Discontinuity is drastic change, such as a caterpillar becoming a butterfly; continuity is gradual change, such as a redwood growing taller over hundreds of years.
Development takes place within many contexts, including physical surroundings (climate, noise, population density, etc.) and family configurations (married couple, single parent, cohabiting couple, extended family, etc.).
I am attending college, which is an educational institutional. I am working part time, which is an employment situation. I use a cellphone, which relies upon the communications systems. Other examples include medical systems and churches/temples/mosques.
The term “race” has been used to categorize people on the basis of physical differences, particularly outward appearance. Ethnicity is a different social construction, affected by the social context rather than a direct outcome of biology.
Specialization provides a deeper understanding of particular areas or ages of development; however, human development requires insights and information from many scientists. Our understanding of every topic benefits from multidisciplinary research.
“Genetic” refers to the influence of genes. “Epigenetic” refers to the environmental factors that surround the genes and affect which genes get expressed (activated).
The term “plasticity” denotes two complementary aspects of development: Human traits can be molded (as plastic can be), and yet people maintain a certain durability of identity (as plastic does).
Differential sensitivity refers to the fact that some people are more vulnerable than others to certain experiences, usually for genetic reasons. For example, someone may have inherited a trait for addiction. That person may be more apt to use cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs due to environmental influences (such as stress). Someone without that gene might not respond to the environmental influence in the same way.
The purpose of an experiment is to find out whether an independent variable affects the dependent variable; therefore, one needs to compare the impact of the independent variable on a group that receives the independent variable and a group that does not.
The biggest strengths of the survey method are that it is quick and direct. Its biggest weakness is that answers may not be accurate because people may lie, want to come across favorably, or be influenced by the wording of the questions.
The biggest advantage of longitudinal research is that it is useful in tracing development over many years. Disadvantages include dropout of participants, participants becoming increasingly aware of the questions or the goals of the study, and the influence of the historical context.
A cross-sequential design lets researchers study several groups at different ages (like a cross-sectional study does) and follow them over time (like a longitudinal study does).
Do we know enough about prenatal drug abuse to protect every fetus? Do we know enough about poverty to enable everyone to be healthy? Do we know enough about same-sex relationships, or polygamy, or single parenthood, or divorce to make sure all people develop well no matter what their family structure? Do we know enough about dying to enable everyone to die with dignity?