Chapter 9 Discovering Psychology Vocabulary Flashcards
The branch of psychology that studies how people change over the lifespan.
Developmental Psychology
Research strategy in which a variable or group of variables are studied in the same group of participants over time.
Longitudinal Design
Research strategy in which individuals of different ages or developmental stages are directly compared.
Cross-Sectional Design
The single cell formed at conception from the union of the egg cell and the sperm cell.
Zygote
A long, thread-like structure composed of twisted parallel stands of DNA; found in the cell nucleus.
Chromosome
The double-stranded molecule that encodes genetic instructions; the chemical basis of heredity.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
A unit of DNA on a chromosome that encodes instructions for making a particular protein molecule; the basic unit of heredity.
Gene
The genetic makeup of an individual organism.
Genotype
Chromosomes designated as X or Y, that determine biological sex; the 23rd pair of chromosomes in humans.
Sex Chromosomes
The observable traits or characteristics of an organism as determined by the interaction of genetics and environmental factors.
Phenotype
The study of the cellular mechanisms that control gene expression and of the ways that gene expression impacts health and behavior.
Epigenetics
The stage of development before birth; divided into the germinal, embryonic, and fetal periods.
Prenatal Stage
The first two weeks of prenatal development.
Germinal Period
The second period of prenatal development, extending from the third week through the eighth week.
Embryonic Period
Harmful agents or substances that can cause malformations or defects in the embryo or fetus.
Teratogens
Undifferentiated cells that can divide and give rise to cells that can develop into any one of the body’s different cell types.
Stem cells
The third and longest period of prenatal development, extending from the ninth week until birth.
Fetal Period
Inborn predispositions to consistently behave and react in a certain way.
Temperament
The emotional bond that forms between an infant and caregiver(s), especially his or her parents.
Attachment
The words that are understood by an infant or child.
Comprehension Vocabulary
The words that an infant or child understands and can speak.
Production Vocabulary