Chapter 9 Flashcards
Developmental Psychology
The study of age–related changes in behavior, mental processes, and stages of growth, from conception to death.
Critical Periods
A time of special sensitivity to specific types of learning, which shapes the capacity for future development.
Cross-sectional Design
A research technique that measures individuals of various ages at one point in time and provides information about age differences (Most popular study).
Longitudinal Design
A research technique that measures individual or groups of individuals over an extended period and gives information about age changes (Best study).
Cohort Effects
Differences that result from specific histories of the age group studied.
Nature vs. Nurture
Ongoing dispute about whether nature (genetics) or nurture (environment, surrounding factors) influence development of a child.
Stages vs. Continuity
Ongoing argument that suggests development occurs in stages that are discrete and qualitatively different from one to another, whereas others believe it follows a continuos pattern, with gradual, but steady and quantitative (measurable changes).
Stability vs. Change
Psychologists who emphasize stability hold that measurements of personality taken during childhood are important predictors of adult personality; those who emphasize change disagree.
Germinal Period (Zygote)
The first stage of prenatal development, beginning with ovulation and followed by conception and implantation in the uterus; the first two weeks of pregnancy.
Embryonic Period (Embryo)
The second stage of prenatal development, which begins after the uterine implantation and lasts through the eighth week.
Fetal Period (Fetus)
The third, and final stage of prenatal development (eighth weeks to birth); characterized by rapid weight gain in the fetus and fine detailing of bodily organs and systems.
Conception
Women’s egg, or ovum unites with a man’s sperm.
Proximodistal
Prenatal growth, as well as growth during the first few years after birth, is grown (near to far), with the innermost parts of the body developing before the outermost parts.
Cephalocaudally
Growth from head to tail.
Epigenetics
The study of heritable changes in gene function that are influenced by environmental factors rather than changes in the DNA sequence.
Teratogens
An environmental agent that causes damage during prenatal development.
Fetal-alchohol syndrome
A combination of birth defects, including organ deformities and mental, motor, and or growth retardation, that result from maternal alcohol abuse.
Emerging Adulthood
Age period from approximately 18-25 in which individuals have left the dependency of childhood, but not yet assumed adult responsibilities.
Ageism
Prejudice or discrimination based on physical age.
Age-related positivity affect
A relative preference in older adults for positive over negative information in attention and memory.
Schemas
The cognitive structures, framework, or “blueprints” of knowledge, regarding objects, people, and situations which grow and differentiate with experience.
Assimilation
Applying existing mental patterns (schemas) to new information; new information is incorporated into existing schemas.
Accommodation
The process of adjusting existing mental patterns (schemas) or developing new ones to better fit new information.
Sensorimotor Stage
First stage of cognitive development (birth to 2 years), in which schemas are developed through sensory and motor activities.
Object Permanence
An infant’s recognition that objects (and people) continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched directly.
Pre-oporational Stage
Age (2 to 7 years), characterized by the ability to employ significant language and to think symbolically, but the child lacks operations, and thinking is egocentric and animistic.
Egocentric
In cognitive development, the inability to take the perspective of another person.
Concrete Operational Stage
The third stage of cognitive development, (7 to 11 years), in which the child can perform mental operations on concrete objects, but thinking is tied to concrete, tangible objects and events.
Conservation
The understanding that certain physical characteristics remain unchanged, even though appearances may change.
Formal Operational Stage
The fourth stage of cognitive development (age 11 and beyond), characterized by abstract and hypothetical thinking.
Zone of Proximal Development
The area between what children can accomplish on their own and what they can accomplish with the help of others who are more competent.
Attachment
A strong emotional bond with special others that endures over time.
Imprinting
An inherited, primitive form of rapid learning in which some infant animals physically follow the form an attachment to the first moving object they see and/or hear.
Animistic Thinking
In the pre-operational stage, believing objects such as the sun, trees, clouds, and bars of soap have motives, feelings, and intentions.
Programmed Theory
Aging is controlled by genetics.
Damage Theory
Cell and Organ damage causes death instead of genetics.
Secure Attachment
Caregivers are sensitive and responsible.
Anxious/Avoidant Attachment
Caregivers are aloof and distant.
Anxious/Ambivalent Attachment
Caregivers are inconsistent.
Disorganized/Disoriented
Caregivers are abusive and neglectful.
Permissive/Neglectful Parenting
Parents make few demands, with little structure or monitoring, and show little interest or emotional support; may be actively rejecting.
Permissive/Indulgent Parenting
Parents set few limits or demands but are highly involved and emotionally connected.
Authoritative Parenting
Parents generally set and enforce firm limits, while also being highly involved, tender, and emotionally supportive.
