Chapter 1 Flashcards
Lifespan Development
is the field of study that examines patterns of growth, change and stability in behavior that occur throughout the life span
physical development
examining the ways in which the body’s makeup – the brain, nervous system, muscles, and senses, and the need for food, drink and sleep – helps determine behavior
cognitive development
understanding how growth and change in intellectual capabilities influence a person’s behavior – examines learning, memory, problem solving and intelligence
personality development
study of stability and change in the characteristics that differentiate one person from another over a lifespan
social development
the way in which individuals’ interactions interactions and relationships with others grow, change, and remain stable over the course of life
Life Span
social constructions – divided into broad age ranges: prenatal (conception to birth), infancy and toddlerhood (birth to 3), preschool (3-6), middle childhood (6 to 12), adolescence (12 to 20), yound adult (20 to 40), middle adult (40 to 60), late adult (60 to death)
social constructions
is a shared notion of reality that is widely accepted but is a function of society and culture at a given time – arbitrary and culturally defined
cohort
a group of people born around the same time and same place
cohort effects
example of history-graded influences, biological and environmental influences associated with a particular historical moment
age-graded influences
are biological and environmental influences that are similar for individuals in a particular age group, regardless of when or where they are raised
sociocultural-graded influences
social and cultural factors present at a particular time for a particular individual, depending on such variables as ethnicity, social class, and subcultural membership
non-normative life events
specific, atypical events that occur in a particular person’s life at a time when such events do not happen to most people
continuous stage
development is gradual, with achievements at one level building on those of previous levels – continuous change is quantitative
discontinuous change
occurring at distinct stages, each stage brings about behavior that is assumed to be qualitatively different from behaviors at earlier stages
critical period
specific time during development when a particular event has its greatest consequences – occur when certain kinds of environmental stimuli is necessary for development to proceed normally
sensitive periods
organisms are particularly susceptible to certain kinds of stimuli in their environments – absence of stimuli during a sensitive period does not always produce irreversible consequences
maturation
predetermined unfolding of genetic information
nature
genetics; refers to traits, abilities, and capacities that are inherited from one’s parent’s
nurture
environment; refers to the environmental influences that shape behavior
theories
broad, organized explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest – provides a framework for understanding the relationships among a seemingly unorganized set of facts or principles
psychodynamic perspective
closely associated with Freud – approach that states 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
psychosexual development
according to Freud, a series of stages that children pass through in which pleasure, or gratification, is focused on a particular biological function and body part
unconscious
part of the personality which a person is unaware
id
raw, unorganized, inborn part of personality that is present at birth – operates according to the pleasure principle
pleasure principle
goal is maximize satisfaction and reduce tension
ego
part of the personality that is rational and reasonable – acts as a buffer between the external world and primitive id – acts of reality principle
reality principle
instinctual energy is restrained in order to maintain the safety of the individual and help integrate the person into society
superego
represents the persons conscience, distinctions between right and wrong – develops around age 5 or 6, learned behaviors
psychosocial development
the approach that encompasses changes in our interactions with and understandings of one another, as well as in our knowledge and understand of ourselves as members of society
behavioral perspectives
the approach that suggests that the keys to understanding development are observable behavior and outside stimuli in the environment