Psychology Exam Preparation Document

• Nature


  Hereditary, transmission of characteristics from biological parents to their offspring through genetics at the time of conception
• Nurture


  All experiences, objects and events to which we are exposed throughout our lifetime
• Nature vs Nurture debate - psychologists believed in one or the other in terms of development, as well as the relative influence of nature and nurture
• Nature beliefs


  Every psychological development was determined by our genes, social skills, musical ability and personality/intelligence was inherited
• Nurture beliefs


  Where one was raised (experiences) are primarily responsible for development, the mind of an infant is empty (Development of all thoughts, feelings and behaviour explained through learnt experiences)
• Biopsychosocial model approach


  • Biological - Physiologically based influences, not under person's control (inherited from parents)
  • Psychological - Mental processes and influences
  • Social - Influences from the External social environment in which we interact with others
• Sensitive periods


  Periods in development when certain experiences have a greater impact on development
• Critical periods


  Periods in development when certain experiences must occur for normal development to take place
• Emotional development


  1. Gradual increase in capacity to experience, express and interpret the full range of emotions and the ability to cope with them appropriately

  2. Physiological responses - bodily changes that occur when experiencing an emotion

  3. Subjective feelings - inner, personal experience of an emotion

  4. Expressive behaviour - overt expressions of behaviour which communicate emotions
• Cognitive development


  1. Sensorimotor stage (Birth - 2 years)

  2. Pre-operational stage (2-7 years)

  3. Concrete operational stage (7-12 years)

  4. Formal operational stage (12+ years)
• Social development


  Gradual acquisition of skills, attitudes, relationships, and behavior that enable the individual to interact with others and to function as a member of society
• Ainsworth's Strange Situation is a standardised test for measuring the attachment relationship a child has with their parent
• Stranger anxiety


  Distress and uneasiness experienced by young children when they are around people who are unfamiliar to them
• Separation anxiety


  Distress and uneasiness when away (or facing the prospect of being away) from the person or people to whom they are attached
• Assimilation


  Process of taking in new information and fitting it into and making it part of a pre-existing mental idea about objects or experiences
• Accommodation


  Process of changing a pre-existing mental idea in order to fit new information
• Schema


  Mental idea of what something is and how to act on it
• Attachment


  Emotional bond, or connection, which forms between an infant and another person
• Types of attachment styles

  • Secure attachment
  • Insecure avoidant attachment, dismissive avoidant
  • Insecure resistant attachment, anxious
  • Disorganised attachment
• Secure attachment


  Feels safe and secure in their relationship with their caregiver, and is able to explore their environment and develop new skills and abilities
• Insecure avoidant attachment, dismissive avoidant


  Tend to be clingy and overly dependent on their caregiver, showing strong distress when separated from them
• Insecure resistant attachment, anxious

  Tend to avoid or disregard their caregiver, often appearing unresponsive or indifferent to the caregiver's presence
• Disorganised attachment


  Infants show inconsistent or odd and contradictory behaviours during separation from and reunion with their caregivers