PSYC 307 1st Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Current Lecture Why we study child development Domains of Development Nature vs Nurture Continuity vs Discontinuity Stage theories Stability vs Change Contexts of Development This being an introductory lecture the professor went through the slides quickly because most of the basic and important foundations and information can be found in Ch 1 of the textbook September 2 2014 Introduction to Development I Why we study child development a Understanding human nature b Choosing social policies research can lead to change in social policies c Raising children strong moral sense II Domains of Development a Periods of Development i Prenatal conception to birth ii Infancy and Toddlerhood 0 2 years iii Early Childhood 3 6 years iv Middle Childhood 6 11 years v Adolescence 11 18 years vi Emerging Adulthood 18 25 years III Nature vs Nurture a Nurture Empiricism i Locke experiences shape you 1 Blank slate at birth tabula rasa 2 Development is slow 3 Learning in general rats ii Theoretical Implications 1 Babies have predisposed knowledge a Prefer mother and her language universals in development development occurs quickly b Nature Nativism i Descartes and Kant 1 Babies have knowledge Core Knowledge Theories a Innate sense of goodness 2 Everything is predetermined ii Theoretical Implications why are we the way that we are 1 Babies domain specific 2 Development occurs quickly 3 Problems a Predetermined fatalistic b Interaction between biology and environment c Interactional Perspective i BOTH NATURE AND NURTURE ARE IMPORTANT 4 Babies prefer prosocial behavior IV Continuity vs Discontinuity a Developmental continuity growing makes you bigger like a tree i adults are just a bigger version of babies b Discontinuity i Conceptually adults are extremely different from babies 1 Language changes the way we see the world categorically 2 Change throughout development a Like a caterpillar c Example height vs age in years i Depending on how it is viewed changes in height can be viewed as either continuous or discontinuous d Example language development i 18 24 months add enormous number of word to vocabulary per day Naming Explosion 1 Days vs months V Stage Theories a Qualitative shifts b Abrupt changes stability c Sequence of stages invariable always move forward d Rate of progression can change VI Stability vs Change a Temperament in children personality in adults VII Contexts for Development a Unique combinations of personal and environmental circumstances i Environment provides mechanisms for change and shapes how children become different
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