Lecture 1Outline 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 developmenta. Understanding human natureb. Choosing social policies – research can lead to change in social policiesc. Raising children – strong moral sense II. Domains of Developmenta. Periods of Developmenti. 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. Nurturea. Nurture (Empiricism)i. Locke (experiences shape you)1. Blank slate at birth (tabula rasa)2. Development is slow3. Learning in general (rats)ii. Theoretical Implications 1. Babies have predisposed knowledge?a. Prefer mother and her language, universals in development, development occurs quickly PSYC 307 1st Editionb. Nature (Nativism)i. Descartes and Kant 1. Babies have knowledge (Core Knowledge Theories)a. Innate sense of goodness2. Everything is predeterminedii. Theoretical Implications – why are we the way that we are1. Babies – domain specific2. Development occurs quickly 3. Problemsa. Predetermined/fatalisticb. 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 developmenta. Like a caterpillarc. Example: height vs. age in yearsi. 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. monthsV. Stage Theories a. Qualitative shiftsb. Abrupt changes – stability c. Sequence of stages invariable (always move forward)d. Rate of progression can change VI. Stability vs. Changea. 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
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