PSY 2105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Peer Group, Lev Vygotsky, Ethology

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 2105
• Professor: Caroline Sullivan

Document Summary

Is developmental change smooth (continuous) and constant or does change occur in stages? (non-continuous) People who have a shortened version of serotonin receptors in the brain, because of their genetic predisposition, are more at risk of developing a major depression and display suicidal gestures, but only if they encounter stressful life events. Developmental psychologists align themselves with specific theoretical approaches. Environmental/learning approach: skinner, bandura (social learning) Evolutionary approach: ethology, cognitive developmental approach. Emphasis on cognition: changes in behaviours arise from changes in their knowledge and intellectual skills. Goals: to specify what children know, how this knowledge is organized, how it changes or develops. Ex. a orange hockey ball vs. a orange (the fruit), babies won"t know but the difference but as you interact with them more and more, you start creating short cuts to become more familiar: sociocultural approach. Individual cognitive development is a product of cultural influences.