Psychology Degree Lifespan Development Theories Questions and Answers Flashcards
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Which theorist proposed that cognitive development occurs through a fixed sequence of stages including sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational?
Answer: Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget outlined four invariant stages of cognitive development that children progress through in a universal sequence from birth through adolescence.
According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, what is the central conflict during adolescence?
Answer: Identity vs. role confusion
Erikson proposed that adolescents face the challenge of forming a coherent personal identity or risk experiencing confusion about their role in society.
What does the selective optimization with compensation (SOC) model by Baltes and Baltes explain about aging?
Answer: How older adults adapt to losses by narrowing goals and using compensatory strategies
The SOC model describes how aging individuals select fewer goals, optimize remaining abilities, and compensate for losses to maintain functioning and well-being.
In Bowlby's attachment theory, which type of attachment is characterized by a child showing distress upon separation but being easily comforted upon the caregiver's return?
Answer: Secure attachment
Securely attached children use their caregiver as a safe base for exploration, show distress at separation, and are readily soothed when reunited.
Which concept from information-processing theory compares human cognitive development to the way a computer processes data?
Answer: Encoding, storage, and retrieval
Information-processing theory uses the computer metaphor to describe how humans take in information (encoding), maintain it (storage), and access it later (retrieval) across development.
What did Kohlberg identify as the highest level of moral development, in which individuals base moral decisions on universal ethical principles?
Answer: Postconventional level
Kohlberg's postconventional level represents moral reasoning guided by self-chosen ethical principles that may transcend specific laws or social norms.