Development across the Life Span

Question 1

the scientific study of the changes
that occur in people as they age
from conception until death.

Answer 1

human development

Question 2

research design in which one
participant or group of participants is
studied over a long period of time.

Answer 2

longitudinal design

Question 3

research design in which several
different participant age-groups
are studied at one particular point
in time.

Answer 3

cross-sectional design

Question 4

research design in which participants
are first studied by means of
a cross-sectional design but are also
followed and assessed longitudinally

Answer 4

cross-sequential design

Question 5

the impact on development occurring
when a group of people share
a common time period or common
life experience

Answer 5

cohort effect

Question 6

the influence of our inherited
characteristics on our personality,
physical growth, intellectual growth,
and social interactions.

Answer 6

nature

Question 7

the influence of the environment
on personality, physical growth,
intellectual growth, and social
interactions.

Answer 7

nurture

Question 8

the science of inherited traits.

Answer 8

genetics

Question 9

special molecule that contains the
genetic material of the organism.

Answer 9

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Question 10

section of DNA having the same
arrangement of chemical elements.

Answer 10

gene

Question 11

tightly wound strand of genetic material or DNA.

Answer 11

chromosomes

Question 12

referring to a gene that actively
controls the expression of a trait.

Answer 12

dominant

Question 13

referring to a gene that only influences
the expression of a trait when paired
with an identical gene.

Answer 13

recessive

Question 14

the female sex cell, or egg.

Answer 14

ovum

Question 15

the union of the ovum and sperm.

Answer 15

fertilization

Question 16

cell resulting from the uniting of the
ovum and sperm.

Answer 16

zygote

Question 17

identical twins formed when one
zygote splits into two separate masses
of cells, each of which develops into a
separate embryo.

Answer 17

monozygotic twins

Question 18

often called fraternal twins, occurring
when two individual eggs get fertilized
by separate sperm, resulting in two
zygotes in the uterus at the same time

Answer 18

dizygotic twins

Question 19

the study of ethical and moral issues
brought about by new advances in
biology and medicine.

Answer 19

bioethics

Question 20

first 2 weeks after fertilization,
during which the zygote moves down
to the uterus and begins to implant in
the lining

Answer 20

germinal period

Question 21

name for the developing organism
from 2 to 8 weeks after fertilization.

Answer 21

embryo

Question 22

the period from 2 to 8 weeks after
fertilization, during which the
major organs and structures of the
organism develop.

Answer 22

embryonic period

Question 23

times during which certain environmental influences can have an impact
on the development of the infant.

Answer 23

critical periods

Question 24

any factor that can cause a birth
defect

Answer 24

teratogen

Question 25

the physical and mental defects caused by consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.

Answer 25

fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

Question 26

the time from about 8 weeks after conception until the birth of the baby

Answer 26

fetal period

Question 27

name for the developing organism from 8 weeks after fertilization to the birth of the baby.

Answer 27

fetus

Question 28

the development of thinking, problem solving, and memory.

Answer 28

cognitive development

Question 29

in this case, a mental concept formed through experiences with objects and events.

Answer 29

schemes

Question 30

Piaget’s first stage of cognitive development, in which the infant uses its senses and motor abilities to interact with objects in the environment.

Answer 30

sensorimotor stage

Question 31

the knowledge that an object exists even when it is not in sight.

Answer 31

object permanence

Question 32

Piaget’s second stage of cognitive development, in which the preschool child learns to use language as a means of exploring the world.

Answer 32

preoperational stage

Question 33

the inability to see the world through anyone else’s eyes.

Answer 33

egocentrism

Question 34

in Piaget’s theory, the tendency of a young child to focus only on one feature of an object while ignoring other relevant features.

Answer 34

centration

Question 35

in Piaget’s theory, the ability to understand that simply changing the appearance of an object does not change the object’s nature

Answer 35

conservation

Question 36

in Piaget’s theory, the inability of the young child to mentally reverse an action.

Answer 36

irreversibility

Question 37

Piaget’s third stage of cognitive development, in which the school-age child becomes capable of logical thought processes but is not yet capable of abstract thinking.

Answer 37

concrete operations stage

Question 38

Piaget’s last stage of cognitive development, in which the adolescent becomes capable of abstract thinking

Answer 38

formal operations stage

Question 39

process in which a more skilled learner gives help to a less skilled learner, reducing the amount of help as the less skilled learner becomes more capable.

Answer 39

scaffolding

Question 40

Vygotsky’s concept of the difference between what a child can do alone and what that child can do with the help of a teacher.

Answer 40

zone of proximal development (ZPD)

Question 41

the behavioral characteristics that are fairly well established at birth, such as “easy,” “difficult,” and “slow to warm up;” the enduring characteristics with which each person is born

Answer 41

temperament

Question 42

Attachment styles:

Answer 42

Secure avoidant ambivalent Disorganized-Disoriented

Question 43

the emotional bond between an infant and the primary caregiver.

Answer 43

attachment

Question 44

the image of oneself that develops from interactions with important significant people in one’s life.

Answer 44

self-concept

Question 45

the period of life from about age 13 to the early 20s, during which a young person is no longer physically a child but is not yet an independent, self-supporting adult.

Answer 45

adolescence

Question 46

the physical changes that occur in the body as sexual development reaches its peak.

Answer 46

puberty

Question 47

type of thought common to adolescents in which young people believe themselves to be unique and protected from harm.

Answer 47

personal fable

Question 48

type of thought common to adolescents in which young people believe that other people are just as concerned about the adolescent’s thoughts and characteristics as they themselves are.

Answer 48

imaginary audience

Question 49

stage of personality development in which the adolescent must find a consistent sense of self.

Answer 49

identity versus role confusion

Question 50

a time from late adolescence through the 20s referring to those who are childless, do not live in their own home, and are not earning enough money to be independent, mainly found in developed countries.

Answer 50

emerging adulthood

Question 51

the cessation of ovulation and menstrual cycles and the end of a woman’s reproductive capability

Answer 51

menopause

Question 52

gradual changes in the sexual hormones and reproductive system of middle-aged males

Answer 52

andropause

Question 53

an emotional and psychological closeness that is based on the ability to trust, share, and care, while still maintaining a sense of self.

Answer 53

intimacy

Question 54

providing guidance to one’s children or the next generation, or contributing to the well-being of the next generation through career or volunteer work.

Answer 54

generativity

Question 55

style of parenting in which parent is rigid and overly strict, showing little warmth to the child.

Answer 55

authoritarian parenting

Question 56

style of parenting in which parent makes few, if any, demands on a child’s behavior.

Answer 56

permissive parenting

Question 57

permissive parenting in which parent is uninvolved with child or child’s behavior.

Answer 57

permissive neglectful

Question 58

permissive parenting in which parent is so involved that children are allowed to behave without set limits.

Answer 58

permissive indulgent

Question 59

style of parenting in which parent combines warmth and affection with firm limits on a child’s behavior.

Answer 59

authoritative parenting

Question 60

sense of wholeness that comes from having lived a full life possessing the ability to let go of regrets; the final completion of the ego.

Answer 60

ego integrity

Question 61

theory of adjustment to aging that assumes older people are happier if they remain active in some way, such as volunteering or developing a hobby

Answer 61

activity theory