Chapter 4 - Part 1 Flashcards
Zygote
The fertilized egg; it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo
Developmental Psychology
A branch of psychology that studies physical cognitive, and social change throughout the life span
Embryo
The developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month
Fetus
The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth
Teratogens
Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused. G a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking. In severe cases, symptoms include noticeable facial misproportions
Rooting Reflex
A baby’s tendency, when touched on the cheek, to turn toward the touch, open the mouth, and search for the nipple
Habituation
Decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner
Maturation
Biological growth process that enable orderly changes in behavior, relative,you influenced by experience
Jean Piaget
Developmental psychologist, best known for studying the cognitive development in children, using careful observation
Schemes
A concept for framework that organizes and interprets information
Assimilation
Interpreting one’s new experience in terms of one’s existing schemas
Accommodation
Adopting one’s current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information
Cognition
All the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Sensorimotor Stage
In Piaget’s theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities