PSY 0010 Study Guide – Dr.
Bates
Chapter 9: Lifespan Development
What is developmental psychology? In your own words, explain the
three major issues that developmental psychologists study (i.e., nature
and nurture, continuity and stages, stability and change).
Be able to briefly explain cross-sectional research and longitudinal
research.
What is the correct order of stages of prenatal development?
What do the inner cells and outer cells of the zygote become,
respectively, during prenatal development?
What are some of the key features of the embryonic stage?
Specifically, which structures begin to form at this point in time?
What are some of the key features of the fetal stage?
When is the age of viability, and what does this refer to?
Give some examples of how sounds can influence a fetus during
prenatal development.
What are teratogens? Give some examples of teratogens and explain
why they are harmful during prenatal development.
What is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)? What are some of the
characteristics of FAS?
Describe the series of events leading up to birth, as well as the
afterbirth.
Describe the reflexes and preferences that newborns exhibit. What is
rooting?
Explain the difference between the number of neurons present at birth
and the number of neural connections. How do these numbers change
as we age, and what processes contribute to these changes?
What is a critical period?
Babies generally follow the same sequence of motor development, but
there are variations in age regarding when they develop a certain
motor skill (e.g., walking). Explain what this means in your own words.
What is infantile amnesia?
Explain Piaget’s concepts of schemas, assimilation, and
accommodation.
What is the order of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development? What
are some of the key features of each stage?
What is object permanence?
What is theory of mind?
What is attachment? Does Harlow’s research with monkeys suggest
that attachment develops due to a need for food or comfort?
Be able to explain Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” study and how it
investigated attachment. What are some of the qualities of securely
attached vs. insecurely attached infants?
Be able to briefly describe each of the four parenting styles that we
covered.
When does adolescence begin and end?
What is neural pruning?
Explain each of Kohlberg’s levels of moral thinking.
Explain Erikson’s “identify vs. role confusion” issue, which he said is
critical for healthy psychosocial development as an adolescent. What
are some potential consequences in adulthood if we fail to form an
identity in adolescence?
What is a selection effect?
What does research reveal about the relationship between parent-teen
relationships and peer relationships in adolescence?
What are some of the physical changes that occur during adulthood?
Be able to offer at least one example of each of the points we covered
in class.
Define fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. Which one
declines with age? Which one increases as we age?
Explain Erikson’s “intimacy vs. isolation” issue, which he said is critical
for healthy psychosocial development as a young adult.
What does research suggest about building a happy marriage?
Explain Erikson’s “generativity vs. stagnation” issue, which he said is
critical for healthy psychosocial development in middle adulthood.
What does research suggest about the relationship between happiness
and aging?
Using the biopsychosocial approach, offer at least one suggestion for
healthy aging from each level of analysis (i.e., one biological factor,
one psychological factor, one social/cultural factor).
Does everyone experience grief the same way?
Explain Erikson’s “integrity vs. despair” issue, which he said is critical
for healthy psychosocial development in late adulthood. How does this
relate to one’s sense of meaning as they reach the end of their life?