Deck 1 Flashcards
Accommodation
According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, the changes made to existing cognitive structures or schemes to understand new information and experiences.
Adaptation
In ethological theory, the way behavior changes or develops to meet environmental demands to ensure continued survival. In Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, refers to the complementary process of accommodation and assimilation.
Assimilation
According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, the process of incorporating new objects, information ,or experiences into existing cognitive structures or schemes.
Attachment
The primary social bond between an infant and his or her caretaker. Behaviors in infants (e.g. behaviors which foster this) include signaling behaviors, orienting behaviors, locomotion, and active physical contact.
Babbling
Prelinguistic speech categorized by the repetition of consonant and vowel sounds. Begins at four months of age and initially includes sounds of all languages.
Classic Aging Pattern
A consistently observed pattern on the WAIS in which elderly examinees score higher on Verbal IQ than Performance IQ
Concrete Operations Stage
Piaget’s third stage of cognitive development when the child (ages 7-12) displays an ability to think logically and achieves an understanding of conservation.
Contact Comfort
Refers to Harlow and Harlow’s hypothesis that contact is more important for the development of attachment than feeding. Based on observations that monkeys consistently prefer a cloth surrogate mother over a wire one, even when the wire surrogate provides food.
Conventional Morality
According to Kohlberg, the stage of moral development when judgment is governed by adherence to authority. Includes “good boy/good girl” and “law and order” substages. Defines the morality of most adolescents and adults.
Cooing
By three months, infants produce these sounds which consist mainly of vowels and are usually emitted when the infant is happy and contended.
Critical Period
A specific time in development when an organism is ready to learn (acquire) a particular response or behavior.
Crying
Although this is initially undifferentiated, by the age of one month infants produce several distinct patterns of this, including specific ones for hunger, anger, and pain.
Crystalized Abilities
Abilities which are a function of learning and experience. Examples include vocabulary, general knowledge, and mathematical knowledge. Are believed to be relatively unaffected by physiological processes and, therefore, ordinarily do not decline in old age.
Down Syndrome
A form of mental retardation produced by the presence of an extra number 21 chromosome. Characterized by certain physical features (“mongolism”) and mild to severe retardation.
Echolalia
An infant’s imitation of adult speech sounds and words without understanding their meaning.
Ego
According to Freud, the aspect of the personality associated with rational thought. Relies primarily on the reality principled to mediate between the demands of the id, the superego, and reality.
Egocentrism
A characteristic of proportional thought involving an inability to consider the point of view of others.
Equilibration
As defined by Piaget, the tendency toward biological and psychological balance. This tendency underlies cognitive development.
Fetal Alchohol Syndrome
Physical and mental abnormalities (e.g. mental retardation, microcephaly, hyperactivity, cardiac defects) caused by extreme maternal intake of alcohol during pregnancy.
Fluid Abilities
Memory and attention span, mental quickness, abstract reasoning, concept formation, and other abilities which are relatively culture-free and affected by physiological processes (e.g. aging).
Formal Operations Stage
According to Piaget, the final stage of cognitive development. Characterized by the ability to think abstractly and to use formal (“if.. then”) logic. Begins at approximately age 12.
Functional Enuresis (Bedwetting)
Frequent involuntary voiding of urine during the night or day which is not due to a known physical cause and occurs at an age when continence is expected (as defined by the DSM, at or after age 5).
Genotype
The characteristics an individual has genetically inherited and will pass on to his or her offspring.
Heritability
The proportion of the total variance in a population a trait or behavior attributable to genetic factors.
Holophrastic Speech
The use of one word sentences; begins at approximately one year.
Hospitalism
A term used by Spitz to describe the syndrome found in infants who have been separated from their mothers. Symptoms include listlessness, unresponsiveness, indifference, and retarded growth.
Id
According to Freud, the aspect of the personality present at birth, operates according to the pleasure principle, is the source of libido, and is characterized by a desire for immediate gratification.
Identification
According to psychoanalytic theory, the process the child use to resolve the Oedipus/Electra conflict. Involves identifying with the same-sex parent (e.g. adopting the parent’s gender-role behaviors, attitudes, and standards).
Lallation (Imperfect Imitation)
Begins at approximately six months of age. It includes “accidental” imitations of simple adult words and intonation patterns.
Longitudinal Research
The study of a variable or variable sin the same group of subjects over an extended period of time
Midlife Crisis
A period of psychological turmoil precipitated by a revaluation of one’s past and awareness of one’s mortality. Usually occurs in the early to mid-40s and ordinarily followed by a period of stability. may be precipitated by major life events such as health problems, children leaving home, or menopause.
Morphemes
The smallest units of meaningful sound. For example, the word “cats” consists of two of these: “cat” and “s”.
Object Permanence (Object Concept)
A Term used by Piaget to describe the child’s realization that an object continues to exist even though it is not in view. Develops during the sensorimotor stage.
Phenotype
Characteristics which are measurable and observable. May be due to genotype and/or environment. Eye color, for example, is the result of genotype which weight is ordinarily due to a combination of genotype and environment.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
An inherited enzyme deficiency which produces a toxic accumulation of amino acids and results in mental retardation. Can be treated by a diet low in phenylalanine.
Phonemes
Basic language sounds which can be distinguished from each other. In English there are 40.
Pleasure Principle
According to Freud, the psychic force which motivates people to seek immediate gratification of instinctual (id) impulses.
Postconventional Morality
According to Kohlberg, the most advanced level of moral development. During this stage, moral judgments are independent of personal consequences an social convention. Includes “social contract-legalistic” and “universal ethical principles” stages. Not reached by most adults.
Preconventional Morality
According to Kohlberg, the first level of moral development when judgments are made on the basis of physical consequences and personal needs. Includes “punishment-obedience” and “instrumental-relativistic” substages. Most common type of morality in childhood.
Preoperational Stage
Piaget’s second stage of cognitive development (ages 2 through 6) when the child understands complex events and can use symbols but is incapable of mental operations.
Pychosexual Development
According to Freud, the notion that personality development involves a sequence of five stages (oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital) during which gratification shifts from one body area to another.
Psychosocial Development
According to Erikson, the theory that personality development involves eight stages, with each stage characterized by a different psychosocial conflict (between the person and society). The eight stages are: trust vs mistrust; autonomy vs shame; initiative vs guilt; industry vs inferiority; ego identity vs role confusion; intimacy vs isolation; generatively vs stagnation; and integrity vs despair.
Public Law 94-142
The law which guarantees an appropriate free public education to all children who need special education services. Its key features include the Individualized Educational Plan and the provision of the least restrictive school environment for each child.
Reality Principle
According to psychoanalytic theory, the principle on which the ego operates as it mediates between the demands of the id and the environment.
Sensitive Period
A time in an organism’s development when a stimulus is likely to have its greatest effect.
Stages of Dying (Kubler-Ross)
Five-stage model of adjustment to the idea of death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Stranger Anxiety
Fearful responses to strangers which normally develops around eight months of age.
Stuttering
Frequent repetition or prolongation of speech sounds. Mild cases common among preschool children and ordinarily recover spontaneously.
Superego
According to Freud, the part of the personality serving as the conscience, develops out of the Oedipus/Electra conflict, and incorporates societal ethics and moral standards.
Telegraphic Speech
Two- or three-word utterances produced by children between the ages of 18 and 24 months an used to express complete thoughts.
