AP Psychology Unit 3: Developmental Psychology

Introduction

• Focus of developmental psychology: How people grow and change throughout their lives.
  • Physical growth
  • Cognitive skills
  • Emotional understanding
  • Social relationships and personality traits

Research Approaches in Human Development

• Chronological Order: Sequence of life stages (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood).
• Thematic Issues: Specific themes and questions across a person's life (e.g., genetics vs. environment, continuous vs. stages of development).

Enduring Themes in Developmental Psychology

1. Stability and Change

• Examines which individual characteristics remain constant or change over time.
• Example Study: Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study in New Zealand
  • A longitudinal study tracking people from birth to adulthood.
  • Pros: Insights into changes over time, trends, and cause-effect relationships.
  • Cons: Costly, time-consuming, potential for participant dropout.

2. Nature vs. Nurture

• Nature (Heredity): Predisposed physical, behavioral, and mental traits.
• Nurture (Environment): External factors like family, society, and culture.
• Current understanding: Both genetics and environment shape development.
• Example Study: Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart
  • Found genetic influence through similarities between separated identical twins.

3. Continuous vs. Discontinuous Development

• Continuous Development: Gradual and smooth progression.
• Discontinuous Development: Development in distinct stages or steps.
• Theories:
  • Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory (Continuous)
  • Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory and Erikson's Stages of Development (Discontinuous)
• Recent research (cross-cultural studies) suggests cultural factors influence development, indicating potential continuous milestones.

Research Methods

Longitudinal Studies

• Follows same group over a long period.
• Pros: Observes changes over time.
• Cons: Costly, time-consuming, participant attrition.

Cross-Sectional Studies

• Studies different groups of various ages simultaneously.
• Pros: Quick, cost-effective.
• Cons: Cannot show changes over time or cause-effect relationships.
• Cohort Effect: Differences due to generational factors, not age.

Additional Resources

• Practice quiz available in the Ultimate Review Packet (link in description).
• Explanation for each quiz question included.

Conclusion

• Themes in developmental psychology guide research, shape perspectives, interpret findings, and inform application.
• Resources: Mr. Sin's Discord server and Ultimate Review Packet for further study.

Thank you for participating in this unit overview with Mr. Sin. Stay tuned for more online lectures and materials.