Chapter 2 Vocab

Question 1

Developmental Theories

Answer 1

Comprehensive explanations about why people act and behave the way they do and how they change over time.

Question 2

Psychoanalytic theories

Answer 2

Ideas that analyze the symbolic meaning behind behaviors

Question 3

Psychosocial development stages

Answer 3

Erikson’s theory consisting of 8 stages in which people most successfully resolve a psychological and or social conflict before moving to the next stage in life

Question 4

Cognitive theories

Answer 4

Ideas about how people process info, think, and learn

Question 5

Moral decisions

Answer 5

Personal choices that evaluate what is right and what is wrong.

Question 6

Observable behaviors

Answer 6

Things people do and say or the way they act.

Question 7

Behaviorism

Answer 7

Theory based on the belief that a person’s developmental stage should be based on what can be observed or seen in his or her behavior rather than making assumptions about what cannot directly be observed

Question 8

Classical conditioning

Answer 8

Behaviors associated with emotional responses

Question 9

Operant conditioning

Answer 9

Behaviors that continue when reinforced

Question 10

Social cognitive theory

Answer 10

Theory based on the assumption that people are affected by rewards and punishments, but that their reaction to rewards and punishments are filtered by their own perceptions, thoughts and motivations

Question 11

Genes

Answer 11

Part of a DNA molecule that determines individual traits

Question 12

Genetics

Answer 12

The study of genes

Question 13

Ethological theory

Answer 13

Assigning traits and behaviors based on a persons biology or genetic make up

Question 14

Ecological theory

Answer 14

Assigning traits and behaviors based on a persons environment

Question 15

Scientific method

Answer 15

Questions about observed behaviors

Question 16

Hypothesis

Answer 16

Prediction about something that can be tested

Question 17

Descriptive studies

Answer 17

Method of data collection used to obtain info that describes people and situations, such as their ages, attitudes, or behaviors.

Question 18

Manipulative experiments

Answer 18

Method of data collection used to keep all the variables that affect behavior the same except for one

Question 19

Longitudinal studies

Answer 19

Method of data collection used to observe the same individuals over a period of time

Question 20

Cross-sectional studies

Answer 20

Method of data collection used to compare groups of various ages at the same time

Question 21

Naturalistic experiments

Answer 21

Method of data collection used to only observe existing groups and record observations