HSC 300 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Human Development - Answers :study of how people change and how they remain the
same over time
(why people are both unique and different from eachother)
3 characteristics of HD - Answers :Nature vs Nurture
Continuity vs Discontinuity
Universal vs Context-Specific Development
- a person's development is a blend of all 3 traits
Nature vs Nurture - Answers :development is shaped by both and both are mutually
interactive influences
[Nature is genetic, Nurture is environmental]
-degree to which genetic/hereditary influences or environmental influences determine
the kind of person you are
Continuity vs Discontinuity - Answers :concerns whether a particular developmental
phenomenon represents a smooth progression throughout the life span (continuity) or a
series of abrupt shifts (discontinuity)
Universal vs Context-Specific development - Answers :concerns whether there's one
path of development or several
-Individual development reflects both influences
Basic Forces in HD: The Biopsychosocial Framework - Answers :1) Biological
2) Psychological
3) Sociocultural
4) life cycle
(all three create the 4th)
all forces work together to create human development
Biological (genetics/health) - Answers :all genetic and health related factors that affect
development
- can be viewed as providing the raw material necessary and setting the boundary for
development
(Ex: prenatal development, brain maturation, puberty, gender, disability)
Psychological (behavior) - Answers :all internal, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and
personality factors that affect development
- most prominent of the forces
(Ex: intelligence, self-esteem, attitude, personality, emotions)
Sociocultural (Race, Ethnicity, Culture) - Answers :interpersonal, societal, cultural, and
ethnic factors that affect development
, (Ex: family, friends, culture, heritage/language, education, socioeconimic status)
Neuroscience - Answers :the study of the brain and nervous system, especially in terms
of brain behavior relationships
- identifying patterns of brain activity helps to reveal interactions between biological,
psychological, sociocultural, and life-cycle forces
Psychodynamic Theory (Freud) - Answers :development is largely determined by how
well people resolve conflicts they face at different ages
- this perspective can be linked to Freud's theory that personality emerges from conflict
- Erikson's Psychosocial Theory
Erikson's Psychosocial Theory - Answers :personality development is determined by the
interaction of an internal maturational plan and external societal demands
- lifecycle is composed of 8 stages and the sequence of them is based on the epigenetic
principal
- it takes a lifetime to acquire them all and they build on the next
- trek to adulthood is difficult due to challenges
Learning theory - Answers :concentrates on how learning influences a person's
behavior
-emphasizes experiences, rewards, and punishments
(ties into behaviorism)
Behaviorism (Watson) - Answers :the science of behavior that focuses on observable
behavior only
(conditioning, reinforcement, punishment)
opperant conditioning - Answers :technique in which the consequences of a behavior
determine whether it will be repeated in the future
reinforcement - Answers :consequence that increases the likelihood of the behavior that
follows
(can be either positive or negative)
+ = a reward like chocolate
- = not having to do another chore
- tends to last in quicker, longer, learning instead of punishment
punishment - Answers :consequence that decreases the behavior that follows
- adding something adverse or withholding something pleasant
Social Learning Theory - Answers :people learn much by simply watching those around
them, which is known as imitation or observational learning
Bandura also argues that experience gives people a sense of self-efficacy
whether an individual imitates others depends on who the person is, if they are
rewarded, and the individual's beliefs about their own abilities
Human Development - Answers :study of how people change and how they remain the
same over time
(why people are both unique and different from eachother)
3 characteristics of HD - Answers :Nature vs Nurture
Continuity vs Discontinuity
Universal vs Context-Specific Development
- a person's development is a blend of all 3 traits
Nature vs Nurture - Answers :development is shaped by both and both are mutually
interactive influences
[Nature is genetic, Nurture is environmental]
-degree to which genetic/hereditary influences or environmental influences determine
the kind of person you are
Continuity vs Discontinuity - Answers :concerns whether a particular developmental
phenomenon represents a smooth progression throughout the life span (continuity) or a
series of abrupt shifts (discontinuity)
Universal vs Context-Specific development - Answers :concerns whether there's one
path of development or several
-Individual development reflects both influences
Basic Forces in HD: The Biopsychosocial Framework - Answers :1) Biological
2) Psychological
3) Sociocultural
4) life cycle
(all three create the 4th)
all forces work together to create human development
Biological (genetics/health) - Answers :all genetic and health related factors that affect
development
- can be viewed as providing the raw material necessary and setting the boundary for
development
(Ex: prenatal development, brain maturation, puberty, gender, disability)
Psychological (behavior) - Answers :all internal, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and
personality factors that affect development
- most prominent of the forces
(Ex: intelligence, self-esteem, attitude, personality, emotions)
Sociocultural (Race, Ethnicity, Culture) - Answers :interpersonal, societal, cultural, and
ethnic factors that affect development
, (Ex: family, friends, culture, heritage/language, education, socioeconimic status)
Neuroscience - Answers :the study of the brain and nervous system, especially in terms
of brain behavior relationships
- identifying patterns of brain activity helps to reveal interactions between biological,
psychological, sociocultural, and life-cycle forces
Psychodynamic Theory (Freud) - Answers :development is largely determined by how
well people resolve conflicts they face at different ages
- this perspective can be linked to Freud's theory that personality emerges from conflict
- Erikson's Psychosocial Theory
Erikson's Psychosocial Theory - Answers :personality development is determined by the
interaction of an internal maturational plan and external societal demands
- lifecycle is composed of 8 stages and the sequence of them is based on the epigenetic
principal
- it takes a lifetime to acquire them all and they build on the next
- trek to adulthood is difficult due to challenges
Learning theory - Answers :concentrates on how learning influences a person's
behavior
-emphasizes experiences, rewards, and punishments
(ties into behaviorism)
Behaviorism (Watson) - Answers :the science of behavior that focuses on observable
behavior only
(conditioning, reinforcement, punishment)
opperant conditioning - Answers :technique in which the consequences of a behavior
determine whether it will be repeated in the future
reinforcement - Answers :consequence that increases the likelihood of the behavior that
follows
(can be either positive or negative)
+ = a reward like chocolate
- = not having to do another chore
- tends to last in quicker, longer, learning instead of punishment
punishment - Answers :consequence that decreases the behavior that follows
- adding something adverse or withholding something pleasant
Social Learning Theory - Answers :people learn much by simply watching those around
them, which is known as imitation or observational learning
Bandura also argues that experience gives people a sense of self-efficacy
whether an individual imitates others depends on who the person is, if they are
rewarded, and the individual's beliefs about their own abilities
