Unit 1 - AOS1 Psychological Development

Psychological development is the process of growth and change in humans cognitive, emotional and social capabilities and functioning over the life span.

Nature refers to hereditary factors on psychological development.

Hereditary refers to the inborn, inherited genetic factors passed from biological parents to children that partly determine individual characteristics; this is the nature component within the nature versus nurture debate.

Nurture refers to the environmental factors that influence psychological development

eg. education, food, emotional support

• Twin studies examine both identical (a single fertilized egg that splits into two) and fraternal (separate eggs and sperm but develop at the same time) twins.
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Advantages - Allows us to compare how similar twins are to each other- this would indicate the influence of nature (hereditary factors)

• Disadvantages - Identical twins looks the same, so they may be treated similarly leading to similar personality traits. 
• Just because twins share the same home and parents, it doesn't mean their upbringing has been exactly the same.

• In adoption studies, children from families who have one adopted child and one biological child are compared.
• These studies also include sibling pairs in which one child is adopted and the other reared by the biological parents. Comparisons of these children are then analyzed.

• Advantage - Adoption studies allows to compare how similar adopted children are to adoptive parents- this would indicate the influence of nurture (environmental factors)
• Disadvantage - Adoptive agencies try to match the child’s biological parent’s characteristic with adoptive parents.

• Factors that have influenced the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples are the psychological ongoing health and well-being challenges of the colonisation. Colonization saw people taken away from their
• traditional lands  resulting in massacres and poisonings of community, diseases that killed thousands of people, 
• Laws were introduced that banned the use of languages and cultural practices. Colonisation continues to significantly impact the social and emotional wellbeing of many Aboriginal and Torres islander people today, negatively affecting their development and life expectancy.

The biopsychosocial model is an approach that proposes that health and illness outcomes are determined by the interaction and contribution of biological, psychological and social factors.

Biological factors include our genetics, hormones, immune function, stress response, brain function and other activities of our nervous system.

Genes, Hormones, Immune System, Brain function

Social factors include the interactions, relationships and social networks we have with others. They also include environmental factors such as our living conditions, access to health care and education, social disadvantage or deprivation, and our family support and circumstances.

Relationships, Social networks, Living conditions, Access to healthcare

Psychological factors include cognitive processes such as our learning and memory systems, our self-concept, our emotional regulation, our perceptions, our thought processes, our personality traits and our coping skills.

Cognitive processes, Personality traits and coping skills

Biological factors include our genetics, hormones, immune function, stress response, brain function and other activities of our nervous system. Biological factors that can stop us from achieving mental wellbeing can include our response to stress

Genetics, Hormones, Brain function

A general term that refers to all mental (or thought) processes, including perceiving, conceptualiaing, remembering, reasoning, imagining, judging and problem-solving.

Refers to the growth and maturation of these thinking processes. This can include skills such as problem-solving, reasoning, evaluating and planning.

When a person applies existing mental structures or processes to new experiences.

Involves a person modifying their existing psychological concepts or processes to adapt their understanding and behaviour in response to new information or experiences .

To describe the memory structure (mental representation) developed from their experiences, that represents a person's general knowledge about different kinds of objects and events. As development progresses throughout childhood, a child's schema advances and matures.

Refers to an understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight.

Children learn that there is a relationship between their actions and the external world, where they can manipulate objects and produce effects.

Refers to the tendency of children to view situations and events only from their perspective, with the belief that others will see things from the save point of view as themself.

Refers to the tendency of children to believe any inanimate object possess lifelike characteristics, such as feelings and emotions.

Where children tend to narrowly focus on one aspect of a problem, object or situation at a time, while excluding all others.

Enables children at this age to use symbols, gestures and images to mentally represent people, objects and events that may not be present.

A child understands that physical properties such as mass, volume, number and length do not change (are conserved) even when their shape or appearance changes.

Which allows children to recognise that 4 + 2 = 6, then 2 + 4 does too.

The ability of children to be able to group together or categorise objects based on similar properties.

Thinking in terms of general concepts rather than specific objects, experiences or events.

Refers to being able to test a logical hypothesis by using abstract thought.

For example; younger children typically might solve problems using trial and error. However, adults using hypothetico-deductive reasoning will systematically plan how the problem should be solved first by thinking about possible strategies.

A sensitive period is a stage during biological maturation when an organism is most able to gain a particular skill or characteristic.

A critical period of development involves a stage, usually early in the lifespan, when an organism is most open to acquiring a specific cognitive or motor skill.

The behaviour of the majority of people in a population or behaviour that is consistent with the way an individual normally behaves.

Behaviour that is not like the behaviour of the majority of people in a population or is inconsistent with the way an individual normally behaves

Culture can be thought of as the distinctive beliefs, values, customs, knowledge, art and language that form the foundation of the everyday behaviours and practices of a society.

Culture is passed from one generation to the next by spoken and written means. There is a fine line between what is classified as normal and abnormal behaviour in some cultural contexts.

A norm is a socially defined rule, standard or value that describes behaviours that are expected within groups.

Behaviour can be considered typical according to whether the behaviour fits in with the norms of that society.

If a person is atypical in some way and this leads to behaviourthat is abnormal, they are considered to be a statistical rarity. Example – If you have a really low or high IQ

Are objects that cause a feeling of stress. These can be felt internally and externally.

Is the physiological response to feeling threatened or challenged.

Is a negative physiological responses to a stressor. This can erode a person’s sense of wellbeing. As a result of this it can change their behaviour and be considered abnormal because it is causing the individual distress.

Is behaviour that interferes with an individual’s ability to complete daily tasks and to function in their particular society.

Relates to the capacity to cope with the demands of life or to behave in a way that allows you to achieve goals and meet needs.

Describes an individual who thinks, behaves and feels in ways that are typical of most people.

• Individuals who think, behave or feel differently from most other people.
• eg. People who have been diagnosed with ADHD, autism and dyslexia.

To refer to an individual’s capability in identifying, labelling and managing their emotions as well as understanding the emotional states of others.

The ability to respond to the ongoing demands of experience with the range of emotions in a manner that is socially tolerable

Neurodiversity is the natural neurological difference that occurs between people’s nervous systems, particularly their brain, resulting in differences in learning, thinking and processing.

• - autistic brains show increased brain activity
• - in autistic people, the amygdala may be overactive or larger

People with autism have difficulty with social interactions, and high attention to detail. While people with ADHD have an inability to sit still or maintain focused attention.

Mental wellbeing is the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioural adjustment.

Poor mental wellbeing occurs in response to stressors or environmental changes that affect a person’s psychological state and result in impaired functioning in their day-to-day life.

• Health services need to be culturally responsive by:
• - Appreciating diversity between various groups, families and communities
• - Using cultural perspectives and knowledge to inform their practice
• - Providing services that are safe and free from racism and cultural bias

A GP will record any behavioural symptoms and family history, and investigate whether there are any environmental factors that may be encouraging or exacerbating the symptoms.

A mental health worker has a bachelors degree in either nursing or social work. They work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and mental health units. They assess conditions, provide medication and visit people at home.

Psychologists are professionals who study mental processes and behaviour.

Psychiatrists can prescribe medication to treat or reduce the symptoms of a mental illness. They are also authorised to admit a person to hospital for treatment.

• Differences:
• - Psychiatrist can prescribe medical treatment while a psychologist cannot

• Similarities:
• - Both can provide psychotherapy treatment

Adaptive behaviour is behavior that enables a person to cope in their environment with greatest success and least conflict with others.