Chapter 9: How do People Grow, Change, and Develop

Question 1

Development

Answer 1

Changes in behavior or abilities or both.

Question 2

Nature-Nurture Issue

Answer 2

The degree to which biology (nature) or the environment (nurture) contributes to a person’s development.

Question 3

Zygote

Answer 3

A fertilized egg.

Question 4

Germinal Stage

Answer 4

The first stage of prenatal development, from conception to 14 days. Cells travel to the uterus.

Question 5

Embryonic Stage

Answer 5

The second stage of prenatal development, lasting from the 3rd through the 8th week. Major characteristic of this stage is the formation and development of the major organs and systems.

Question 6

Fetal Stage

Answer 6

The third stage of prenatal development from the 9th week through the 9th month. Major characteristic is continued growth and maturation.

Question 7

Down Syndrome

Answer 7

A genetic birth disorder resulting from an extra 21st chromosome, characterized by distinct facial features and a greater likelihood of heart defects and intellectual disability.

Question 8

Teratogen

Answer 8

An environmental substance that has the potential to harm the developing organism.

Question 9

Sensitive Period

Answer 9

In prenatal development, a time when genetic and environmental agents are most likely to cause birth defects.

Question 10

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Answer 10

A birth condition resulting from the mother’s chronic use of alcohol during pregnancy that is characterized by facial and limb deformities and intellectual disability.

Question 11

Neonate

Answer 11

A newborn during the first 28 days of life.

Question 12

Reflex

Answer 12

An automatic response to a specific environmental stimulus.

Question 13

Gross Motor Skills

Answer 13

Motor behaviors, involving the large muscles of the body such as running, walking, jumping, and hopping.

Question 14

Fine Motor Skills

Answer 14

Motor behaviors involving the small muscles of the body such as writing, using utensils, and playing an instrument.

Question 15

Cognition

Answer 15

The ability to think, know, and remember.

Question 16

Schema

Answer 16

A mental idea, concept, or thought.

Question 17

Assimilation

Answer 17

The process by which an existing schema is used to understand something new in the environment.

Question 18

Accommodation

Answer 18

The process by which a schema is changed, modified, or created anew in order to understand something new in the environment.

Question 19

Sensorimotor Stage

Answer 19

Piaget’s first stage of cognitive development, in which infants learn schemas through their senses and motor abilities.

Question 20

Object Permanence

Answer 20

The understanding that an object continues to exist even when it is not present.

Question 21

Symbolic Thinking

Answer 21

The understanding that objects can be represented with symbols such as bodily gestures or language.

Question 22

Preoperational Stage

Answer 22

Piaget’s second stage of cognitive development characterized by the use of symbols and illogical thought.

Question 23

Centration

Answer 23

The act of focusing on only one aspect or feature of an object.

Question 24

Conservation

Answer 24

The understanding that an object retains its original properties even though it may look different.

Question 25

Egocentrism

Answer 25

The belief that everyone thinks as you do.

Question 26

Concrete Operation

Answer 26

Piaget’s third stage of cognitive development, characterized by logical thought.

Question 27

Private Speech

Answer 27

Vygotsky’s term describing the behavior of young children who talk to themselves to guide their own actions.

Question 28

Zone of Proximal Development

Answer 28

According to Vygotsky, the gap between what a child is already able to do and what he or she is not yet capable of doing without help.

Question 29

Scaffolding

Answer 29

A process in which adults initially offer guidance and support in helping a child to reason, solve a problem, or master a task; as the child becomes more proficient and capable, the adult helps less and less until the child can master the task on his or her own.

Question 30

Moral Reasoning

Answer 30

How you decide what is right and what is wrong.

Question 31

Temperament

Answer 31

A person’s general pattern of attention, arousal, and mood that is evident at birth.

Question 32

Attachment

Answer 32

The emotional bond between caretaker and infant that is established by 8 to 9 months.

Question 33

Separation Anxiety

Answer 33

The fear an infant expresses when separated from the primary caretaker.

Question 34

Stranger Anxiety

Answer 34

The distress an infant expresses when faced with unfamiliar people.

Question 35

Authoritarian Parent

Answer 35

A parenting style characterized by high levels of control and low levels of affection.

Question 36

Authoritative Parent

Answer 36

A parenting style characterized by moderate levels of control and affection.

Question 37

Permissive Parent

Answer 37

A parenting style characterized by low levels of control or discipline.

Question 38

Imaginary Audience

Answer 38

The belief held by adolescents that everyone is watching what they do.

Question 39

Personal Fable

Answer 39

The belief held by adolescents that they are unique and special. May contribute to the risks taken by adolescents.

Question 40

Dualistic Thinking

Answer 40

Reasoning that divides situations and issues into right and wrong categories.

Question 41

Relativistic Thinking

Answer 41

The idea that in many situations there is not necessarily one right or wrong answer.

Question 42

Postformal Thought

Answer 42

The idea that a correct solution (or solutions) may vary, depending on the circumstances.

Question 43

Fluid Intelligence

Answer 43

Abilities that rely on information-processing skills such as reaction time, attention, and working memory.

Question 44

Crystallized Intelligence

Answer 44

Abilities that rely on knowledge, expertise, and judgment.