Developmental psychology flashcards

Developmental psychology examines how people change physically, cognitively, and socially across the lifespan. Students must understand major theorists including Piaget's stages of cognitive development, Erikson's psychosocial stages, Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, and Kohlberg's moral development. Key concepts include attachment theory (Bowlby and Ainsworth), the nature vs. nurture debate, critical and sensitive periods, and continuity vs. stage models of development. Research methods such as cross-sectional and longitudinal designs are also essential. Students should be able to apply these theories to real-life scenarios, compare theorists' views, and recognize how early experiences shape later outcomes across cognitive, emotional, and social domains.

1. Card 1

   What are Piaget's four stages of cognitive development in order?

   Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages, progressing from birth through adolescence.

2. Card 2

   What is object permanence and when does it develop?

   Object permanence is understanding that objects exist even when out of sight; it develops during the sensorimotor stage, around 8 months.

3. Card 3

   What does Vygotsky's zone of proximal development describe?

   The zone of proximal development is the gap between what a learner can do alone and what they can achieve with guidance from a more skilled person.

4. Card 4

   What is the difference between secure and insecure attachment?

   Secure attachment involves trust and comfort with a caregiver; insecure attachment (anxious or avoidant) reflects inconsistent or unresponsive caregiving.

5. Card 5

   What did Ainsworth's Strange Situation experiment measure?

   It measured attachment styles by observing infants' reactions to brief separations from and reunions with their caregiver in an unfamiliar setting.

6. Card 6

   What is the central idea of Erikson's psychosocial theory?

   Erikson proposed eight lifespan psychosocial stages, each involving a conflict (e.g., trust vs. mistrust) whose resolution shapes personality development.

7. Card 7

   What is conservation in Piaget's theory?

   Conservation is the understanding that quantity stays the same despite changes in shape or appearance; it emerges in the concrete operational stage.

8. Card 8

   How does Kohlberg's preconventional level of moral reasoning work?

   At the preconventional level, moral decisions are based on avoiding punishment or gaining rewards rather than on social rules or principles.

9. Card 9

   What is the difference between a longitudinal and cross-sectional study?

   A longitudinal study follows the same people over time; a cross-sectional study compares different age groups at one point in time.

10. Card 10

    What is scaffolding in developmental psychology?

    Scaffolding is temporary support provided by a teacher or peer that helps a learner accomplish tasks just beyond their current independent ability.

11. Card 11

    What is a critical period in development?

    A critical period is a specific time window during which certain experiences must occur for normal development; missing it causes lasting deficits.

12. Card 12

    What does egocentrism mean in Piaget's preoperational stage?

    Egocentrism is the inability to see a situation from another person's perspective, not selfishness; demonstrated by the three-mountain task.

• Students often confuse Piaget's concrete operational stage with the formal operational stage, forgetting that abstract reasoning only begins in formal operations.
• Many students mix up Erikson and Freud, incorrectly attributing psychosocial stage theory to Freud rather than to Erikson.
• Students frequently assume longitudinal studies are always better, ignoring that cross-sectional designs are faster and avoid practice effects.

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