Which of the following is not a theoretical issue in developmental psychology?

Developmental psychology is a scientific approach which aims to explain growth, change and consistency though the lifespan. Developmental psychology looks at how thinking, feeling, and behavior change throughout a person’s life.

A significant proportion of theories within this discipline focus upon development during childhood, as this is the period during an individual's lifespan when the most change occurs.

Developmental psychologists study a wide range of theoretical areas, such as biological, social, emotion, and cognitive processes. Empirical research in this area tends to be dominated by psychologists from Western cultures such as North American and Europe, although during the 1980s Japanese researchers began making a valid contribution to the field.

The three goals of developmental psychology are to describe, explain, and to optimize development (Baltes, Reese, & Lipsitt, 1980). To describe development it is necessary to focus both on typical patterns of change (normative development) and individual variations in patterns of change (i.e. idiographic development). Although there are typical pathways of development that most people will follow, no two persons are exactly alike.

Developmental psychologists must also seek to explain the changes they have observed in relation to normative processes and individual differences. Although, it is often easier to describe development than to explain how it occurs.

Finally, developmental psychologists hope to optimize development, and apply their theories to help people in practical situations (e.g. help parents develop secure attachments with their children).

Developmental Questions

Developmental Questions

Continuity vs. Discontinuity

Continuity vs. Discontinuity

Think about how children become adults. Is there a predictable pattern they follow regarding thought and language and social development? Do children go through gradual changes or are they abrupt changes?

Quizzes are available to test your understanding of the key concepts covered in each chapter. Click on the arrows next to each question to view the answer.

1. The key concepts of Piagetian theory include which of the following?

1. Equilibrium, organization and encoding
       
2. Adaptation, organization and accommodation
       
3. Organization, accommodation and scaffolding
       
4. Accommodation, scaffolding and automization

Answer:

b. Adaptation, organization and accommodation

2.    The zone of proximal development is best described as:

1. Where interrelated sets of actions, memories, thoughts or strategies may be employed to predict and understand the environment
       
2. The memory store that allows brief storage of large amounts of information for a very short time
       
3. The difference between the child’s independently determined developmental level and their potential level of development determined when problem solving with adults or more capable peers
       
4. The concept that suggests objects continue to exist independently of the ability to perceive or act on them

Answer:

c. The difference between the child’s independently determined developmental level and their potential level of development determined when problem solving with adults or more capable peers

3.    Which of the following is NOT a criticism of the work of Piaget?

1. Concepts of assimilation are too vague to be useful
    
2. The stage theory suggests some measure of universality
    
3. The work has been responsible for pushing the field of cognitive development forward 
       
4. The theory adheres to a conception of development as occurring in stages

Answer:

c. The work has been responsible for pushing the field of cognitive development forward 

4.    The sociocultural view of development is a theory of which theorist in the list below?

1. Bruner
    
2. Vygotsky
       
3. Piaget
    
4. Baillargeon

Answer:

b. Vygotsky

5.    The term ‘internalisation’ refers to: 

1. The process of integrating environment into psychological structure to interpret new knowledge
       
2. Where important features are selected to form a mental picture
       
3. The striving of the cognitive system to maintain equilibrium
       
4. The process of functions moving from the interpersonal to the intrapersonal

Answer:

d. The process of functions moving from the interpersonal to the intrapersonal

6.    How is the term ‘horizontal décalage’ best defined?

1. The socially transformed products of the child’s initial endowment
    
2. A way of describing the unevenness in children’s mastery of the different forms of a concept such as conservation
    
3. A largely social process and not just individualised development
    
4. A more continuous process over time

Answer:

b. A way of describing the unevenness in children’s mastery of the different forms of a concept such as conservation

What are the 3 major issues in developmental psychology?

Which of the following is not a subject of developmental psychology?

What are the four major issues of human development?

What are the three basic issues of child development?