Strand 1: Developmental Theories
What are the three domains of human development, and how do they contribute to a person’s overall growth?
Biological, cognitive, and psychosocial
Identify at least 2 behavioral and 2 physical teratogens.
Behavioral: malnutrition/poor diet, alcohol, chronic stress, substance abuse
Physical: radiation, infectious diseases, toxic chemicals, pollutants
In what stage of psychosocial development are infants? Describe this stage.
Trust vs. Mistrust: the period when infants learn to trust that their caregivers will meet their needs, and it's considered a critical time for shaping a child's personality and view of the world.
Describe the difference between fine and gross motor skills and give at least 2 examples of each.
Fine: small muscle movement
Gross: large muscle movement
What are some of the positive and negative effects of group/peer interactions in middle childhood? How does stage 4 of psychosocial development play into this?
Positive: foster friendship, teamwork, empathy, conflict resolution
Negative: bullying, peer pressure, poor self-esteem
Industry vs. Inferiority
List and describe the six basic steps of the scientific method, and explain why replication is essential in developmental research.
Pose a question, develop a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, draw conclusions, report findings, replicate.
Replication is essential to confirm results and ensure that the findings are not due to chance or error.
What are the three stages the baby goes through in prenatal development and the associated time periods?
Weeks 0-2: Zygote
Weeks 2-8: Embryo
Weeks 8-Birth: Fetus
Name at least 4 reflexes newborns exhibit and describe why they are important.
Moro, Babinski, rooting, palmar, plantar, tonic neck, stepping.
These reflexes are survival mechanisms and indicators of neurological health.
Name and describe the 5 main parenting styles.
Rejecting, permissive, authoritarian, neglectful, democratic
Describe concrete operational thought (Piaget) and how seriation and classification relate.
Concrete operational thought (7-11): Children learn to perform mental tasks that require organization and understanding relationships between objects. Seriation (recognize objects in logical order) and classification (group objects based on shared properties) demonstrate that ability.
What are the 5 qualities of human development?
Multi-dimensional, multidirectional, multicultural, contextual, plastic
Explain the difference between low birthweight, very low birthweight, and extremely low birthweight. Describe at least 2 factors contributing to these conditions.
LBW: Less than 5.5 lbs
VLBW: Less than 3.3 lbs
ELBW: Less than 2.2 lbs
Contributing factors: preterm birth, multiple births, preeclampsia, infection, intrauterine growth restriction, exposure to teratogens, maternal age, maternal health conditions, etc.
Name and describe the 4 main attachment styles.
Secure, avoidant, anxious, disorganized
What are the 4 main types of abuse and how can you identify victims of each type of abuse?
Physical, emotional, sexual, neglect
What stage of Kohlberg's moral development are most children in middle childhood? Describe the shift of morality from parents to peers.
Stage 2 or Stage 3 (end of preconventional, beginning of conventional)
What are the main 3 research designs used by developmental researchers and when are each used?
Cross-sectional: Studies different age groups at one time. Quick but doesn't track individual changes over time.
Longitudinal: Follows the same individuals over a long period. Provides insights into development but is time-consuming.
Cross-sequential: Combines both methods by studying multiple age groups over time. Balances detail with efficiency but is complex.
Name and describe at least 2 of the 4 building blocks of heredity (hint: think about what humans are made of).
DNA: The molecule that contains genetic information.
Genes: Segments of DNA that code for specific traits.
Chromosomes: Structures made of tightly coiled DNA that carry genes. Humans have 46 chromosomes in 23 pairs.
Gametes: Reproductive cells (sperm and egg) that contain half the chromosomes (23) needed to form a zygote.
Name at least 3 concepts/benchmarks of language development and describe what they are.
Child-directed speech, babbling, holophrase, naming explosion, grammar
Name and describe at least 3 different types of play children engage in.
Solitary, onlooker, parallel, associative, cooperative
ADD, ASD, dyslexia
Name at least one researcher for each of the following categories and tell us a little bit about their theory: psychosocial theory, behaviorism, and cognitive development.
Psychosocial: Erikson, Maslow, Bowlby, Baumrind, Olson
Behaviorism: Pavlov, Skinner, Watson, Bandura
Cognitive: Piaget, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner, Kohlberg, Gardner
Differentiate between genotype and phenotype, and explain the role of alleles in genetic diversity.
Genotype: An individual’s genetic makeup, including all inherited genes.
Phenotype: Observable traits expressed by the genotype, influenced by the environment.
Alleles: Variants of a gene that contribute to genetic diversity (e.g., different alleles determine eye color).
What are the three main goals of the dynamic sensory motor system in infants, and how do they support development?
The three main goals are social interaction (building relationships), comfort (soothing and security), and learning (exploring the environment). These goals drive the development of motor skills and cognitive abilities.
Name and describe the 4 types aggression that emerge in early childhood.
Instrumental aggression is goal-directed and used to obtain something, like a toy. It often reflects a child’s limited understanding of social rules and their emotional impulses.
Reactive aggression is a response to being hurt or frustrated, often reflecting emotional dysregulation or a defense mechanism.
Relational aggression involves harming others through manipulation, exclusion, or spreading rumors. It is often linked to a child’s developing understanding of social power and relationships.
Bullying aggression is repeated, intentional harm meant to dominate or control another child. It reflects more complex emotional issues such as insecurity or a desire for power.
Name and describe at least 3 components of information processing that help cognitive ability in middle childhood.
Selective attention, sensory memory, working/short-term memory, long-term memory, metacognition.