DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What is developmental psychology? - CORRECT ANSWERS The study of how and why
people change over time in terms of their behaviour and thoughts, as well as their ability to
relate to others.
State three areas that developmental psychology focuses on. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Identity, attachment and adolescence.
What is cognitive developmental psychology? - CORRECT ANSWERS Cognitive
developmental psychology deals with how cognitive processes - such as reasoning, perception
and memory - change over time.
How does Piaget's theory of cognitive development differ from other theories? - CORRECT
ANSWERS It focuses on development rather than learning, and it deals with children
rather than all learners. It also suggests that there are several discrete stages of development
marked by qualitative differences (rather than a gradual increase in the number and complexity
of behaviours, concepts, ideas, etc.).
What are the three basic components of Piaget's theory? - CORRECT ANSWERS 1)
Schemas
2) Adaption processes
3) Stages of development
What are the two types of adaption, according to Piaget's theory? - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1) Assimilation - using an existing schema to deal with a new situation
2) Accommodation - when an existing schema does not work, it either needs to be changed to
deal with the new situation or it needs to be replaced with a new schema
, Explain the four stages of cognitive development in Piaget's theory. - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1) The sensorimotor stage (0-2 years) - Children characterized by extreme
egocentrism. Main development is object permanence.
2) The pre-operational stage (2-7 years) - Key features are egocentrism and animism. Focus is on
limitations of children's thinking, e.g. their inability to grasp conservation.
3) Concrete operational stage (7-11 years) - Major turning point in cognitive development of
children. Less egocentrism and improved thinking, e.g. regarding conservation.
4) Formal operational stage (11+ years) - Abstract thinking, manipulation of ideas and inferential
reasoning.
What is egocentrism? - CORRECT ANSWERS It refers to a child's inability to see a situation
from another person's point of view.
Explain object permanence. - CORRECT ANSWERS Object permanence refers to the
knowledge that an object still exists, even when it is hidden. It requires the ability to form a
schema of the object.
What is animism? - CORRECT ANSWERS The belief that inanimate objects have human
feelings and intentions.
Explain conservation. - CORRECT ANSWERS Conservation is the understanding that
something stays the same in quantity even though it changes in appearance.
Evaluate Piaget's theory of cognitive development (3 strengths/3 weaknesses). - CORRECT
ANSWERS + First comprehensive theory - has been widely accepted
+ Deals with both biological and cognitive aspects
+ High applicability, as it deals with development and is very thorough
- Underestimates the importance of social and cultural aspects, as well as the role of language
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What is developmental psychology? - CORRECT ANSWERS The study of how and why
people change over time in terms of their behaviour and thoughts, as well as their ability to
relate to others.
State three areas that developmental psychology focuses on. - CORRECT
ANSWERS Identity, attachment and adolescence.
What is cognitive developmental psychology? - CORRECT ANSWERS Cognitive
developmental psychology deals with how cognitive processes - such as reasoning, perception
and memory - change over time.
How does Piaget's theory of cognitive development differ from other theories? - CORRECT
ANSWERS It focuses on development rather than learning, and it deals with children
rather than all learners. It also suggests that there are several discrete stages of development
marked by qualitative differences (rather than a gradual increase in the number and complexity
of behaviours, concepts, ideas, etc.).
What are the three basic components of Piaget's theory? - CORRECT ANSWERS 1)
Schemas
2) Adaption processes
3) Stages of development
What are the two types of adaption, according to Piaget's theory? - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1) Assimilation - using an existing schema to deal with a new situation
2) Accommodation - when an existing schema does not work, it either needs to be changed to
deal with the new situation or it needs to be replaced with a new schema
, Explain the four stages of cognitive development in Piaget's theory. - CORRECT
ANSWERS 1) The sensorimotor stage (0-2 years) - Children characterized by extreme
egocentrism. Main development is object permanence.
2) The pre-operational stage (2-7 years) - Key features are egocentrism and animism. Focus is on
limitations of children's thinking, e.g. their inability to grasp conservation.
3) Concrete operational stage (7-11 years) - Major turning point in cognitive development of
children. Less egocentrism and improved thinking, e.g. regarding conservation.
4) Formal operational stage (11+ years) - Abstract thinking, manipulation of ideas and inferential
reasoning.
What is egocentrism? - CORRECT ANSWERS It refers to a child's inability to see a situation
from another person's point of view.
Explain object permanence. - CORRECT ANSWERS Object permanence refers to the
knowledge that an object still exists, even when it is hidden. It requires the ability to form a
schema of the object.
What is animism? - CORRECT ANSWERS The belief that inanimate objects have human
feelings and intentions.
Explain conservation. - CORRECT ANSWERS Conservation is the understanding that
something stays the same in quantity even though it changes in appearance.
Evaluate Piaget's theory of cognitive development (3 strengths/3 weaknesses). - CORRECT
ANSWERS + First comprehensive theory - has been widely accepted
+ Deals with both biological and cognitive aspects
+ High applicability, as it deals with development and is very thorough
- Underestimates the importance of social and cultural aspects, as well as the role of language
