DEP 3103 Learning Objectives and Study Guide for Final Exam Unit 1 Chapter 1 1 Define child development child psychology a Child Development is an area of study devoted to understanding constancy and change from conception through adolescence 2 Describe and give examples of physical cognitive and emotional and social development How do these three domains overlap and interact with one another a Physical Development changes in body size proportions appearance functioning of body systems perceptual and motor capacities and physical health b Cognitive Development changes in intellectual abilities including attention memory academic and everyday knowledge problem solving imagination creativity and language c Emotional Social Development changes in emotional communication self understanding knowledge about other people interpersonal skills friendships intimate relationship and moral reasoning and behavior d New motor capacities such as reaching sitting crawling and walking physical contribute greatly to infants understanding of their surroundings cognitive When babies think and act more competently adults stimulate them more with games language and expressions of delight at their new achievements emotional and social 3 Describe the 5 main periods into which development is often divided including the prenatal period infancy and toddlerhood early childhood middle childhood and adolescence Describe the potential 6th period of development emerging adulthood Why have researchers proposed emerging adulthood as a 6th period of development and under what circumstances might it exist a Prenatal Period i Conception to birth ii The most rapid time of change b Infant and Toddlerhood i Birth to 2 years ii Brings dramatic changes in the body and brain that support the emergence of a wide array or motor perceptual and intellectual capacities iii Beginning of language iv First intimate ties to others v Infancy spans first year Toddlerhood second year take first independent steps c Early Childhood i From 2 to 6 years ii Body becomes longer and leaner iii Motor skills refined iv Children become more self controlled and self sufficient v Make believe play vi Sense of morality becomes evident vii Children establish ties with peers d Middle Childhood i From 6 to 11 ii Children learn about the wider world and master new responsibilities that increasingly resemble those they will perform as adults Improved athletic ability iii iv Participation in organized games with rules v More logical thought processes vi Mastery of fundamental reading writing math and other academic knowledge and skills and advances in understanding the self morality and friendship e Adolescence maturity i From 11 to 18 years ii Transition to adulthood puberty leads to an adult sized body and sexual iii Thoughts become abstract and idealistic iv Young people begin to establish autonomy from the family and to define personal values and goals f Emerging Adulthood i Spans 18 to 25 ii Intensify their exploration of options in love career and personal values before making enduring commitments 4 What are theories and why are they important What three things should a good a Theories are orderly integrated sets of statements that describe explain and theory be predict behavior Important for two reasons b i Provide organizing frameworks for our observations of children guide and give meaning to what we see ii Theories verified by research often serve as a sound basis for practical action once we understand the theory we are in a better position to know how to improve the welfare and treatment of children 5 Describe the debate concerning continuous vs discontinuous development What do theorists of continuous development believe What do theorists of discontinuous development believe What are stages and how do they fit into the debate about continuous vs discontinuous development a Continuous vs Discontinuous Development i Continuous a process of gradually adding more of the same types of skills that were there to begin with ii Discontinuous a process in which new ways of understanding and responding to the world emerge at specific times i Stages qualitative changes in thinking feeling and behaving that characterize specific periods of development a Assumes that children undergo periods of rapid transformation as they step up from one stage to the next alternating with plateaus during which they stand solidly within a stage 6 Describe the debate concerning one course of development vs many courses of development What do theorists who think there is one course of development believe What do theorists who think there are many courses of development believe What are contexts and how do they fit in to this debate a Contexts unique combinations of personal and environmental circumstances that can result in different paths of change i Contemporary theorists regard the contexts that mold development as many layered and complex 7 What is the nature nurture controversy What do theorists who emphasize nature believe What do theorists who emphasize nurture believe What is the concept of stability What is the concept of plasticity How do these concepts relate to the nature nurture controversy a Nature Nurture Controversy disagreement among theorists over whether genetic or environmental factors are more important influences on development i Nature inborn biological givens the heredity information we receive from our parents at the moment of conception ii Nurture the complex forces of the physical and social world that influence our biological makeup and psychological experiences before and after birth b Stability children who are high or low in a characteristic such as verbal ability anxiety or sociability will remain so at later ages i These theorists typically stress the importance of heredity c Plasticity open to change in response to influential experiences 8 Describe the historical foundations of the field of child development What were views of child development like during the medieval times What were views of child development during the reformation What ideas did Locke and Rousseau contribute to the field of child development during the enlightenment Describe the scientific beginnings of the field of child development including ideas from Darwin the normative approach and the mental testing movement a Medieval Times i Childhood was regarded as a separate period of life ii Depicted as wearing loose clothes playing games and looking up to iii By 14th
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