Development

Question 1

nature–nurture issue

Answer 1

The issue of the degree to which environment and heredity influence behavior.

Question 1

developmental psychology

Answer 1

The branch of psychology that studies the patterns of growth and change that occur throughout life.

Question 2

identical twins

Answer 2

Twins who are genetically identical.

Question 3

cross-sectional research

Answer 3

A research method that compares people of different ages at the same point in time.

Question 4

longitudinal research

Answer 4

A research method that investigates behavior as participants age.

Question 5

sequential research

Answer 5

A research method that combines cross-sectional and longitudinal research by considering a number of different age groups and examining them at several points in time.

Question 6

chromosomes

Answer 6

Rod-shaped structures that contain all basic hereditary information.

Question 7

genes

Answer 7

The parts of the chromosomes through which genetic information is transmitted.

Question 8

zygote

Answer 8

The new cell formed by the union of an egg and sperm.

Question 9

embryo

Answer 9

A developed zygote that has a heart, a brain, and other organs.

Question 10

fetus

Answer 10

A developing individual from eight weeks after conception until birth.

Question 11

age of viability

Answer 11

The point at which a fetus can survive if born prematurely.

Question 12

teratogens

Answer 12

Environmental agents such as a drug, chemical, virus, or other factor that produce a birth defect.

Question 13

neonate

Answer 13

A newborn child.

Question 14

reflexes

Answer 14

Unlearned, involuntary responses that occur automatically in the presence of certain stimuli.

Question 15

habituation

Answer 15

The decrease in the response to a stimulus that occurs after repeated presentations of the same stimulus.

Question 16

attachment

Answer 16

The positive emotional bond that develops between a child and a particular individual.

Question 17

authoritarian parents

Answer 17

Parents who are rigid and punitive and value unquestioning obedience from their children.

Question 18

permissive parents

Answer 18

Parents who give their children relaxed or inconsistent direction and, although they are warm, require little of them.

Question 19

authoritative parents

Answer 19

Parents who are firm, set clear limits, reason with their children, and explain things to them.

Question 20

uninvolved parents

Answer 20

Parents who show little interest in their children and are emotionally detached.

Question 21

temperament

Answer 21

The innate disposition that emerges early in life.

Question 22

psychosocial development

Answer 22

Development of individuals’ interactions and understanding of each other and of their knowledge and understanding of themselves as members of society.

Question 23

trust-versus-mistrust stage

Answer 23

According to Erikson, the first stage of psychosocial development, occurring from birth to age 1½ years, during which time infants develop feelings of trust or lack of trust.

Question 24

autonomy-versus-shame and-doubt stage

Answer 24

The period during which, according to Erikson, toddlers (ages 1½ to 3 years) develop independence and autonomy if exploration and freedom are encouraged or shame and self-doubt if they are restricted and overprotected.

Question 25

initiative-versus-guilt stage

Answer 25

According to Erikson, the period during which children ages 3 to 6 years experience conflict between independence of action and the sometimes negative results of that action.

Question 26

industry-versus-inferiority stage

Answer 26

According to Erikson, the last stage of childhood, during which children age 6 to 12 years may develop positive social interactions with others or may feel inadequate and become less sociable.

Question 27

cognitive development

Answer 27

The process by which a child's understanding of the world changes as a function of age and experience.

Question 28

sensorimotor stage

Answer 28

According to Piaget, the stage from birth to 2 years, during which a child has little competence in representing the environment by using images, language, or other symbols.

Question 29

object permanence

Answer 29

The awareness that objects-and people-continue to exist even if they are out of sight.

Question 30

preoperational stage

Answer 30

According to Piaget, the period from 2 to 7 years of age that is characterized by language development.

Question 31

egocentric thought

Answer 31

A way of thinking in which a child views the world entirely from his or her own perspective.

Question 32

principle of conservation

Answer 32

The knowledge that quantity is unrelated to the arrangement and physical appearance of objects.

Question 33

concrete operational stage

Answer 33

According to Piaget, the period from 7 to 12 years of age that is characterized by logical thought and a loss of egocentrism.

Question 34

formal operational stage

Answer 34

According to Piaget, the period from age 12 to adulthood that is characterized by abstract thought.

Question 35

information processing

Answer 35

The way in which people take in, use, and store information.

Question 36

metacognition

Answer 36

An awareness and understanding of one's own cognitive processes.

Question 37

zone of proximal development (ZPD)

Answer 37

According to Vygotsky, the level at which a child can almost, but not fully, comprehend or perform a task on his or her own.

Question 38

adolescence

Answer 38

The developmental stage between childhood and adulthood.

Question 39

puberty

Answer 39

The period at which maturation of the sexual organs occurs, beginning at about age 11 or 12 for girls and 13 or 14 for boys.

Question 40

identity-versus-role confusion stage

Answer 40

According to Erikson, a time in adolescence of major testing to determine one's unique qualities.

Question 41

identity

Answer 41

The distinguishing character of the individual: who each of us is, what our roles are, and what we are capable of.

Question 42

intimacy-versus-isolation stage

Answer 42

According to Erikson, a period during early adulthood that focuses on developing close relationships.

Question 43

generativity-versus-stagnation stage

Answer 43

According to Erikson, a period in middle adulthood during which we take stock of our contributions to family and society.

Question 44

ego-integrity-versus-despair stage

Answer 44

According to Erikson, a period from late adulthood until death during which we review life's accomplishments and failures.

Question 45

emerging adulthood

Answer 45

The period beginning in the late teenage years and extending into the mid-20.

Question 46

menopause

Answer 46

The period during which women stop menstruating and are no longer fertile.

Question 47

genetic preprogramming theories of aging

Answer 47

Theories that suggest that human cells have a built-in time limit to their reproduction and that they are no longer able to divide after a certain time.

Question 48

wear-and-tear theories of aging

Answer 48

Theories that suggest that the mechanical functions of the body simply stop working efficiently.

Question 49

Alzheimer's disease

Answer 49

A progressive brain disorder that leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in cognitive abilities.

Question 50

disengagement theory of aging

Answer 50

A theory that suggests that aging produces a gradual withdrawal from the world on physical, psychological, and social levels.

Question 51

activity theory of aging

Answer 51

A theory that suggests that the elderly who are most successful while aging are those who maintain the interests and activities they had during middle age.

Question 52

life review

Answer 52

The process by which people examine and evaluate their lives.