1.​ Describe the stages of development according to Piaget? What is an individual able/not
able to do? (object permanence, conservation, theory of the mind...)
The stages of development are sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and
formal operational. Children in the younger stages of development struggle with
concepts like object permanence, conservation, and theory of mind, but develop these
concepts later in life.
2.​ What are gender role stereotypes? Where do these gender roles come from?
Gender role stereotypes are expectations for how men and women are supposed to
behave in society, and this comes from culture.
3.​ What are important reflexes that infants should demonstrate in their early stages of
development?
Some important reflexes are the grasping reflex, rooting reflex, sucking reflex, and the
crying reflex.
4.​ How are the developmental theories similar and different from one another? (Erik
Erikson, Mary Ainsworth…)
Erikson has a more broad theory of stages of development for people throughout their
whole lives while Ainsworth has a more narrowed down theory about how different
attachment styles can shape a child’s development (and Vygotsky is about the
development of cognitive abilities including logic and reasoning).
5.​ What are the four different types of parenting styles?
Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive, and Neglectful parenting.
6.​ What is temperament?
Temperament is emotional and behavioral tendencies that are observed during one’s
childhood that can predict who they will become when they grow up.
7.​ What is the critical period of language development?
The critical period of language development is the time period when children can most
easily learn language, but if language is not acquired before the critical period ends, it
becomes much more difficult to do.
8.​ What types of research designs are often used in developmental psychology?
Developmental psychology often uses cross-sectional (testing multiple age groups at a
single point in time) and longitudinal studies (testing the same participants over a period
of time).
9.​ What have studies revealed about sexual orientation?
Studies have revealed that sexual orientation is determined mostly based on genetics
and biological factors but environmental factors may also have some influence on it (it is
nature AND nurture).
10.​What are Erikson’s stages of development? Describe each.
1. Trust vs. Mistrust (infants develop trust and mistrust of the world around
them)
2. Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (toddlers learn to be independent in order
to avoid shame and doubt)
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (preschoolers learn to take initiative and explore their
environment but they will feel guilty if they are restricted from taking initiative)
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (children try to develop a sense of competence
and accomplishment by learning new skills but they will feel inferior and not
confident if they are unsuccessful)
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (adolescents develop their sense of identity
and it can often be a confusing process)
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adults learn to form intimate relationships
but feel isolated when they are unable to)
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle aged adults consider their
contributions to society and find their true purpose)
8. Integrity vs. Despair (older adults reflect on their lives and consider
whether their lives were well-lived or not)
11.​What have developmental studies shown about depth perception?
Developmental studies have shown that depth perception begins developing during
infancy but gets refined later in childhood (visual cliff).
12.​What did Haslow’s monkeys teach us about attachment?
Haslow’s monkeys showed how the mother’s love is needed more emotionally than
physically and the younger the child, the more necessary comfort from the mother is.
13.​What are the different types of attachment?
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1. Secure (healthiest attachment style and people feel secure and cared for)
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2. Avoidant (people feel insecure and tend to withdraw from others and
avoid emotional closeness and intimate relationships)
​
3. Anxious (people feel insecure and a strong need to be in intimate
relationships, and have a hard time being single)
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4. Disorganized (people have unpredictable behaviors in relationships and
go back and forth between avoidant and anxious attachment styles)
14.​What impacts the onset of menarche?
The menarche is a girl’s first menstrual period and genetics and environmental factors
like nutrition and exercise levels can impact the timing of the menarche.
15.​What are physical developmental milestones? (motor skills)
Some physical developmental milestones are being able to roll over, sit up, crawl, pull
oneself up to stand, and being able to walk.
16.​What are examples of teratogens?
Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and radiation are some examples of teratogens.
17.​What is the difference between primary and secondary sex characteristics?
Primary sex characteristics are reproductive organs directly responsible for reproduction
while secondary sex characteristics are things that may play a role in reproduction but
aren’t directly involved in it.
18.​What was the focus of Lev Vigotsky’s social cognitive development theory?
The focus of Vygotsky’s theory was that learning is a social process and that a child’s
cognitive development is driven by social interaction from more knowledgeable people
such as parents and teachers.