Psychology 2040A/B Chapter 2: Chapter 2 - Textbook Notes

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2040A/B
• Professor: Ian Mac Donald

Document Summary

Theory that simply explains a set of observations without making any new predictions is neither falsifiable nor heuristic and is of limited scientific value. Theories that are later disconfirmed may have served a useful purpose by stimulating the new knowledge that led to their demise. Nature/nurture issue: debate among developmental theorists about the relative importance of biological predispositions [nature] and environmental influences. There is a middle ground that is endorsed by many contemporary researchers who believe that the relative contributions of nature and nurture depend on the aspect of development in question. Child may not be consciously choosing to be temperamentally difficult, but still may be. Continuity/discontinuity issue: debate among theorists about whether developmental changes are quantitative and continuous, or qualitative and discontinuous (stage-like) Final major theme that has intrigued developmental scientists is the extent to which development is a holistic process vs a segmented, separate process.