Chapter 11- Development Flashcards
Developmental Psychology
study of continuity and change across the life span
Zygote
single cell that contains chromosomes from both sperm and egg
Germinal Stage
2 week period of prenatal development that begins at conception
Embryonic stage
period of prenatal development that lasts from the 2nd week until about the 8th week
Fetal stage
period of prenatal development that lasts from 9th week until birth
Myelination
formation of fatty sheath around axons of brain cell
Teratogens
agents that damage the process of development, such as drugs and viruses
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
developmental disorder that stems from heavy alcohol use by the mother during pregnancy
Infancy
stage of development that begins at birth and lasts between 18 and 24 months
Motor development
emergence of the ability to execute physical action
Reflexes
specific patterns of motor response that are triggered by specific patterns of sensory stimulation
Cephalocaudal Rule
“top-to-bottom” rule that describes the tendency for motor skills to emerge in sequence from the head to the feet
Proximodistal Rule
“inside-to-outside” rule that describes the tendency for motor skills to emerge in sequence from the center to the periphery
Cognitive development
emergence of the ability to understand the world
Sensorimotor stage
stage of development that begins at birth and lasts through infancy in which infants acquire information about the world by sensing it and moving around within it
schemas
theories about or models of the way the world works
assimilation
process by which infants apply their schemas in novel situations