JMU PSYC 160 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
Define bioecological theory - Answer -provide a way of understanding the different
influences on development that recognizes we are influenced by many different systems
at once
Define biopsychsocial - Answer -how physiological, genetic, neurological, and
evolutionary factors interact with our environment to shape our behavior
Define chronosystem - Answer -refers to two aspects of time: first, your own personal
time line or history and second, the historical time period in which you grow up
Define classical conditioning - Answer -how cues in our environment trigger behavior
Define correlation - Answer -is a statistic that tells us the extent to which a change in
one variable is accompanied by a change in another variable
Define cross-sectional or cohort studies - Answer -comparison of people of different
ages
Define cross-sequential studies - Answer -comparison of groups of people of different
ages and also follow those people over time
Define culture - Answer -involves a set of values and traditions held by a group of
people which informs how people behave and relate to others
Define ethics - Answer -the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles
Define ethnicity - Answer -the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a
common national or cultural tradition
Define exosystem - Answer -contains environmental elements that have a profound
influence on a child's development, even though that child is not directly involved with
them
Define experiments - Answer -a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery,
test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact
Define humanistic theory - Answer -studies the whole person and the uniqueness of
each individual
Define longitudinal studies - Answer -a group of people is recruited and followed over
time
, Define macrosystem - Answer -incorporates the values of the society in which you live
as well as its economic standing
Define mesosytem - Answer -the interaction of microsystems (parents interacting with a
girlfriend/boyfriend)
Define observations - Answer -can be naturalistic, in which people observed in their
natural environment without any interference from the researcher, or they can be
conducted in a laboratory
Define operant conditioning - Answer -a situation triggers a behavior, which is followed
by a consequence. If the consequence is a reinforcer, the behavior will be represented.
If the consequence is a punishment, the behavior will not be repeated.
Define piaget - Answer -one of the most influential theorists in the field of development
Define psychoanalytic theory - Answer -emphasizes how development is influences by
our drive to meet unconscious desires
Define punishments - Answer -consequences that lead to a decrease in behavior
Define race - Answer -grouping people on the basis of a difference in appearance,
usually skin color
Define reinforcers - Answer -consequences that reinforce the behavior and cause it to
happen again
Define social cognitive theory - Answer -theory where learning relies on learning from
others
Define social constructs - Answer -constructs like race and ethnicity, which are based
on shared ideas between people
Define society - Answer -a system of rules, values, and norms that govern relationships
between people in a group, often within a physical boundary such as a country
Define surveys - Answer -gathering information from a large group of people
Define the scientific approach - Answer -1. Identifying a question
2. Forming a hypothesis
3. Testing the hypothesis
4. Finding a result is not the end of the process
5. Results of research need to be shared with others
Define socioemotional development - Answer -hoe emotions and relationships develop
and how they affect our development
Define bioecological theory - Answer -provide a way of understanding the different
influences on development that recognizes we are influenced by many different systems
at once
Define biopsychsocial - Answer -how physiological, genetic, neurological, and
evolutionary factors interact with our environment to shape our behavior
Define chronosystem - Answer -refers to two aspects of time: first, your own personal
time line or history and second, the historical time period in which you grow up
Define classical conditioning - Answer -how cues in our environment trigger behavior
Define correlation - Answer -is a statistic that tells us the extent to which a change in
one variable is accompanied by a change in another variable
Define cross-sectional or cohort studies - Answer -comparison of people of different
ages
Define cross-sequential studies - Answer -comparison of groups of people of different
ages and also follow those people over time
Define culture - Answer -involves a set of values and traditions held by a group of
people which informs how people behave and relate to others
Define ethics - Answer -the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles
Define ethnicity - Answer -the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a
common national or cultural tradition
Define exosystem - Answer -contains environmental elements that have a profound
influence on a child's development, even though that child is not directly involved with
them
Define experiments - Answer -a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery,
test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact
Define humanistic theory - Answer -studies the whole person and the uniqueness of
each individual
Define longitudinal studies - Answer -a group of people is recruited and followed over
time
, Define macrosystem - Answer -incorporates the values of the society in which you live
as well as its economic standing
Define mesosytem - Answer -the interaction of microsystems (parents interacting with a
girlfriend/boyfriend)
Define observations - Answer -can be naturalistic, in which people observed in their
natural environment without any interference from the researcher, or they can be
conducted in a laboratory
Define operant conditioning - Answer -a situation triggers a behavior, which is followed
by a consequence. If the consequence is a reinforcer, the behavior will be represented.
If the consequence is a punishment, the behavior will not be repeated.
Define piaget - Answer -one of the most influential theorists in the field of development
Define psychoanalytic theory - Answer -emphasizes how development is influences by
our drive to meet unconscious desires
Define punishments - Answer -consequences that lead to a decrease in behavior
Define race - Answer -grouping people on the basis of a difference in appearance,
usually skin color
Define reinforcers - Answer -consequences that reinforce the behavior and cause it to
happen again
Define social cognitive theory - Answer -theory where learning relies on learning from
others
Define social constructs - Answer -constructs like race and ethnicity, which are based
on shared ideas between people
Define society - Answer -a system of rules, values, and norms that govern relationships
between people in a group, often within a physical boundary such as a country
Define surveys - Answer -gathering information from a large group of people
Define the scientific approach - Answer -1. Identifying a question
2. Forming a hypothesis
3. Testing the hypothesis
4. Finding a result is not the end of the process
5. Results of research need to be shared with others
Define socioemotional development - Answer -hoe emotions and relationships develop
and how they affect our development
