Child Psychology

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Scientific study of human development

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The science that seeks to understand the ways in which people change and remain the same as they grow older.

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linear change

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a process in which a change occurs in a gradual,regular,predictable sequence.

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dynamic systems

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a process of continual change within a persons or group, in which each change is connected systematically to every other development in each individual and every society

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butterfly effect

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the idea that a small action or event (such as the breeze created by the flap of a butterfly wings) may set off a series of changes that culminate in a major event (such as a hurricane).

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life-span perspective

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a view of human development that takes into account all phases of life not just childhood or adulthood.

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multidirectional

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a characteristic of development, referring to its nonlinear progression-gains and losses, compensation and deficits, predictable and unexpected change.

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multicontextual

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a char. of development referring to the fact that each human life takes place within a number of contexts-historical, cultural, and socioeconomic.

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mulitcultural

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a char. of devel. which takes place within many cultural settings worldwide and thus reflects a multitude of values, traditions, and tools for living.

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multidisciplinary

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a characteristic of development encompassing the idea that dozens of academic disciplines contribute data and insight to the science of development.

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plastic

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a characteristic of development that indicates that individuals-including their personalities as well as their bodies and minds-change throughout the life span.

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biosocial domain

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the realm of the brain and body as well as changes in our biological selves and in the social influences that direct our physical growth.

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cognitive domain

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our thought processes, perceptual abilities, and language mastery, as well as the educational instit.. that encourage our intellectual growth.

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psychosocial domain

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our emotions, personality, and interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and the wider community.

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cohort

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a group of people whose shared birth year, or decade means that they travel through life together experiencing the same historical changes.

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social construction

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an idea that is built more on shared perceptions of social order than on objective reality.

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culture

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the specific manifestations of a social groups design for living, developed over the years to provide a social structure for the group members life together

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socioeconomic status (SES)

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an indicator of a persons social and economic standing, measured through comb. of family income, education level, place of residence,occupation, and other variables.

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poverty line

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the min. annual income a family needs to pay for basic necessities.

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ethnic group

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a collection of people who share certain attributes most always including ancestral heritage and often including national origin,religion,customs and language

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race

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socially constructed by which biological traits are used to differentiate people whose ancestors come from various regions of the world

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scientific method

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an approach to the systematic pursuit of knowledge. Involves 5 basic steps
1. Formulate a question
2. Develop a hypothesis
3. Test the hypothesis
4 Draw a conclusion
5. Make finds available

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hypothesis

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a specific prediction that is stated in such a way that it can be tested and either confirmed or refuted

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replication

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the repetition of scientific study, using the same procedures on another group of subjects, to verify or refute the original studies conclusion

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scientific observation

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a method of testing hypotheses by unobtrusively watching and recording subjects' behavior either in a laboratory or in a natural setting

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variables

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the qualities that may differ or vary during scientific investigation

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correlation

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a number indicating the degree of relationship between two variables.

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experiment

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a research method to try to untangle the cause from the effect

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independent variable

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in an experiment, the variable that is introduced or changed to see what effect it has on the dependent variable

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dependent variable

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in an experiment, the variable that may change as a result of the intro. or changes made in the independent variable.

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experimental group

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the subjects given treatment

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comparison group

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the subjects not given treatment, but are similar to the experiment group

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survey

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research method-info. is collected from large group of people by personal interview,questionnaire,or other.

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case study

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a research method in which one individual is studied intensively

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cross-sectional research

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groups of people who differ in age but share other important char. are compared

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longitudinal research

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same individuals are studied over a long period of time

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cross-sequential research

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hybrid research method, researchers first study several groups of people of different ages and then follow those groups over years

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code of ethics

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a set of moral principals that is formally adopted by a group or organization.

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developmental theory

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a systematic statement of principals and generalizations that provides a coherent framework for studying and explaining development

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grand theories

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comprehensive theories that have traditionally inspired and directed thinking about development.

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mini theories

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theories that focus on some specific areas of development but are less general and comprehensive than the grand theories

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emergent theories

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recently formulated theories that bring together information from many mini theories but that have not yet cohered into theories that are comprehensive and systematic

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psychoanalytic theory

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a grand theory of human devel. that holds that irrational,unconscious drives and motives, many of which originate in childhood,underlie human behavior

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behaviorism

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a grand theory that focuses on the sequences and process by which behavior is learned

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conditioning

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according to behaviorism, any process in which a behavior is learned.

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classical conditioning

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the process by which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus so that the organism responds to the former stimulus as if it were the latter

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operant condition

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the process by which a response is gradually learned via reinforcement or punishment

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reinforcement

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the process by which a behavior is followed by results that make it more likely that the behavior will be repeated.

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social learning theory

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an application of behaviorism that emphasizes that many human behaviors are learned through observation and limitation of other people

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modeling

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in social learning theory, the process in which people observe and then copy the behavior of others.

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self-efficacy

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in social learning theory, the belief that one is effective; self-efficacy motivates people to change themselves and their contexts

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cognitive theory

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a grand theory of human development that focuses on the structure and devl. of thinking, which shapes peoples attitudes,beliefs and behaviors

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cognitive equilibrium

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the state of mental balance that enables a person to reconcile new experienced with existing understanding

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sociocultural theory

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an emergent theory that holds that human development results from the dynamic interaction between person and the surrounding culture, including all the social forces, near and distant, that affects that person

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apprenticeship in thinking

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in sociocultural theory, the process by which novices develop cognitive competencies through interaction with more skilled members of the society, often parents and teachers.

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guided participation

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in sociocultural theory, the process by which a skilled person helps a novice learn by providing not only instruction but also a direct, shared involvement in the learning process.

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zone of proximal devel.

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the range of skills that a learner can exercise and master with assistance but cannot yet perform independently. According to Vygotsky, learning can occur within this zone

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epigenetic system theory

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emphasizes the interaction of genes and environment.

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selective adaption

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the idea that humans and other animal gradually adjust to their environment, specifically the process by which the frequency of particular genetic traits in a pop. increases and other decrease over generations.

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ethology

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the study of pattern of animal behavior particularly as that behavior relates to evolutionary orgins and species survial

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nature

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term for the traits, capacities, and limitations that each individual inherits genetically from his or her parents at the moment of conception. Refering only to genes

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nurture

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term for the environmental influences that affect develop. after an individual is conceived. nurture includes prenatal environment as well as the ecosystem.

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eclectic perspective

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the approach taken by most develop-mentalist, in which they apply aspects of each of the various theories of devel. rather than adhering exclusively to one theory