DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
TWO CENTRAL QUESTIONS OF
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
1. Is development
influenced by nature or by nurture?
NATURE
NURTURE
ANSWER----> THE TWO
INTERACT
JOHN LOCKE
TABULA RASA
JOHN WATSON
TABULA RASTAS
Dumb----------------------------------------------->
Smart
Introverted---------------------------------->
Extroverted
E.G., PLASTICITY OF THE BRAIN
2. IS DEVELOPMENT
CONTINUOUS OR DISCONTINUOUS?
CONTINUOUS
DISCONTINUOUS
Language development and
critical periods
Imprinting
PIAGET’S STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Jean Piaget
Some terms and concepts…
REPRESENTATION/SCHEMA
OPERATIONS
ASSIMILATION
ACCOMODATION
INTERACTION OF ASSIMILATION
& ACCOMODATION INSPIRES COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
PIAGET’S THEORY IS STAGE
DEPENDENT
Stage: Age:
Sensorimotor 0-2
Preoperational 2-7
Concrete operations 7-11
Formal operations 11-adult
SENSORIMOTOR PERIOD
1. OBJECT PERMANENCE
2. THERE IS A PROGRESSIVE ABILITY TO CONTROL AND INVESTIGATE THE
ENVIRONMENT
PREOPERATIONAL PERIOD
1. CONCRETENESS
2. IRREVERSIBILITY
3. EGOCENTRISM
4. CENTERING
5. STATES VS. TRANSFORMATIONS
e.g., appearance from reality
6. TRANSDUCTIVE REASONING
7. CAN’T UNDERSTAND
CONSERVATION
A. CONSERVATION OF NUMBERS
B. CONSERVATION OF SUBSTANCE
C. CONSERVATION OF QUANTITY
CONCRETE OPERATIONS PERIOD
Can do all stuff that pre-ops
couldn’t do, Memory is also better
De-Centered: Are better able to
think about two aspects of a problem at once
BALANCE BEAM
COUNTERFACTUALS
FORMAL OPERATIONS PERIOD
AMENDMENTS TO PIAGET’S THEORY
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND
ATTACHMENT THEORY
EVIDENCE FOR AN EMOTIONAL
BOND…
1. They seek to be near their
mother
2. They show distress if
separated from their caregiver
3. They are noticeably happy
when reunited with the person they are attached to
4. They orient their actions to the caregiver even when she/he is
absent
WHY DO INFANTS GET ATTACHED?
FREUD’S DRIVE REDUCTION
THEORY
biological drives
JOHN BOWLB’S ATTACHMENT
THEORY
STUDIES ON INSTITUTIONALIZED
CHILDREN
Bowlby (1969; 1973; 1980)
1. After separated experience
fear
2. Then depression and
despair
3. Then they become indifferent to others
PRIMATE EVOLUTION
INFANT HAS TWO OPPOSING NEEDS
1. SURVIVAL
2. EXPLORATION
MECHANISM OF ATTACHMENT
EVIDENCE FOR BOWLBY’S THEORY
PREFERENCE FOR A WIRE MOTHER
VS. A CLOTH MOTHER
*AFTER 165 DAYS THE MONKEYS
SHOWED A CLEAR PREFERENCE FOR THE CLOTH MOTHER, EVEN IF THEY RECEIVED ALL THEIR
FOOD FROM THE WIRE MOTHER.
CLOTH MOTHER PROVIDED MORE
SECURITY
BIOLOGICAL DRIVES VS.
ATTACHMENT THEORY
CAN FATHERS BE JUST AS
MOTHERING?
PATTERNS OF ATTACHMENT
AINSWORTH & COLLEAGUES
(1971; 1978)
1. Responsive, Consistent, Flexible
2. Overbearing, Agitated, Anxious
3. Cruel, Indifferent
HOW DO THESE STYLES EFFECT
KIDS?
STRANGE SITUATION PARADIGM
Mom present Mom
leaves Mom returns
explores a little----> mild distress-----> enthusiasm
(Secure)
no exploration----> distress-----> clingy/angry
(Anxious/resistant)
no exploration----> no distress-----> avoids
contact
(Anxious/avoidant)
*Research suggests that these
patterns stick with us in romantic relationships