Developmental Psychology Unit 1 Flashcards
Science of human development
Science that seeks to understand how and why people of all ages and circumstances change or remain the same over time
Scientific method
A way to answer questions using empirical research and data-based conclusions
Replication
Repeating a study, usually using different participants
Differential susceptibility
Idea that people vary in how sensitive they are to particular experiences, either because of their genes or their past experiences
Most developmental psychologists believe that development is the result of?
Nature and nurture
Examples of nature
Traits, capacities, limitations
Example of nurture
Health, diet, family, school, community
Life-span perspective
An approach to the study of human development that includes all phases, from birth to death
Discontinuity
Change can occur rapidly and dramatically
Continuity
Growth can be gradual
Critical period
A time when a particular development must occur, if it doesn’t as when something toxic prevents that growth, then it cannot develop later
Sensitive period
A time when a particular development growth is most likely to occur, although it may still happen later
Example of critical period
Development of hearing, vision
Example of sensitive period
Crawling, jumping, walking
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Ecological-systems approach
Ecological systems approach
A perspective on human development that considers all of the influences from various contexts of development
Microsystem
Each person’s immediate social contexts
Cohort
People born within the same historical period who therefore move through life together, experiencing the same events, new technologies, and cultural shifts at the same ages
Socioeconomic status
A person’s position in society as determined by income, occupation, education, and place of residence
Culture
A system of shared beliefs, norms, behaviors, and expectations that persist over time and prescribe social behavior and assumptions
Social construction
An idea that is built on shared perceptions, not on objective reality
Difference-equals-deficit error
A mistaken belief that a deviation from some norm is necessarily inferior
Ethnic group
People whose ancestors were born in the same region, usually share a language, culture, and/or religion
Race
Concept that some people are distinct from others because of physical appearance, typically skin color
Intersectionality
The idea that the various identities need to be combined
Plasticity
The idea that abilities, personality, and other human characteristics are moldable, and thus can change
Dynamic-systems approach
A view of human development as an ongoing, ever-changing interaction between the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial influences
Developmental theory
A group of ideas, assumptions, and generalizations about human growth, provides a framework to interpret growth and change
Psychodynamic
Stress the power of a person’s past experiences and emotions to shape their current thoughts and actions
Psychoanalytic theory
A theory that human development that contends that irrational, unconscious drives and motives underlie human behavior
Grand theories
Comprehensive theories that have inspired thinking about development for decades
Minitheories
Theories that explain some specific area of development but that are not as comprehensive as grand theories
Emergent theories
Relatively new comprehensive theories that bring together information from many disciplines but not yet comprehensive
Example of grand theory
Psychoanalytic, learning, cognitive
Example of emergent theory
Sociocultural, epigenetic
Example of continuous theories
Learning, sociocultural, epigenetic
Example of discontinuous theories
Psychoanalytic, cognitive
Oral stage
Infants erotic body part is the mouth (Birth-1)
Anal stage
Focus on anus in early childhood (1-3)
Phallic stage
Penis is the source of pride and fear for boys and the reason for sadness and envy for girls in preschool years (3-6)
Latency
Quiet period that ends in a 4th stage (6-11)
Genital stage
Focus of pleasure in puberty and adulthood is genitals
For Sigmund Freud, development stopped when?
After puberty
Id
Pleasure principle; unconscious mind
Ego
Reality principle; conscious mind
Superego
Moral principle; preconscious
Trust vs. mistrust
Basic needs (Birth-1)
Autonomy vs. shame
Self-sufficient in activities (1-3)
Initiative vs. guilt
Undertake adult-like activities (3-6)
Industry vs. inferiority
Master new skills (6-11)
Identity vs. role confusion
Establish identity and self (Adolescence)
Intimacy vs. isolation
Seek love and companionship (Adulthood)
Generativity vs. stagnation
Contribute to future generations (Middle-aged adulthood)
Integrity vs. despair
Make sense of lives (Old-aged adulthood)
Behaviorism
A theory of human development that studies observable actions; learning theory
Classical conditioning
When a living creature learns to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus, gradually reacting to the neutral stimulus in the same way as the meaningful stimulus
Operant conditioning
Learning process that reinforces or punishes behavior; instrumental conditioning
Reinforcement
Positive experience that follows a behavior making it more likely that the behavior will occur again
Albert Bandura
Social learning theory
Social learning theory
Theory that emphasizes the influence of other people, even without reinforcement, people learn via role models; observational learning
Cognitive theory
Theory of human development that focuses on how people think, thoughts shapes our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors
Sensorimotor stage
Infants think with senses (Birth-2)
Pre-operational stage
Preschoolers think with language (2-7)
Concrete operational stage
School-age kids think with simple logic (7-11)
Formal operational stage
Adolescents and adults think with abstract logic (11+)
For Piaget, intelligence increases as humans seek cognitive
Equilibration
Evolutionary theory
Idea that many current human emotions and impulses are a legacy from thousands of years ago
Scientific observation
Watching and recording participants’ behavior in a systematic and objective manner - in a natural setting, laboratory, or in searches of archival data
Experiment
A research method in which the researcher adds one variable and then observes the effect on another variable in order to learn if the independent variable causes change in the dependent variable
Survey
Research method in which information is collected from a large number of interviews, written questionnaires, or some other means
Cross-sectional research
Research design that compares people who differ in age but no in other important characteristics
Longitudinal research
Research design that follows the same individuals over time
Cross-sequential research
Hybrid research design that includes cross-sectional and longitudinal research; cohort-sequential research or time-sequential research
Correlation
Exists between two variables if one variable is more or less likely to occur when the other does
Quantitative research
Research that provides data expressed with numbers, such as ranks or scales
Qualitative research
Research that considers individual qualities instead of quantities
Gamete
Reproductive cell, ovum or sperm
How many chromosomes does a gamete contain?
23 chromosomes
Zygote
Single-cell formed from the union of two gametes
How many chromosomes does a zygote contain?
46 chromosomes
Genome
Full set of genes that are instructions to make an individual member of a certain species
Allele
Variation that makes a gene different in some way from other genes for the same characteristics
Epigenetics
Study of how environmental factors affect genes and genetic expression - enhancing, halting, shaping, or altering the expression of genes
Genotype
An organism’s entire genetic inheritance, or genetic potential
Phenotype
Observable characteristics of a person, including appearance, personality, intelligence, and all other traits
Microbiome
All the microbes with all their genes in a community
Additive
Effects of genes and alleles add up to influence phenotype
Carrier
A person whose genotype includes a gene that is not expressed in the phenotype
Dominant traits
Overrules recessive trait
Recessive traits
Both alleles must be present for trait to be seen
X-linked
Gene carried on the X chromosome
Germinal period
Conception-2 weeks, characterized by rapid cell division and beginning of cell differentiation
Embryonic period
3-8 weeks, basic forms of all body structures, including internal organs, develop
Fetal period
9 weeks-birth, gains about 7 pounds and organs become more mature, gradually able to function on own
Implantation
Embedding into the nurturing line of the uterus
Embryo
Name for developing human organism from about the 3rd week through the 8th week after conception
Primitive streak
Thin line in the middle of cell mass that appears after 14 days and forms the neural tube at 22 days
What does the neural tube become?
Central nervous system
Cephalocaudal
“Head-to-tail”
Proximodistal
“Near-to-far”
Fetus
Name for developing human organism from the start of the 9th week after conception until birth
Age of viability
Age in which a fetus may survive outside the mother’s uterus if specialized medical care is available (22 weeks)
Down syndrome
47 chromosomes, 3 at 21st site
Trisomy
Entire chromosome added, usually 3 at one site instead of 2
Fragile X syndrome
Genetic disorder in which part of the X chromosome is attached to the rest of it by a very thin string of molecules, over 200 repetitions on one stretch of one gene
Differentiation
During the germinal period of prenatal development, some cells become part of the brain, some become part of the leg, and some become part of the stomach, etc.
Teratogen
Agent or condition, including viruses, drugs, and chemicals, that can impair prenatal development and result in birth defects or even death
Threshold effect
Teratogens are virtually harmless until exposure reaches a certain level, then cross threshold and harm the fetus
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Cluster of birth defects, including abnormal facial characteristics, slow physical growth, and reduced intellectual ability, that may occur in a fetus of a woman who drinks alcohol while pregnant
Low birthweight
Less than 2500 grams (5.5 pounds)
Very low birthweight
Less than 1500 grams (3 pounds 5 oz)
Extremely low birthweight
Less than 1000 grams (2 pounds 3 oz)
Preterm
A birth that occurs 2+ weeks before the full 38 weeks of the typical pregnancy
Small for gestational age
Term for a baby whose birthweight is significantly lower than expected, given the time since conception; small-for-dates
Immigrant paradox
Low-SES immigrant women tend to have fewer birth complications than native-born peers with higher incomes
Cesarean section
Surgical procedure in which the fetus is removed through incisions in the abdomen and uterus, instead of being pushed by contractions through the vagina; C section
Apgar scale
A quick assessment of newborn’s health, color, breathing, heart rate, cry, and muscle tone, from 0-10
Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale
Test that is often administered to newborns, which measures responsiveness and records 46 behaviors, including 20 reflexes
Kangaroo care
Newborn lies between the mother’s breasts, skin-to-skin, listening to her heartbeat and feeling her body heat
Postpartum depression
Feelings of inadequacy and sadness in the days and weeks after giving birth; baby blues
Couvade
Symptoms of pregnancy and birth experienced by fathers
How much does a 24-month-old weigh?
28 pounds
Co-sleeping
Parents and child sleep together in the same room
Bed-sharing
Parents and child sleep together in the same bed
Sudden infant death syndrome
Situation in which a seemingly health infant, usually between 2-6 months, suddenly stops breathing and dies unexpectedly while asleep
Head-sparing
Biological mechanism that protects the brain when malnutrition disrupts body growth
Neurotransmitter
Brain chemical that carries information from the axon of a sending neuron to the dendrites of a receiving neurons
Transient exuberance
Early dendrite growth
From birth until age two, dendrites in the cortex increase how much?
Fivefold
Experience-expectant
Brain functions that require certain basic common experiences in order to develop normally
Example of experience-expectant growth
Hearing voices
Experience-dependent growth
Brain functions that depend on particular, variable experiences and therefore may or may not develop in a particular infant
Example of experience-dependent growth
Learn language that the parents speak
Gross motor skills
Deliberate actions that coordinate many parts of the body, producing large movements
Fine motor skills
Small body movements
Sensorimotor intelligence
The way infants think - by using their senses and motor skills - during the first period of cognitive development (first 2 years)
How much can a baby see when born?
4-30 inches away
Binocular vision
Coordinating both eyes to see one image; 2-4 months
Object permanence
Concept that objects or people continue to exist when they are not visible
Which skill does an infant develop last?
Standing up with no help
First acquired adaptations
Infant mind adjusts to whatever responses the reflexes elicit; stage two
What is the order of spoken language for an infant?
Reflexes, cooing, babbling, spoken words
According to the sociocultural perspective, what is the focus of early communication for infants younger than 12 months?
Emotion
Which emotion develops in an infant at the latest age?
Pride
When is stranger wariness first noticeable?
8 months
The new emotions that appear toward the end of a child’s second year are?
Pride, shame, embarrassment, and guilt
Secure attachment
A relationship in which an infant obtains both comfort and confidence from the presence of his or her caregiver
Signs of secure attachment
Explores freely when caregiver is available, may or may not be distressed at separation, greets caregiver positively on reunion
Separation anxiety
An infant’s distress when a familiar caregiver leaves (9-14 months)
Researchers placed a dot of rouge on babies’ noses and then had them look into a mirror. On
average, at what age did most babies touch their own noses when they saw their reflection?
15-24 months
Proximal parenting tends to produce children who are?
Compliant
