WEEK 13
The process of incorporating new information into existing schemas without changing them.
Assimilation
The ability of infants to share emotional/mental states with others is called:
Intersubjectivity
The biological process that initiates sexual maturation is:
Puberty
Spearman’s concept of general intelligence is referred to as:
g (general intelligence)
A reversible internal state that drives behaviour toward a goal is called:
Drive
A child sees a penguin and says “that’s not a bird” after learning birds fly. This reflects:
Accommodation
Infants use caregivers’ emotional reactions to guide behaviour in uncertain situations. This is:
Social referencing
This neural process removes unused synapses and strengthens frequently used ones.
Synaptic pruning
Sternberg’s “street smarts” corresponds to which type of intelligence?
Practical intelligence
The tendency to maintain internal balance (e.g., temperature, hunger) is:
Homeostasis
This error demonstrates failure of object permanence and reflects a perseveration tendency.
A-not-B error
Harlow’s monkey experiment demonstrated that attachment is driven more by ______ than ______.
Comfort (contact) > food
Why are adolescents more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour from a brain development perspective?
Reward systems develop earlier than prefrontal control (imbalance)
Why is the original IQ formula (mental age / chronological age × 100) flawed for adults?
Mental age plateaus → formula no longer meaningful
Name TWO internal signals that regulate hunger.
Blood glucose, hormones (leptin, peptide YY), neural signals
The key difference between continuous vs. discontinuous development is:
Continuous = gradual change; Discontinuous = stage-based qualitative shifts
This concept explains how early attachment relationships shape expectations in later relationships.
Early puberty in females is associated with what psychological outcomes?
Poor self-concept, depression, risky behaviour
What statistical method supports the existence of general intelligence (g)?
Factor analysis
Why doesn’t removing the stomach eliminate hunger?
Hunger regulated by brain + hormones, not just stomach
Why is Piaget’s theory considered stage-like rather than gradual, and what is a major modern critique of this view?
Stage-like = qualitative shifts; critique = development is more continuous and variable than Piaget proposed
In Ainsworth’s Strange Situation, what distinguishes secure vs. anxious attachment patterns?
Secure = seeks comfort, returns to caregiver; anxious = distress + inconsistent soothing
Explain how adolescence demonstrates BOTH nature and nurture interacting.
Biology (puberty, brain) + environment (family, stress) interact
How does intelligence testing raise concerns about cultural bias and validity?
Cultural bias, socioeconomic differences, test validity issues
Describe the roles of the nucleus accumbens, OFC, and DLPFC in motivation.