Chap 1 notes Flashcards
lifespan development
the field of study that examines pattern of growth, change, and stability in behavior that occur through the entire lifespan.
physical development
development involving the body’s physical makeup, including the brain, nervous system, muscles, ans senses, and the need for food, drink, and sleep.
cognitive development
development involving the ways that growth and change in intellectual capabilities influence a person’s behavior.
personality development
development involving the ways that the enduring characteristics that differentiate one person from another change over the lifespan.
social development
the way in which individuals’ interactions with others and their social relationships grow, change, and remain stable over the course of life.
cohort
a group of people born at around the same time in the same place.
continuous change
gradual development in which achievements at one level build on those of previous levels.
discontinuous change
development that occurs in distinct steps or stages, with each stage bringing about behavior that is assumed to be qualitatively different from behavior at earlier stages.
critical period
a specific time during development when a particular event has its greatest consequences and the presence of certain kinds of environmental stimuli is necessary for development to proceed normally.
sensitive period
a point in development when organisms are particularly susceptible to certain kinds of stimuli in the environments, but the absences of those stimuli does not always produce irreversible consequences.
maturation
the predetermined unfolding of genetic information.
theories
explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest, providing a framework for understand the relationships among an organized set of facts or principles.
psychodynamic perspective
the approach stating that behavior is motivated by inner forces, memories, and conflicts that are generally beyond people’s awareness and control.
psychoanalytic theory
the theory proposed by Freud that suggests that unconscious forces act to determine personality and behavior.
fixation
is behavior reflecting an earlier stage of development due to an unresolved conflict. According to Freud, if children are unable to gratify themselves sufficiently during a particular stage, or conversely, if they receive too much gratification.
psycho-sexual development Freud
according to Freud, a series of stages that children pass through in which pleasure, or gratification, focuses on a particular biological function and body part.
psycho-social development Erickson
the approach that encompasses changes in our interactions wit hand understandings of one another, as well as in our knowledge and understand of ourselves as members of society. In Erikson’s view, both society and culture challenge and shape us. 8 distinct stages emerge in a fixed pattern and are similar for all people. Each stage presents a crisis or conflict that the individual must resolve. Although no crisis is ever fully resolved, making life increasingly complicated the individual must at least address the crisis of each stage sufficiently to deal with demands made during the next stage of development.
ego
part of personality that is rational and reasonable. The ego acts as a buffer between the real world outside of us and the primitive id.
id
raw, unorganized, inborn part of personality that is present at birth. It represents primitive drives related to hunger, sex, aggressions, and irrational impulses. The id operates according to the pleasure principle.
pleasure principle Freud
the goal is to maximize satisfaction and reduce tension.
reality principle
instinctual energy is restrained in order to maintain the safety of the individual and help integrate the person into society.
superego
represents a person’s conscience, incorporating distinctions between right and wrong. begins to develop around age 5 or 6 and is learned from an individual’s parents, teachers, and other significant figures.
