4310 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Development, Animism

• School: University of Canberra
• Department: University of Canberra
• Course: 4310
• Professor: Dr. Caroline Ng Tseung-Wong

Document Summary

A discipline that attempts to describe & explain the changes that occur over time in the thought, behavior, reasoning & functioning of a person due to biological, individual and environmental influences. 3 issues in developmental psychology: nature and nurture: how they work tgt in development. Gene-environment correlation = genetic control of exposure to the environment. Passive: child receive genotype correlate to family environment. Child born in this envi: gene + envi matched. Evocative: when an individual"s (heritable) behavior evokes an environmental response (environment acts upon gene) Ex: child go to school, sing well, teacher u sing well u should join this band/group . Active: we actively seek out the environment suit our gene. Ex: i really wanna play piano but have no piano at home -> search for it, take lessons. Gene-environment interaction = genetic sensitivity to environment: the importance of early experience (sensitive period > critical period) Critical periods: periods of special sensitivity to specific types of learning.