Development Flashcards
Developmental psychology
The branch of psychology that studies the patterns of growth and change that occur throughout life
Nature-nurture issue
Issue of the degree to which environment and heredity influence behavior
Identical twins
Twins who are genetically identical
Cross-sectional research
Research method that compares people of different ages at the same point in time
Longitudinal research
Research method that investigates behavior as participates age
Sequential research
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
Chromosomes
Rod-shapes structures that contain all basic hereditary information
Genes
Parts of the chromosomes through which genetic information is transmitted
Zygote
New cell formed by the union of an egg and sperm
Embryo
Developed zygote that has a heart, brain and other organs
Fetus
A developing individual from eight weeks after conception until birth
Age of variability
The point of which a fetus can survive if born prematurely
Teratogens
Environmental agents such as a drug chemical virus or other factor that produce a birth defect
Neonate
New born child
Reflexes
Unlearned, involuntary responses that occur automatically in the presence of a certain stimuli
Habituation
Decreases in the response to a stimulus that occurs after repeated presentation of the same stimulus
Attachment
Positive emotional bond that develops between a child and a particular individual
Authoritarian parents
Parents who are rigid and punitive and value unquestioning obedience from their children
Permissive parents
Parents who give their children relaxed or inconsistent direction and although they are warm, require little of them
Authoritative parents
Parents who are firm, set clear limits, reason with their children and explain things to them
Uninvolved parents
Parents who show little interest in their children and are emotionally detached
Temperament
Basic, innate disposition
Psychological development
Development of individual?s interactions and understanding of each other and of their knowledge and understanding of themselves as members of society
Trust vs mistrust stage
Erikson?s first stage of psychosocial development, occurring from birth to 1.5 years, during which the infants develop feeling of trust and lack or trust
Autonomy vs shame and doubt stage
Erikson?s second stage, 1.5-3 years; independence and autonomy if exploration and freedom are encouraged or shame and self-doubt if they are restricted and overprotective
Initiative vs guilt stage
Erikson?s third stage; 3-6 years; experience conflict between independence of action and the sometimes negative results of the action
Industry vs inferiority stage
Erikson fourth stage; 6-12 years; develop positive social interaction with other or may feel inadequate and become less social
Cognitive development
The process by which a child?s understanding of the world changes as a function of age and experience
Sensorimotor stage
Piaget; birth-2 years; during which a child has little competence in representing the environment by using images language or other symbols
Object permanence
The awareness that objects-and people- continue to exist even if they are out of sight
Preoperational stage
Piaget; 2-7years; characterized by language development
Egocentric thought
A way of thinking in which a child view the world entirely from his or her own perspective
Principle of conservation
The knowledge that quantity is unrelated to the arrangement and physical appearances of objects
Concrete operational stage
Piaget; 7-12 years; characterized by logical thought and loss of egocentrism
Formal operational stage
Piaget; 12-adulthood; characterized by abstract thought
Information processing
The way in which people take in , use and store information
Metacognition
An awareness and understanding of one?s own cognitive processes
Zone of proximal development (ZPD)
According to Vygotsky; level at which a child can almost, but not fully, comprehend or perform a task on his or her own
Adolescence
Developmental stage between childhood and adulthood
Puberty
The period at which maturation of the sexual organs occurs, beginning at about age 11 and 12 for girls and 12 or 14 for boys
Identity vs role confusion stage
Erikson; a time in adolescence of major testing to determine one?s unique qualities
Identity
Distinguishing character of the individual; who each of us, what our roles are, and what we are capable of
Intimacy vs isolation stage
Erikson; period during adulthood that focuses on developing close relationships
Generativity vs stagnations stage
Erikson; a period in middle adulthood during which we take stoke of out contributions to family and society
Ego-integrity vs despair stage
Erikson; a period from late adulthood until death during which we review lives accomplishments and failures
Emerging adulthood
Period beginning in the late teenage years and extending into the mid-20s
Menopause
Period during which women stop menstruating and are no longer fertile
Genetic preprogramming theories of aging
Theories that suggest that human cells gave a built-in-time limit to their reproduction and that they are no longer able to divide after a certain time
Wear-and-tear theories of aging
Theories that suggest that the mechanical functions of the body simply stop working efficiently
Alzheimer?s disease
A progressive brain disorder that leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in cognitive abilities
Disengagement theory of aging
Theory that suggest that aging produces a gradual withdrawal from the world on psychical, psychological and social levels
Activity theory of aging
Theory that suggest that the elderly who are most successful while aging are those who maintain the interests and action they had during middle age
Life review
Process by which people examine and evaluate their lives
