30 short questions and answers on "Lifespan Development" for Class 12th Psychology students:

 

Lifespan Development - Short Questions and Answers

 

1.Question: What does lifespan development study?

Answer: It studies the changes that occur in individuals from conception to death.

 

2.Question: Define "development" in a psychological context.

Answer: Development refers to qualitative and progressive changes in an individual's functioning over time.

 

3.Question: Is development solely about growth?

Answer: No, development involves both growth and decline, as well as qualitative changes.

 

4.Question: What are the main periods of lifespan development?

Answer: Prenatal, infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood.

 

5.Question: What age range typically defines infancy?

Answer: Birth to approximately 2 years.

 

6.Question: What is a key characteristic of adolescence?

Answer: Significant physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes, including identity formation.

 

7.Question: What is Erikson's theory primarily about?

Answer: Psychosocial development across the lifespan through eight stages.

 

8.Question: What is the central conflict in Erikson's stage of adolescence?

Answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion.

 

9.Question: What does Piaget's theory focus on?

Answer: Cognitive development and how children construct their understanding of the world.

 

10.Question: What is "object permanence" and in which of Piaget's stages does it develop?

Answer: The understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen; Sensorimotor stage.

 

11.Question: What is the hallmark of Piaget's formal operational stage?

Answer: The ability to think abstractly and hypothetically.

 

12.Question: What does Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasize?

Answer: The role of social interaction and culture in cognitive development.

 

13.Question: Define Vygotsky's "zone of proximal development" (ZPD).

Answer: The range of tasks a child can perform with assistance but not independently.

 

14.Question: What is the focus of attachment theory?

Answer: The formation of emotional bonds between infants and their primary caregivers.

 

15.Question: What does Ainsworth's "Strange Situation" assess?

Answer: Different patterns of attachment in infants.

 

16.Question: How does physical development typically change in late adulthood?

Answer: Gradual decline in physical abilities and health.

 

17.Question: What are some potential cognitive changes in late adulthood?

Answer: Slower processing speed and some memory decline.

 

18.Question: What is meant by "successful aging"?

Answer: Maintaining engagement, activity, and well-being in later life.

 

19.Question: What is the "nature vs. nurture" debate about in development?

Answer: The relative influence of heredity (nature) and environment (nurture).

 

20.Question: What do longitudinal studies track?

Answer: The same individuals over an extended period of time.

 

21.Question: What do cross-sectional studies compare?

Answer: Individuals of different age groups at a single point in time.

 

22.Question: What is a "critical period" in development?

Answer: A specific time when an organism is highly sensitive to certain environmental inputs.

 

23.Question: Define "resilience" in the context of development.

Answer: The ability to adapt positively to significant adversity.

 

24.Question: Why is understanding lifespan development important for educators?

Answer: It helps them tailor teaching methods to different age groups' cognitive and social-emotional needs.

 

25.Question: How can understanding lifespan development benefit healthcare professionals?

Answer: It provides a framework for understanding health issues and developmental milestones at different ages.

 

26.Question: What is "socialization"?

Answer: The process through which individuals learn the norms, values, and behaviours of their society.

 

27.Question: What are "developmental milestones"?

Answer: Age-related norms for achieving certain skills or behaviors.

 

28.Question: What is "cognitive development"?

Answer: The development of mental processes such as thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving.

 

29.Question: What is "socioemotional development"?

Answer: The development of social skills, emotional regulation, and relationships.

 

30.Question: Is development a continuous or discontinuous process?

Answer: It is viewed as both, with gradual changes alongside distinct stages.