Child Development Theories Flashcards
7 cards from real CCP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Child Development Theories flashcards as text
Which theorist coined the term 'nature vs. nurture' in the context of child development, emphasizing the debate between genetics and environment?
Answer: Francis Galton
Francis Galton popularized the 'nature vs. nurture' phrase in the 19th century when studying heredity and environmental influences on human ability.
According to Piaget, a 7-year-old child who understands that 10 pennies spread out is the same amount as 10 pennies stacked together has achieved:
Answer: Conservation of number
Conservation of number, typically mastered in the concrete operational stage around ages 6–7, means the child understands quantity is unchanged by rearrangement.
In Bronfenbrenner's ecological model, the 'mesosystem' refers to:
Answer: Connections and interactions between the child's microsystems (e.g., home–school relationship)
The mesosystem encompasses the linkages between two or more microsystems, such as how a parent's relationship with a teacher affects the child's experience.
Freud's psychosexual theory identifies which stage as critical for children ages 3–6, involving identification with the same-sex parent?
Answer: Phallic stage
During the phallic stage, Freud proposed that children develop gender identity through the Oedipus and Electra complexes, resolving them by identifying with the same-sex parent.
A preschool teacher notices a child who watches other children play but does not join in. According to Mildred Parten's play stages, this child is engaged in:
Answer: Onlooker play
Onlooker play occurs when a child observes others playing without participating, which is normal for toddlers and young preschoolers.
Which of the following best illustrates Bandura's concept of 'self-efficacy' in a child care setting?
Answer: A child believes she can complete a puzzle because she succeeded at a similar one before
Self-efficacy is a person's belief in their own ability to succeed at a task, often built through past successes and positive experiences.
The concept of 'object permanence,' developed in Piaget's sensorimotor stage, means a child understands that:
Answer: An object continues to exist even when it is out of sight
Object permanence, typically achieved around 8–12 months, is the understanding that people and things still exist even when they cannot be seen or heard.