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PSYC 103 Study Guide: Development, Emotion, Sexuality & Gender

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Q1a. How is attachment measured such that children get put into different categories?

Background

Topic: Attachment Theory (Developmental Psychology)

This question is testing your understanding of how psychologists assess attachment styles in children, specifically through observational methods.

Key Terms:

  • Attachment: The emotional bond between a child and caregiver.

  • Ainsworth's Strange Situation: A structured observational procedure used to classify attachment styles.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Recall that Mary Ainsworth developed the Strange Situation to observe attachment behaviors in infants.

  2. Understand that the procedure involves separating the child from the caregiver and then reuniting them.

  3. Focus on how the child's behavior upon reunion is used to categorize attachment style (e.g., secure, avoidant, ambivalent).

  4. Think about what specific behaviors are observed (such as seeking comfort, avoidance, or ambivalence).

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q1b. Pick one of the two insecure attachment styles (avoidant or ambivalent), define it, and explain how it can be considered optimal/functional/adaptive for the development of those children.

Background

Topic: Attachment Styles and Adaptation

This question asks you to define an insecure attachment style and discuss how it might be adaptive in certain contexts.

Key Terms:

  • Insecure Attachment: Attachment styles characterized by less consistent or less positive responses to caregivers.

  • Avoidant Attachment: Children avoid or ignore the caregiver upon reunion.

  • Ambivalent (Resistant) Attachment: Children show mixed feelings, seeking contact but also resisting it.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Choose either avoidant or ambivalent attachment to focus on.

  2. Define the chosen attachment style, describing typical behaviors observed in the Strange Situation.

  3. Consider why this style might be adaptive: What environmental or caregiving factors could make this response functional?

  4. Think about how the child’s behavior could help them cope with inconsistent or unresponsive caregiving.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2a. Define habituation and dishabituation and explain how they have been used to study what infants know about the world.

Background

Topic: Infant Cognition and Learning

This question tests your understanding of how researchers use behavioral responses to study infant perception and knowledge.

Key Terms:

  • Habituation: Decreased response to repeated stimulus.

  • Dishabituation: Renewed response to a new stimulus.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define habituation and dishabituation clearly.

  2. Explain how researchers present a stimulus repeatedly until the infant’s response decreases.

  3. Describe how a new stimulus is introduced and the infant’s response is measured.

  4. Discuss what it means if the infant shows renewed interest (dishabituation) or not.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2b. Provide a specific example of how habituation has been used to study a particular ability.

Background

Topic: Research Methods in Developmental Psychology

This question asks for a concrete example of habituation in research, such as studying object permanence or language discrimination.

Key Terms:

  • Object Permanence: Understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight.

  • Language Discrimination: Ability to distinguish between different speech sounds.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Recall studies where infants are repeatedly shown an object or event until their attention decreases.

  2. Think about how a new object or event is introduced to test if the infant notices the change.

  3. Consider examples such as the "drawbridge" experiment for object permanence or speech sound discrimination studies.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q1. List and explain the 3 functions of emotions, and provide a concrete everyday example for each function.

Background

Topic: Functions of Emotion (Emotion Psychology)

This question tests your knowledge of the roles emotions play in human behavior and social interaction.

Key Terms:

  • Emotional Functions: Adaptive, social, and motivational roles of emotions.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Identify the three main functions of emotions (e.g., adaptive, social, motivational).

  2. Explain each function in 2-3 sentences, focusing on how emotions help us respond to the environment, interact with others, and motivate behavior.

  3. Think of a concrete everyday example for each function (e.g., fear helping avoid danger, happiness facilitating social bonding, anger motivating action).

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2a. Choose one approach to explain motivation and explain it in detail.

Background

Topic: Theories of Motivation

This question asks you to select and describe a motivation theory, such as drive theory, incentive theory, or Maslow’s hierarchy.

Key Terms:

  • Drive Theory: Motivation arises from biological needs.

  • Incentive Theory: Motivation is driven by external rewards.

  • Maslow’s Hierarchy: Motivation is organized in a pyramid of needs.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Pick one theory of motivation to focus on.

  2. Describe the main principles of the chosen theory.

  3. Explain how this theory accounts for different types of motivation.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2b. Describe and explain a real-life situation in which that specific approach explains motivation successfully.

Background

Topic: Application of Motivation Theories

This question asks you to apply the theory you chose above to a real-life scenario.

Key Terms:

  • Motivation: The process that initiates, guides, and sustains goal-oriented behaviors.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Think of a real-life example where the chosen theory explains motivation (e.g., eating when hungry for drive theory).

  2. Describe the situation and connect it to the principles of the theory.

  3. Explain why the theory fits the situation well.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q3. What are self-conscious emotions and why do they develop later than basic emotions?

Background

Topic: Emotional Development

This question tests your understanding of the distinction between basic and self-conscious emotions, and their developmental timeline.

Key Terms:

  • Self-Conscious Emotions: Emotions that require self-awareness (e.g., shame, guilt, pride).

  • Basic Emotions: Universal emotions present early in life (e.g., joy, anger, fear).

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define self-conscious emotions and basic emotions.

  2. Explain why self-conscious emotions require a sense of self and social awareness.

  3. Discuss the developmental milestones that enable self-conscious emotions to emerge.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q1. Pick one example of how parenting influences gender role adoption by providing evidence/explanation.

Background

Topic: Gender Role Socialization

This question asks you to explain how parenting shapes children's understanding and adoption of gender roles.

Key Terms:

  • Gender Role: Societal expectations for behaviors and attitudes based on gender.

  • Socialization: The process by which individuals learn cultural norms.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Think of ways parents model or reinforce gendered behaviors (e.g., toys, chores, language).

  2. Provide evidence or explanation for how this influences children's gender role adoption.

  3. Connect your example to research or theory if possible.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2. What is benevolent sexism (provide an example) and why is it considered inappropriate?

Background

Topic: Sexism and Gender Attitudes

This question tests your understanding of the concept of benevolent sexism and its social implications.

Key Terms:

  • Benevolent Sexism: Attitudes that seem positive but reinforce gender stereotypes and inequality.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define benevolent sexism and distinguish it from hostile sexism.

  2. Provide a concrete example (e.g., "women should be protected by men").

  3. Explain why such attitudes are problematic, even if they appear positive.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q3. What makes a gender difference a gender inequality?

Background

Topic: Gender Differences vs. Inequality

This question asks you to distinguish between differences and inequalities, focusing on social, economic, or political consequences.

Key Terms:

  • Gender Difference: Variations between genders in behavior, ability, or preference.

  • Gender Inequality: Unequal treatment or outcomes based on gender.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define gender difference and gender inequality.

  2. Explain how a difference becomes an inequality when it leads to unequal access, opportunities, or outcomes.

  3. Provide an example to illustrate the distinction.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

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