Developmental Psychology Midterm Flashcards
Define Development.
Human change through the lifespan.
What period of life is Child Development?
Development from Conception to Adolescence.
(Infancy – Childhood)
What are the 5 age periods in Child Development?
Prenatal (conception to birth)
Infancy (up to 2yrs)
Early Childhood (up to 6yrs)
Middle Childhood (up to 11yrs)
Adolescence (up to 20/25yrs.)
What are the 3 Domains of Development?
Physical
– changes in body, motor skills, sensory ability
Cognitive
– changes in thinking, memory, perception
Social/Emotional
– changes in personality, social skills, emotions
Define Perceptual Bias.
It is easier to learn things you think you already know. May deny things that don’t align with assumptions.
Explain Nature vs. Nurture.
Is it genetics, or environment? Is it how you were born, or how you were raised?
Explain Continuity vs. Discontinuity.
C: Gradual changes, more of the same.
D: Completely different in each stage, like caterpillar –> chrysalis –> butterfly.
Explain Active Development vs. Passive Development.
A: Humans actively participate in their development.
P: Behaviour is an intuitive response to stimulus.
Define Preformationism.
Children are fully formed adults, just littler.
What did John Locke think?
Tabula Rasa, development occurs through experiencing the environment.
What did Jean-Jaques Rousseau think?
Innate Purity, development follows nature’s plan.
What did G. Stanley Hall think?
Normative Approach, norms, age expectations, milestones.
Define Maturation.
Developmental changes in the body or behaviour that result solely from the aging process. (like a fetus)
Define Plasticity.
A developmental state that has the potential to be shaped by experience.
Define Selective Attrition.
Nonrandom loss of participants during a study that results in a non-representative sample.
Explain the Cross-Sectional Design.
A research design in which subjects from different age groups are studied at the same point in time.
Explain Cohort Effects.
Age-related difference among cohorts that is attributable to cultural/ historical differences in cohorts’ growing-up experiences
Explain the Longitudinal Design.
A research design in which one group of subjects is studied repeatedly over a period of months or years.
Explain the Sequential Design.
A research design in which subjects from different age groups are studied repeatedly over a period of months or years.
Explain Microgenetic Studies.
A research design in which participants are studied intensively over a short period of time as developmental changes occur.
Who is Gregor Mendel?
The founder of Modern Genetics, dominant and recessive genes. The dude with the peas.
What are the two types of cells?
Reproductive and Somatic (Body).
How many pairs of chromosomes does the average person have?
23 Pairs, 46 total.
Define Allele?
Different versions of the same gene.
What is the difference between Genotype and Phenotype?
Genotype is what is inherited, Phenotype is what we can see.
What is the difference between Sex Chromosomal Abnormalities and Autosomal Abnormalities?
Sex Chromosomal Abnormalities occur when there is an error in the sex chromosome, while Autosomal Abnormalities occur in the other 22 pairs.
Define Polygenetic.
Being affected by multiple genes + the environment.
How long is the prenatal period?
38 weeks.
How long is the Gestation Period?
Conception to birth + 2 weeks.
What are the three periods of Prenatal Development?
Zygote (2 weeks old), Embryo (8 weeks old), Fetus (9 weeks – birth).
What is a Blastocyst?
The fertilized egg that is implanted.
When do organs and features develop?
The Embryo Period.
Can fetuses effectively learn sounds while still in utero?
Yes! It is called Prenatal Stimulation.
Define Teratogens and give examples.
Teratogens are anything that affects the growth of a fetus, ie. drugs, alcohol, disease, hormones, radiation, etc.
When is an unborn child most at risk of teratogen exposure?
The Embryo Period.
What is the best predictor of infant survival of development?
Birth weight, (too little, too early)
Define Vernix.
White, waterproof barrier on newborn’s skin.
What does APGAR stand for?
Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration.
What is the average birth weight?
5.5 to 10 lbs.
What are the six States of Arousal.
Regular Sleep, Irregular Sleep, Drowsiness, Alert Inactivity, Alert Activity, Crying.
What was the main feature of Watson’s Behaviourism?
Habits.
Describe the beginning of neurons and brain growth.
All needed neurons are present, they have migrated to where they should be, and stimulation helps increase connections.
What is prewiring?
Babies are ‘prewired’ for basic sensory and
motor functions.
What is pruning?
“Use it or lose it.”
