3.1-3.4 Flashcards
a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development throughout the lifespan
developmental psychology
research that compares people of different ages at the same period in time
cross-sectional study
research that follows and retests the same people over time
longitudinal study
agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.
teratogens
physical and cognitive function deficits in children caused by their birth mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy. In severe cases, symptoms include a small, out-of-proportion head and distinct facial features
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.
habituation
biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.
maturation
an optimal period early in the life of an organism when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development
critical period
the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence
adolescence
the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing
puberty
the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines
menopause
the biologically influenced characteristics by which people define male, female, and intersex.
sex
the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex
gender
possessing male and female biological sexual characteristics at birth
intersex
any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally
aggression
an act of aggression intended to harm a person’s relationship or social standing
relational aggression
the sex chromosome found in females and males. Females have 2, males have one.
X Chromosome
The sex chromosome typically found only in males
Y chromosome
the most important male sex hormone. Stimulates the growth of the male sex organs during the fetal period and the development of male sex characteristics during puberty
testosterone
sex hormones, such as estradiol, that contribute to female sex characteristics and are secreted in greater amounts in females than by males.
estrogens
the body structures that make sexual reproduction possible
primary sex characteristics
non reproductive sexual traits, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair
secondary sex characteristics
the first ejaculation
spermarche
the first menstral period
menarche
a set of expectations about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
role
a set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for men and women
gender role
any physical or verbal behavior of a sexual nature that is unwanted or intended to harm someone physically or emotionally
sexual aggression
our personal sense of being male, female, neither, or some combination of male and female, regardless of whether this identity matches our sex assigned at birth, and the social affiliation that may result from this identity
gender identity
the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished
social learning theory
the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role
gender typing
blending traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine psychological characteristics
androgyny
our thoughts, feelings, and actions related to our physical attraction to another
sexuality
having no sexual attraction toward others
asexual
a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations
social script
a person’s sexual and emotional attraction to another person and the behavior and/or social affiliation that may result from this attraction
sexual orientation
all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communication
cognition
a concept of framework that organizes and interprets information
schema
interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas
assimilation
adapting our current schemas to incorporate new information
accomodation
the stage (birth to 2 years) at which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities
sensorimotor stage
the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived
object permanence
the stage (about 2-7 years old) at which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic
preoperational stage
the principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects
conservation
the preoperational child’s difficulty taking another’s point of view
egocentrism
the stage of cognitive development (7-11 years old) at which children can perform the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events
concrete operational stage
the stage of cognitive development (around age 12) at which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts
formal operational stage
a framework that offers children temporary support as they develop higher levels of thinking
scaffold
people’s ideas about their own and others mental states - about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict
theory of mind
