AP Psychology Flashcards: Themes And Methods In Developmental Psychology

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Themes And Methods In Developmental Psychology, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Psychology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Name the first stage in Erikson's psychosocial development.

Answer: Trust vs. Mistrust. Occurs in infancy when babies learn whether caregivers are reliable.

Flashcard 2: What is a longitudinal study?

Answer: A study that follows the same group over a long period. Tracks changes over time but can be time-consuming and costly.

Flashcard 3: Define 'object permanence'.

Answer: Understanding that objects continue to exist when not seen. Key milestone typically achieved during Piaget's sensorimotor stage.

Flashcard 4: Identify an example of a teratogen.

Answer: Alcohol. Harmful substance that can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Flashcard 5: Identify the key figure associated with cognitive development theory.

Answer: Jean Piaget. Famous for his four stages of cognitive development theory.

Flashcard 6: What concept explains why infants develop stranger anxiety?

Answer: Attachment theory. Infants prefer familiar caregivers and show wariness of strangers.

Flashcard 7: What is the term for a child's ability to understand the feelings of others?

Answer: Empathy. Critical for prosocial behavior and healthy social relationships.

Flashcard 8: What does the term 'nature vs. nurture' refer to in developmental psychology?

Answer: The debate over genetic vs. environmental influences on development. Central debate examining heredity versus environment in shaping behavior.

Flashcard 9: What is the main focus of the attachment theory?

Answer: The bonds between infants and their caregivers. Essential for emotional development and later relationship patterns.

Flashcard 10: What is the main focus of the attachment theory?

Answer: The bonds between infants and their caregivers. Essential for emotional development and later relationship patterns.

Flashcard 11: What is a sequential research design?

Answer: Combines cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Allows researchers to separate age effects from cohort effects.

Flashcard 12: Which theory emphasizes stages of psychosocial development?

Answer: Erik Erikson's theory. Features eight stages with specific psychosocial crises to resolve.

Flashcard 13: What concept did Lev Vygotsky introduce to developmental psychology?

Answer: The Zone of Proximal Development. The gap between what a child can do alone versus with help.

Flashcard 14: What is the 'strange situation' method used to assess?

Answer: Attachment style in infants. Mary Ainsworth's procedure revealing secure, avoidant, or anxious attachment.

Flashcard 15: What is the focus of developmental psychology?

Answer: The study of how humans grow and change over time. Examines changes from conception through death across all life domains.

Flashcard 16: What is the term for a child's ability to understand the feelings of others?

Answer: Empathy. Critical for prosocial behavior and healthy social relationships.

Flashcard 17: What is the main principle of the ecological systems theory?

Answer: Human development is influenced by different environmental systems. Bronfenbrenner's model showing nested environmental influences on development.

Flashcard 18: Identify the research method that involves manipulation of variables.

Answer: Experiment. Allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships in development.

Flashcard 19: What does 'egocentrism' refer to in child development?

Answer: Difficulty seeing perspectives other than one's own. Common in preoperational children who assume others share their viewpoint.

Flashcard 20: Identify the research method that involves manipulation of variables.

Answer: Experiment. Allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships in development.

Flashcard 21: Name a method used to study infant perception.

Answer: Habituation method. Measures decreased attention to familiar stimuli, indicating learning has occurred.

Flashcard 22: Which cognitive development stage involves abstract thinking?

Answer: Formal operational stage. Final stage in Piaget's theory, developing around age 11-12.

Flashcard 23: What is a cohort effect?

Answer: Differences due to the unique experiences of a particular age group. Historical events shape generations differently, confounding age effects in research.

Flashcard 24: What is the main principle of the ecological systems theory?

Answer: Human development is influenced by different environmental systems. Bronfenbrenner's model showing nested environmental influences on development.

Flashcard 25: What is the main focus of lifespan development?

Answer: Development from birth to death. Emphasizes that development continues throughout the entire human lifespan.

Flashcard 26: What is the main critique of Piaget's theory?

Answer: Underestimation of children's cognitive abilities. Research shows children can think more sophisticatedly than Piaget proposed.

Flashcard 27: Who conducted the famous Bobo doll experiment?

Answer: Albert Bandura. Demonstrated how children learn aggressive behaviors through observation and imitation.

Flashcard 28: Define 'resilience' in developmental psychology.

Answer: The ability to recover from adversity. The capacity to bounce back and thrive despite facing challenges.

Flashcard 29: What concept did Lev Vygotsky introduce to developmental psychology?

Answer: The Zone of Proximal Development. The gap between what a child can do alone versus with help.

Flashcard 30: What is a cohort effect?

Answer: Differences due to the unique experiences of a particular age group. Historical events shape generations differently, confounding age effects in research.

Flashcard 31: What is the main focus of lifespan development?

Answer: Development from birth to death. Emphasizes that development continues throughout the entire human lifespan.

Flashcard 32: Define 'cross-sectional study' in developmental research.

Answer: A study comparing different age groups at one point in time. Quick snapshot but can't show individual changes over time.

Flashcard 33: What is a sequential research design?

Answer: Combines cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Allows researchers to separate age effects from cohort effects.

Flashcard 34: Define 'resilience' in developmental psychology.

Answer: The ability to recover from adversity. The capacity to bounce back and thrive despite facing challenges.

Flashcard 35: Who conducted the famous Bobo doll experiment?

Answer: Albert Bandura. Demonstrated how children learn aggressive behaviors through observation and imitation.

Flashcard 36: Name the first stage in Erikson's psychosocial development.

Answer: Trust vs. Mistrust. Occurs in infancy when babies learn whether caregivers are reliable.

Flashcard 37: What is the main critique of Piaget's theory?

Answer: Underestimation of children's cognitive abilities. Research shows children can think more sophisticatedly than Piaget proposed.

Flashcard 38: What is a longitudinal study?

Answer: A study that follows the same group over a long period. Tracks changes over time but can be time-consuming and costly.

Flashcard 39: What does the term 'nature vs. nurture' refer to in developmental psychology?

Answer: The debate over genetic vs. environmental influences on development. Central debate examining heredity versus environment in shaping behavior.

Flashcard 40: In which stage of Piaget's theory do children learn conservation?

Answer: Concrete operational stage. Ages 7-11 when logical thinking develops for concrete objects.

Flashcard 41: What is an example of a primary sex characteristic?

Answer: Development of the reproductive organs. Directly involved in reproduction, like ovaries and testes.

Flashcard 42: What does the term 'scaffolding' mean in Vygotsky's theory?

Answer: Support provided to help a child achieve a task. Temporary assistance that's gradually removed as competence increases.

Flashcard 43: Who proposed the theory of moral development in children?

Answer: Lawrence Kohlberg. Identified six stages of moral reasoning from childhood to adulthood.

Flashcard 44: Define 'object permanence'.

Answer: Understanding that objects continue to exist when not seen. Key milestone typically achieved during Piaget's sensorimotor stage.

Flashcard 45: In which stage of Piaget's theory do children learn conservation?

Answer: Concrete operational stage. Ages 7-11 when logical thinking develops for concrete objects.

Flashcard 46: What is the main critique of Kohlberg's theory of moral development?

Answer: Cultural bias and gender insensitivity. Theory primarily reflected Western male perspectives on moral reasoning.

Flashcard 47: What is the significance of the 'critical period' in development?

Answer: A specific time when certain skills or abilities are most easily learned. Missing this window may make later learning more difficult or impossible.

Flashcard 48: Name a method used to study infant perception.

Answer: Habituation method. Measures decreased attention to familiar stimuli, indicating learning has occurred.

Flashcard 49: What are the three major domains of developmental psychology?

Answer: Physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development. These domains encompass all aspects of human development and maturation.

Flashcard 50: What does the term 'scaffolding' mean in Vygotsky's theory?

Answer: Support provided to help a child achieve a task. Temporary assistance that's gradually removed as competence increases.

Flashcard 51: What are secondary sex characteristics?

Answer: Non-reproductive traits like hair growth and voice changes. Physical changes during puberty not directly related to reproduction.

Flashcard 52: Which stage of prenatal development is the longest?

Answer: Fetal stage. Spans from 9 weeks to birth, when major organ development occurs.

Flashcard 53: What is the significance of the 'critical period' in development?

Answer: A specific time when certain skills or abilities are most easily learned. Missing this window may make later learning more difficult or impossible.

Flashcard 54: What concept explains why infants develop stranger anxiety?

Answer: Attachment theory. Infants prefer familiar caregivers and show wariness of strangers.

Flashcard 55: Who proposed the theory of moral development in children?

Answer: Lawrence Kohlberg. Identified six stages of moral reasoning from childhood to adulthood.

Flashcard 56: What is the focus of the preoperational stage in Piaget's theory?

Answer: Symbolic thinking and egocentrism. Children ages 2-7 can use symbols but struggle with logic.

Flashcard 57: What is an example of a primary sex characteristic?

Answer: Development of the reproductive organs. Directly involved in reproduction, like ovaries and testes.

Flashcard 58: What is the 'strange situation' method used to assess?

Answer: Attachment style in infants. Mary Ainsworth's procedure revealing secure, avoidant, or anxious attachment.

Flashcard 59: Define 'cross-sectional study' in developmental research.

Answer: A study comparing different age groups at one point in time. Quick snapshot but can't show individual changes over time.

Flashcard 60: What are secondary sex characteristics?

Answer: Non-reproductive traits like hair growth and voice changes. Physical changes during puberty not directly related to reproduction.

Flashcard 61: What is the focus of developmental psychology?

Answer: The study of how humans grow and change over time. Examines changes from conception through death across all life domains.

Flashcard 62: What is the primary focus of behavioral genetics?

Answer: Understanding genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Studies how genes and environment interact to shape individual differences.

Flashcard 63: Which theory emphasizes stages of psychosocial development?

Answer: Erik Erikson's theory. Features eight stages with specific psychosocial crises to resolve.

Flashcard 64: What is the main critique of Kohlberg's theory of moral development?

Answer: Cultural bias and gender insensitivity. Theory primarily reflected Western male perspectives on moral reasoning.

Flashcard 65: Identify the key figure associated with cognitive development theory.

Answer: Jean Piaget. Famous for his four stages of cognitive development theory.

Flashcard 66: What is a teratogen?

Answer: An agent causing birth defects during prenatal development. Environmental factors like drugs, diseases, or toxins affecting fetal development.

Flashcard 67: What are the three major domains of developmental psychology?

Answer: Physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development. These domains encompass all aspects of human development and maturation.

Flashcard 68: What is the primary concern of behavioral developmental theories?

Answer: Observable behaviors and their environmental determinants. Focus on measurable behaviors rather than internal mental processes.

Flashcard 69: Which cognitive development stage involves abstract thinking?

Answer: Formal operational stage. Final stage in Piaget's theory, developing around age 11-12.

Flashcard 70: What is a teratogen?

Answer: An agent causing birth defects during prenatal development. Environmental factors like drugs, diseases, or toxins affecting fetal development.

Flashcard 71: Define 'assimilation' in Piaget's theory.

Answer: Integrating new information into existing schemas. Fits new experiences into existing mental frameworks without changing them.

Flashcard 72: Identify an example of a teratogen.

Answer: Alcohol. Harmful substance that can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Flashcard 73: What does 'egocentrism' refer to in child development?

Answer: Difficulty seeing perspectives other than one's own. Common in preoperational children who assume others share their viewpoint.

Flashcard 74: Which stage of prenatal development is the longest?

Answer: Fetal stage. Spans from 9 weeks to birth, when major organ development occurs.

Flashcard 75: What is the focus of the preoperational stage in Piaget's theory?

Answer: Symbolic thinking and egocentrism. Children ages 2-7 can use symbols but struggle with logic.

Flashcard 76: Define 'assimilation' in Piaget's theory.

Answer: Integrating new information into existing schemas. Fits new experiences into existing mental frameworks without changing them.

Flashcard 77: What is the primary concern of behavioral developmental theories?

Answer: Observable behaviors and their environmental determinants. Focus on measurable behaviors rather than internal mental processes.