copyright © allyn and bacon 2006 copyright © allyn & bacon 2007 how do psychologists explain...

Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2006

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

How Do How Do PsychologistsPsychologists

Explain Explain Development?Development?

Development is a process of growth and change brought about by an interaction of

heredity and the environment



Developmental PsychologyDevelopmental PsychologyThe study of how organisms change The study of how organisms change

over time as the result over time as the result of biologicalof biological (nature) and (nature) and environmentalenvironmental (nurture) (nurture)

influencesinfluences


41 Years in 60 Seconds (1966 - 2007)41 Years in 60 Seconds (1966 - 2007)

Watch video on YoutubeWatch video on Youtubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGgd0DUKok4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGgd0DUKok4



The Nature-NurtureInteraction

• Long-standing debate over the

relative importance of nature (heredity) and

nurture (environment) in their influence on

behavior and mental processes



• Twin Studies •

Developmental investigations in which twins, especially identical twins, are compared in the search for genetic and environmental effects



• Identical Twins

• A pair who started life as a single fertilized egg which later split into two distinct individuals

Fraternal Twins A pair who started

life as two separate fertilized eggs that happened to share the same womb



• Adoption Studies • Studies in which the

adopted child’s characteristics are compared to those of the biological family and the adoptive family


Twins Separated at Birth

• Watch video on Youtubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yTCShemS_0



Gradual versus Abrupt Gradual versus Abrupt ChangeChange

Continuity ViewContinuity View Perspective that the development is Perspective that the development is

gradualgradual and and continuouscontinuous

Children become more skillful in thinking, Children become more skillful in thinking, talking, acting…in the same way they talking, acting…in the same way they become taller….through gradual become taller….through gradual developmentdevelopment



Gradual versus Abrupt Gradual versus Abrupt ChangeChange

Discontinuity ViewDiscontinuity View Development proceeds in an uneven Development proceeds in an uneven

fashion…it can occur in burstsfashion…it can occur in bursts



Continuity ViewContinuity View vs. vs. Discontinuity Discontinuity ViewView

Age

Per

form

ance

Continuity view

Discontinuity view

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