Psychology 1000 Study Guide - Metacognition, Restrictiveness, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Erica Lawson

Document Summary

Developmental psychology examines changes in out biological, physical, psychological and behavioural processes as we age. 4 broad issues guide much of the research. What extent is our development the product of heredity (nature) or the product of environment (nurture), how do they interact. A critical period: an age range in which certain experiences must occur for development to proceed normally or along a certain path. A sensitive period: is an optimal age range for certain experiences, but if those experiences occur at another time, normal development will still be possible. Is development continuous and gradual, or discontinuous, progressing through qualitatively distinct stages. Developmental psychologists address these issues by plotting (describing) developmental functions that portray how different processes change with age. Cross-sectional design: compare ppl of different ages at the same point in time. Test each person once and compare how well the different age groups perform. Widely used because data from many age groups can be collected quickly.