1.10: Personal Application Questions
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30 .
Think about yourself at age fifteen years. In what ways are you similar to that version of yourself? In what ways are you different? How does your answer relate to the terms “maturity” and “stability” as discussed in the text?
31 .
Identify an area of study within lifespan development that you find particularly intriguing (e.g., cognitive development, social development, physical development). Describe a specific example from your life that illustrates the importance of this area. How has this area of study helped you understand your own development?
32 .
Think about a skill or ability you have developed over time, such as playing an instrument, participating in a sport or hobby, or learning a new language. In what ways was this development continuous (gradual improvement) and discontinuous (sudden leaps)? Provide examples from your experience to illustrate this.
33 .
Reflect on an aspect of your personality or behavior that you believe was influenced by both your genes and your environment. How do you think nature (your genetic makeup) and nurture (your upbringing and experiences) played a role in shaping this aspect of yourself?
34 .
Think about a major transition or milestone in your life (e.g., starting high school, moving to a new city, beginning a new job). How do both Erikson's psychosocial theory and Piaget's cognitive development theory explain your experience during this transition? Describe how both theories apply to your experience.
35 .
Reflect on your own cognitive development from childhood to adolescence. How do you think your thinking abilities have changed over time? Which aspects of Piaget's stages of cognitive development do you recognize in your own growth?
36 .
Identify a skill you can do independently, a skill you can do with help, and a skill that is currently beyond your abilities even with the help of a more skilled person. How do these skills relate to Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development (ZPD)? Reflect on how understanding your ZPD can influence your learning and development.
37 .
Reflect on the impact of smartphones, which were introduced in 2007 and by 2010 were owned by a vast majority of the American population. How have smartphones changed the way society interacts with one another? Consider aspects such as communication, socialization, and access to information. Provide specific examples from your own experiences and observations to illustrate these changes.
38 .
Consider a time when a significant change in your environment (e.g., moving to a new city, changing schools, starting a new job) affected your development. What aspects of the new environment were most influential, and how did they impact you? Provide specific examples to support your reflections.
39 .
Apply Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems model to your own life. Identify and describe elements in your life that fit within each of the five ecological systems: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. How have these systems interacted to shape your development? Be sure to relate your examples to the relevant learning objectives in this section.
40 .
Think about a policy or practice that has impacted your life, such as an educational policy or a workplace rule. How do you think research in developmental psychology could inform improvements to this policy or practice? Reflect on the connection between research, application, and policy in your own experiences.
41 .
Reflect on your own cultural identity and how it shapes your worldview. How do you think researchers can ensure their findings are relevant and respectful to different cultural contexts? Provide examples from your life where cultural understanding has played a critical role in your interactions and development.
42 .
Consider a survey or questionnaire you have taken in the past (e.g., in school, at work, for medical purposes, or an attempt to assess your feelings regarding a purchase). Reflect on your experience as a participant. How do you think the design of the survey influenced your responses? Relate your reflections to concepts of survey design and validity discussed in the text.
43 .
Imagine you are participating in a longitudinal study that tracks your development over several years. What aspects of your life would you find most interesting to document, and why? Discuss how longitudinal research methods can provide insights into developmental changes over time.
44 .
Reflect on the importance of ethics in research. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to consider ethical principles (e.g., confidentiality, informed consent, avoiding harm)? How do you think these principles apply to research in developmental psychology? Provide examples to illustrate the importance of ethical guidelines.