Developmental area
Looks at the changes that individuals go through during their lives. Do we develop steadily
or through stages? The tend to focus on children because this is when we develop
dramatically.
Key concepts:
Similarities and differences- psychologists look for the differences between children
and what are similar. They tend to focus on the uniqueness of the similarities
because we can’t study everything at once. They also look at the issue of diversity as
there is a danger of thinking all children have the same experience of life.
Timing and plasticity- are there key times of certain behaviours develop and what
happens if that time is disrupted? Freud and Bowlby suggest that early attachments
have an effect on later life and if they aren’t formed by a certain age the effects will
be long lasting. Plasticity refers to the amount that a behaviour can change once it
has been developed.
Nature and nurture- some behaviours have a strong genetic component such as
crawling but they tend to have a lot of support and encouragement. They also
develop language without tuition suggesting readiness to learn this skill. Do the
effects of nature influence our personality? We clearly share some characteristic
with our parents but is that due to genetics of sharing the same environment?
Stages- the stage approach helps us to see the sequence of development that occurs
in many children but there are some concerns. Do the occur in all children or just
most? Do all children go through them in the same order? Are there cultural
differences?
Similarities and differences:
Strengths:
It recognises that behaviour changes through the lifespan which adds to our
understanding of the interaction between nature and nurture. Bandura- aggression
can be learned through observing role models.
Use of children means demand characteristics will be less likely to effect results as
they have less awareness that their behaviour is being recorded (Chaney)
Weaknesses:
Research with children raises ethical issues as ppts are unable to give their own
consent. Bandura- photos of ppts continue to circulate without their direct consent
Longitudinal research is not always easy as ppts drop out over time leaving a biased
sample. Chaney- this may have happened if it had continued.
Looks at the changes that individuals go through during their lives. Do we develop steadily
or through stages? The tend to focus on children because this is when we develop
dramatically.
Key concepts:
Similarities and differences- psychologists look for the differences between children
and what are similar. They tend to focus on the uniqueness of the similarities
because we can’t study everything at once. They also look at the issue of diversity as
there is a danger of thinking all children have the same experience of life.
Timing and plasticity- are there key times of certain behaviours develop and what
happens if that time is disrupted? Freud and Bowlby suggest that early attachments
have an effect on later life and if they aren’t formed by a certain age the effects will
be long lasting. Plasticity refers to the amount that a behaviour can change once it
has been developed.
Nature and nurture- some behaviours have a strong genetic component such as
crawling but they tend to have a lot of support and encouragement. They also
develop language without tuition suggesting readiness to learn this skill. Do the
effects of nature influence our personality? We clearly share some characteristic
with our parents but is that due to genetics of sharing the same environment?
Stages- the stage approach helps us to see the sequence of development that occurs
in many children but there are some concerns. Do the occur in all children or just
most? Do all children go through them in the same order? Are there cultural
differences?
Similarities and differences:
Strengths:
It recognises that behaviour changes through the lifespan which adds to our
understanding of the interaction between nature and nurture. Bandura- aggression
can be learned through observing role models.
Use of children means demand characteristics will be less likely to effect results as
they have less awareness that their behaviour is being recorded (Chaney)
Weaknesses:
Research with children raises ethical issues as ppts are unable to give their own
consent. Bandura- photos of ppts continue to circulate without their direct consent
Longitudinal research is not always easy as ppts drop out over time leaving a biased
sample. Chaney- this may have happened if it had continued.
