Developmental Psychology Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Developmental Psychology distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/developmental-psychology/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget proposed that children progress through four universal stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor (0-2 years), preoperational (2-7), concrete operational (7-11), and formal operational (11+). Each stage represents a qualitatively different way of thinking about the world.

Attachment Theory

Developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, attachment theory holds that infants form emotional bonds with primary caregivers that serve as a secure base for exploration. The quality of this attachment (secure, anxious-avoidant, anxious-resistant, or disorganized) shapes social and emotional development across the lifespan.

Erikson's Psychosocial Stages

Erik Erikson proposed eight stages of psychosocial development spanning the entire lifespan. Each stage presents a central conflict (e.g., trust vs. mistrust, identity vs. role confusion) that must be resolved for healthy psychological growth.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Lev Vygotsky's concept describing the gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance from a more skilled partner. Learning is most effective when instruction targets this zone through scaffolding.

Nature vs. Nurture

The longstanding debate over the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to human development. Modern developmental psychology recognizes that genes and environment interact dynamically through processes like epigenetics and gene-environment correlation.

Critical and Sensitive Periods

Critical periods are specific time windows during which certain experiences are essential for normal development, and their absence causes permanent deficits. Sensitive periods are broader windows during which the organism is especially responsive to environmental input but can still develop the ability later with more effort.

Theory of Mind

The cognitive ability to attribute mental states (beliefs, desires, intentions, knowledge) to oneself and others, and to understand that others may hold beliefs different from one's own. This capacity typically emerges around age 4-5 and is central to social cognition.

Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg proposed six stages of moral reasoning grouped into three levels: preconventional (self-interest), conventional (social conformity), and postconventional (universal ethical principles). People progress through these stages in a fixed order, though not everyone reaches the highest stages.

Scaffolding

A teaching strategy in which a more knowledgeable person provides structured support to help a learner accomplish a task within their zone of proximal development, then gradually withdraws that support as the learner gains competence.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. While neuroplasticity is greatest during early development, the brain retains significant capacity for change in response to learning, experience, and injury across the lifespan.

Key Terms at a Glance

Accommodation:In Piaget's theory, modifying existing mental schemas to incorporate new information that does not fit current understanding.

Assimilation:In Piaget's theory, incorporating new information into existing mental schemas without changing the schema.

Attachment:A deep emotional bond between an infant and a caregiver that provides a sense of security and influences social-emotional development.

Centration:The tendency of preoperational children to focus on only one aspect of a situation while neglecting other important features.

Cohort Effect:Differences between age groups that result from shared historical or cultural experiences rather than actual developmental change.

Conservation:The understanding that certain properties of objects remain the same despite changes in their outward appearance.

Critical Period:A specific time window during which certain experiences must occur for normal development; absence of these experiences leads to permanent deficits.

Egocentrism:The inability to distinguish between one's own perspective and that of another person, characteristic of preoperational thinking.

Epigenetics:The study of how environmental factors can alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence, influencing development across generations.

Fine Motor Skills:Small, precise movements involving the hands and fingers, such as grasping objects, drawing, and writing.

Gross Motor Skills:Large body movements involving the arms, legs, and torso, such as crawling, walking, running, and jumping.

Habituation:A decrease in response to a repeated stimulus, used in infant research to study perception and cognitive processing.

Imprinting:A rapid, innate form of learning in certain animals during a critical period, in which attachment to a caregiver or surrogate is established.

Longitudinal Study:A research design that follows the same group of participants over an extended period to observe developmental changes.

Maturation:The biologically driven unfolding of development according to a genetic timetable, relatively independent of experience.

Get study tips in your inbox

We'll send you evidence-based study strategies and new cheat sheets as they're published.

We'll notify you about updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.