heredity or biological perspective of development Although genes are at the heart of all physical traits, it is the interaction of the biological, psychological and social influences that explains behavior. Nature vs. Nurture perspective of development -It is not nature (genetic inheritance) or nurture (environmental or experiential factors) but an interaction between heredity and environment that gives an individual his/her unique characteristics. -Nature and nurture often cannot be separated. Environment or Bioecological (contextual) perspective Role of the environment (Bronfenbrenner) in development. What are reciprocal interactions? We respond to those around us in a way that causes them to change; their responses to us then change, which in turn produces new changes in us. What are the four components of Biological perspective (Bronfenbrenner)? -Proximal processes: Reciprocal interactions between a person and their environment (context) = primary engines of development -Person involved: temperament/disposition -Person's context: environment features that foster/interfere with development -Time: development changes over time What are the major contextual (Environmental (i.e. nurture)) influences? -Family (nuclear vs. extended) -Socioeconomic status: income, education, occupation -Culture and Race/Ethnicity: customs, traditions, beliefs, values, language, physical products -Social/Historical Context: place and time in which people grow up What is maturation? -More or less automatic unfolding of biological potential in a set, irreversible sequence. -Reflects the unfolding of genetically prescribed or pre-programmed patterns of behavior --Timing of Puberty -Occurs without any specific experience or practice What is learning? -More or less permanent modification in behavior that results from the individual's experience in the environment --Depends on growth and maturation -Ability to learn is critical: allows one to adapt to changing environmental conditions What are the influences on development? -Normative Age-Graded Influences: an event that is experienced in a similar way for most people in a group (starting school, puberty) -Normative History-Graded Influences: a unique segment of history and how it shapes a generation -Non-Normative Influences: an unusual event that happens to a particular person, or a typical event that happens at an unusual time of life What is a critical period? A specific time when a given event, or it's absence, has a great impact on development. What is a sensitive period? Time in development when a person is particularly responsive to certain kinds of experiences. What is biopsychosocial development? -Proceeds by the interaction of biological, environmental as well as psychological forces. -Attributes complex phenomena or events to multiple causes (in contrast to the reductionist perspective, which reduces complex phenomena or events to a single cause). What is developmental research? Type of research made up of two key issues: -How participants will be chosen --sampling -How data will be collected --Quantitative: "hard", objectively measurable data-based on scientific method and done in a lab settings --Qualitative: "soft" data about the nature or quality of participants' subjective experiences, feelings or beliefs-examiners gather data, examine it and then see what hypothesis or theories might emerge. Done in everyday social settings. What is sampling? -Most research is done via samples -Sample: smaller group within population that adequately represents the target population once info is gathered results can be generalized to the population -Most reliable method is done via "random selection" What is the scientific method? Series of steps that allow one to clearly show what was studied, how it was studied and what conclusions were. -Select a problem -Formulate a hypothesis (tentative explanation/prediction) -Test the hypothesis -Draw conclusions -Disseminate findings *does not include application of findings What are types of developmental research? Many approaches used to understand human behavior. Each has its strengths/weaknesses, none is completely reliable -Descriptive Studies -Manipulative experiments -Naturalistic Experiments -Time-Variable Experiments