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Guideposts for Study 1. What purposes do theories serve? 2. What are three basic theoretical issues on which developmental scientists differ?
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______________: Coherent set of logically related concepts that seeks to organize, explain, and predict data. ________________________: Possible explanations for phenomena, used to predict the outcome of research.
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Basic Theoretical Issues Issue 1: Which is More Important—Heredity or Environment?
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_________________/Nature: Inborn traits and characteristics inherited from the biological parents. Environment/______: influences, both before and after birth, including influences of family, peers, schools, neighborhoods, society and culture. Research points to a blend of inheritance and experience
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Basic Theoretical Issues Issue 2: Are Children Active or Passive in their Development? 1. _____________ Model: people are like machines that react to environmental input 2. _____________ Model : people are active, growing organisms that set their own development in motion
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1. Mechanistic Model _______: children are a clean slate, tabula rasa, upon which society writes People are like machines that react to environmental input Prediction of human behavior based upon __________ and _________forces at work
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2. Organismic Model _______________: Children are “noble savages” who would develop according to positive natural tendencies unless corrupted by a repressive society Children are _________, growing, changing organisms People initiate events, not simply react to them Human behavior is a complex _______ unit; it cannot be broken down into small parts
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Basic Theoretical Issues Issue 3: Is Development Continuous, or Does It Occur in Stages?
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Continuous: Mechanistic Approach Change is quantitative, increasing in __________ rather than changes in quality or type Change in the frequency with which a response is made, rather than changes in the __________of response Learning Theorists, e.g., Watson and Skinner
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Stages: Organismic Approach Change is qualitative, occurring in a series of _____________ stages At each stage people cope with different kinds of problems and develop different kinds of ______________ Each stage builds on the previous one and prepares the way for the next
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Is development continuous, or does it occur in stages?
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Basic Theoretical Issues An Emerging Consensus Developmentalists are coming to a more balanced view of active versus passive development Influence is ___________________: children change their world even as it changes them Example: a baby girl born with a cheerful disposition is likely to get positive responses from adults, which strengthens her trust that her smiles will be rewarded and motivates her to smile more
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