Introductory Psychology Developmental Psychology AP PSYCHOLOGY UNIT III

Introductory Psychology: Developmental Psychology AP PSYCHOLOGY: UNIT III Topic: Themes & Methods

Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology �Developmental Psychology The scientific study of the changes that occur in people from conception to death “Womb to tomb”

Developmental Psychology: Themes PART ONE

Developmental: Themes �Three MAJOR themes in developmental… Nature v. Nurture � How do genetic inheritance & experience influence our behavior? Continuity v. Stages � Is development a gradual & continuous process or a sequence of separate stages? Stability v. Change � Do our early personality traits persist through life or do we become different people as we age?

Developmental: Themes �Theme #1: Nature v. Nurture Agree or Disagree? � Differences in male and female behavior are more the result of socialization than biology… � Individual genetic makeup more than experience explains why some children are strong-willed and other are compliant… � Nature rather than nurture shapes whether adults tend to be optimistic or pessimistic about life…

Developmental: Themes �Theme #2: Continuity v. Stages Agree or Disagree? � Human development is better thought of as a slow, continuous process rather than as a series of steps… � Adult life consists of a series of unique challenges each defining a new stage of life… � The child’s understanding of the world unfolds slowly and gradually rather than through discrete stages…

Developmental: Themes �Theme #3: Stability v. Change Agree or Disagree? �A person who is socially outgoing as a child is also likely to be a socially outgoing adult… � People of one age think and act very differently when they arrive at a later age… � An adolescent with low self-esteem is also likely to feel less than worthy as an adult…

Developmental Psychology: Methods PART TWO

Developmental: Methods �Cross-Sectional Studies Participants of various ages are compared at one point in time to determine age-related differences (SNAPSHOTS) � Advantages Inexpensive Quickly completed Low attrition rate � Disadvantages Different age groups are not necessarily alike Differences may be attributed to cohort differences as opposed to age differences

Developmental: Methods �Longitudinal Studies The same participants are studied at various ages to determine age-related changes (MOVING PICTURES) � Advantages Detailed information In-depth study of developmental changes Eliminates cohort differences � Disadvantages Expensive & time consuming Potential for high attrition rate Differences over time may be attributed to assessment tools, not necessarily age

Developmental: Methods �Cross-Sequential Studies Different participants of various ages are compared at several points in time, to determine both age-related differences and age-related changes � Combination � Benefits? of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies

Study Age Studied In… 1 20 -year-old participants 1970 2 40 -year-old participants 1990 3 60 -year-old participants 2010 Group Age Studied In… 1 20 -year-old participants 2010 2 40 -year-old participants 2010 3 60 -year-old participants 2010 Longitudinal Cross-Sectional Study Age Studied In… 1 Group ONE: 20 -year-old participants Group TWO: 40 -year-old participants 2010 2 Group ONE: 25 -year-old participants Group TWO: 45 -year-old participants 2015 Cross-Sequential

Developmental: Methods �Biographical/Retrospective Studies A participant’s past is reconstructed through interviews and other research about their life � Advantages In-depth & detailed study of one person � Disadvantages Personal recall may not be accurate Expensive and time consuming