Study Guide">

Psych. 215
Frickle

1. Define the study of human development and identify five characteristics of development identified by the life-span perspective.
2. Identify the three domains of human development and discuss the relationships of the domains to one another.
3. Explain the ecological model of development; discuss the three broad, overlapping contexts that affect development through the life-span.
4. Explain the three controversies in the study of human development.
5. Describe the major ways of scientifically testing hypotheses (observation, correlation, experiments, surveys and case studies) and their strengths and limitations.
6. Identify and describe three major research designs used by developmental psychologists (cross-sectional, longitudinal and cross-sequential) and the strengths and the limitations of each.

Chapter 2

1. Differentiate between grand theories and emergent theories.
2. Briefly summarize the main ideas of each of the grand theories discussed in your text (Freud, Erikson, learning theories and cognitive theory).
3. Discuss the emergent theories of Vygotsky (sociocultural theory) and epigenetic systems theory

Chapter 3

1. Define/explain genes and chromosomes and their effects on development. Explain how sex is determined.
2. Distinguish between monozygotic and dizygotic twins, explain how often each occurs and what factors contribute to such births.
3. Discuss chromosomal and genetic abnormalities and their frequency. Explain trisomy 21, fragile X syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome.
4. Explain genetic counseling and who might make best use of it.

Chapter 4

1. Identify and describe the 3 periods of prenatal development including timing and major events marking each.
2. Explain teratology, the factors that determine the potential harm of a teratogen. Discuss specific teratogens and their effects.
3. Explain the differences among low-birthweight, pre-term and small-for-gestational-age infants. Discuss possible causes and prevention of these conditions.
4. Describe the stages of a normal birth, and specific events at each stage. Describe the test used to assess the neonate’s condition at birth. Discuss cerebral palsy as a complication of birth.
5. Describe current scientific views bonding in humans.

1. Describe the size and proportions of an infant’s body, including how they change during the first two years. Identify the risk factors and possible explanations for SIDS.
2. Describe the ways in which the brain changes/matures during infancy and the role of experience in brain development.
3. Describe the basic reflexes of the newborn and distinguish between gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Discuss the basic pattern of motor skill development and variations in the timing of motor skill acquisition.
4. Describe infant vision and hearing, taste, smell and vision.
5. Describe the nutritional needs of infants and the effects of malnutrition and undernutrition.

Chapter 6

1. Explain infant perception. Discuss the Gibsons’ contextual view of perception and how affordances enhance overall cognitive growth.
2. Identify and explain key elements of cognitive growth (categorization, deferred imitation, cause-and-effect) and ways of testing these elements (habituation, launching event).
3. Define Piaget’s concepts of adaptation, assimilation, schemas and accommodation. Discuss Piaget’s six stages of sensorimotor intelligence.
4. Discuss the importance of baby-talk, identifying its main features. Explain current views on language learning and development.

Chapter 7

1. Describe the basic emotions expressed by infants during the first days and months. Describe the main developments in the emotional life of the child between 6 months and 2 years of age.
2. Explain social referencing and its role in shaping later emotions. Discuss the links between the infant’s emerging self-awareness and emotional development.
3. Discuss the psychoanalytic perspective (Freud and Erikson) on psychosocial development during infancy.
4. Explain the concept of temperament and its characteristics (research report).
5. Define attachment, how it is measured and how it is influenced by context. Discuss the long-term consequences of secure and insecure attachment.

Study Guide, Test #3

1. Discuss brain growth and development during the play years. Explain what developments allow for formal education to begin at around age 6.
2. Discuss childhood accidents and the factors that contribute to variability of risk. Explain the development of motor skills (gross and fine) during the play years.
3. Identify various categories of child maltreatment and explain the factors that contribute to its occurrence. Discuss the research findings that address prevention of child maltreatment.

Chapter 9

1. Describe and discuss the major characteristics of preoperational thought according to Piaget. Compare Piaget’s ideas to those of Vygotsky.
2. Explain the typical pre-school child’s theory of mind, noting how it is affected by cultural context. How does it relate to the ability to understand pretense?
3. Describe the development of vocabulary and the role of fast mapping. Discuss the development of grammar and the limitations in the young child’s language abilities.

Chapter 10

1. Discuss the relationship between the child’s developing sense of self and his/her social awareness. Discuss emotional development during early childhood, including emotional regulation and how it relates to attachment.
2. Differentiate among 4 types of aggression during the play years and why certain types tend to be more problematic. Discuss the role of rough-and-tumble and sociodramatic play during early childhood.
3. Compare and contrast three classic patterns of parenting and their effect on children. Discuss the pros and cons of punishment and describe the most effective means of disciplining children.
4. How do young children develop gender awareness? Summarize five theories of gender-role development during the play years, noting important contributions of each.

Chapter 11

1. Explain why differences in physique and health among children are important. Describe motor-skill development during the school years, focusing on variations due to gender, culture and genetics.
2. Explain how achievement and aptitude test are used in evaluating individual difference in cognitive growth. What are the problems associated with such tests?
3. What is the new developmental psychopathology perspective and what is its value in treating special needs children? How are learning disabilities diagnosed? Describe two common learning disabilities.

Chapter 12

1. Describe the components of the information processing system and how they interact.
2. What are the advances in children’s memory skills, selective attention and metacognition during the school years? Describe the logical operations of concrete operational thought and give examples.
3. Describe Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. What are the criticisms of his theory? Compare his ideas to those of Carol Gilligan.

Chapter 13

1. Identify the common themes found in different theoretical views on the psychosocial development of school-age children.
2. Explain social cognition and how children’s theory of mind and emotional understanding evolve during this period. Discuss the importance of peer groups and the development of a school-age subculture.
3. Describe the development of self-understanding and its role in self-esteem. Discuss the two types of rejected children.
4. What is bullying? What does cross-cultural research on bullies and their victims tell us?
5. Identify five essential ways in which functional families nurture school-age children. Contrast the styles of open and closed families.

1. Describe the biological events of puberty (physical changes, hormonal changes and menarche). What factors affect the onset of puberty?
2. Discuss the development of primary and secondary sex characteristics in males and females during puberty.
3. Discuss how adolescents respond to physical changes, focusing on the preoccupation with body image and problems that can arise in the development of a healthy body image.

Chapter 15

1. Describe advances in thinking during adolescence, including evidence of formal operational thought. Provide examples of adolescents’ emerging ability to reason deductively and inductively.
2. Discuss adolescent egocentrism and give three examples of egocentric fantasies.
3. Discuss the typical adolescent’s inability to make major life decisions. Explain how adolescent thinking contributes to teen pregnancy and STD transmission.

Chapter 16

1. Describe the development of identity during adolescence, including each of the four major identity statuses and examples of each.
2. Discuss parental influence on identity formation including the effect of parent-adolescent conflict and other aspects of family functioning.
3. Discuss the constructive functions of peer relationships and close friendships during adolescence, including the unique challenges faced by immigrants.
4. Discuss the pattern of heterosexual involvement and the challenges faced by gay and lesbian adolescents.
5. Discuss adolescent suicide, its incidence and prevalence, contributing factors, warning signs and gender variations.

1. Describe the normal physiological changes in growth, strength and health that occur during early adulthood.
2. What are the early physical signs of aging? Why do they go unnoticed?
3. Discuss age-related changes in sexuality during this period, including sexual response, sexual activity, committed relationships and infertility.
4. Discuss the causes and consequences of drug use and drug addiction in early adulthood.
5. Identify the potentially harmful effects of repeated dieting. Discuss possible explanations for anorexia and bulimia.
6. Discuss violent death in this age group. How is it related to social values?

Chapter 20

1. What are the physical signs of middle age? How do these changes impact health? Which senses show the greatest decline? Explain changes in vision and hearing.
2. What are the four measures of health? How are they different in different ethnic groups? What are QALYs?
3. Discuss gender differences in health. Explain menopause and climacteric.

Chapter 23

1. What is ageism? What are some reasons for changing views about old age? What age groups are growing the fastest?
2. Differentiate between primary and secondary aging. What are the physical effects of aging? What is optimal aging?
3. Define maximum lifespan and average life expectancy. Explain senescence from the perspective of epigenetic systems theory.

Chapter 18

1. Describe the three approaches used to explain adult cognitive development.
2. Contrast adult thought with adolescent thought. Identify the main characteristics of postformal thought and describe how it differs from formal operational thought. How do emotions affect cognitive processes?
3. What affect does a college education have on cognitive abilities? Discuss how life events may trigger new patterns of thinking and result in cognitive growth.

Chapter 21

1. Distinguish between fluid and crystallized intelligence and explain how each is affected by age.
2. Trace the history of the controversy regarding adult intelligence, including the findings of cross-sectional and longitudinal research and how cross-sequential research compensates for their shortcomings.
3. Explain how and why context and cohort affect intellectual development during adulthood.
4. What is meant by the "plasticity of intelligence"? How do the cognitive processes of experts differ from those of novices?

Chapter 24

1. What are the five primary mental abilities that Schaie found to decline in adults over 60?
2. Summarize the research findings on changes in the information processing systems that may account for age-related changes in cognition.
3. List several reasons (other than aging itself) that might contribute to age-related declines in cognitive function.
4. Discuss how daily life provides compensation for cognitive declines and allows most older adults to function nearly as well as they always have.
5. Identify the two most common forms of dementia and discuss the differences between them.

1. Identify the two basic tasks (or crises) of adulthood. How has the view of most developmentalists shifted regarding adult stages?
2. What is the social clock and how does it influence the timing of important events during early adulthood?
3. Review the developmental course of friendship during adulthood, noting factors that promote friendship, and gender differences in friendship patterns.
4. Discuss the impact of cohabitation on relationships and identify three factors that influence marital success.
5. Discuss the importance of work to the individual and whether the traditional stages of the career cycle are pertinent to today’s workers.
6. Briefly describe the family life cycle. Discuss the special challenges facing stepparents, adoptive parents and foster parents.

Chapter 22

1. Is midlife inevitably a time of crisis? What changes normally occur during middle age?
2. Explain the tendency toward gender role convergence during middle age.
3. Describe three patterns of grandparent-grandchild relationships and discuss historical trends in their prevalence.
4. Discuss how and why marital relationships tend to change during middle adulthood.

Chapter 25

1. Describe Erikson’s stage of late adulthood.
2. Discuss the impact of retirement on the individual and the factors that influence adjustment to this event. List and discuss several alternative sources of achievement during late adulthood.
3. Discuss the impact of being single in old age on both women and men. Discuss marriage, friendships and sibling relationships among older people.
4. Who are the frail elderly? Identify and discuss four factors that may protect the elderly from frailty.

Epilogue

1. Identify Kubler-Ross’s stages of dying and discuss the stages in light of current research.
2. Discuss age-related differences in how death is conceptualized. What are some cultural and religious differences in how death is viewed?