Exam 1 (Chapter 1 & 2) Flashcards
What are the underlying principles of lifespan development?
The underlying principles include continuity vs. discontinuity, nature vs. nurture, active vs. passive, and stability vs. change.
These principles guide the understanding of how individuals grow and change throughout their lives.
What are the domains of lifespan development?
The domains are physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development.
These domains represent different areas of growth and change that occur across the lifespan.
What are the types of life influences in lifespan development?
Types of life influences include normative age-graded influences, normative history-graded influences, and non-normative life events.
These influences shape individual development in various ways.
How does socioeconomic status influence development?
Socioeconomic status can affect access to resources, education, healthcare, and overall quality of life, impacting development.
Lower socioeconomic status is often linked to various developmental challenges.
What is cultural relativity?
Cultural relativity is the principle of understanding and evaluating cultural practices based on their own context rather than against another culture’s standards.
This concept is important in developmental psychology for appreciating diverse backgrounds.
What is ethnocentrism?
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.
This perspective can lead to misinterpretation of behaviors and practices in different cultures.
Define chronological age.
Chronological age is the actual age of an individual measured in years.
It is a straightforward metric used in various studies and assessments.
What is biological age?
Biological age refers to the health and functioning of an individual’s body systems and organs.
This can differ from chronological age, indicating how well a person is aging biologically.
What is psychological age?
Psychological age is the individual’s adaptive capacities compared to others of the same chronological age.
It encompasses cognitive and emotional maturity.
Define social age.
Social age refers to the age at which a person is expected to fulfill social roles and responsibilities.
This may vary significantly across different cultures and contexts.
What is the difference between continuity and discontinuity in development?
Continuity refers to gradual and cumulative changes, while discontinuity involves distinct and separate stages of development.
This debate influences various developmental theories.
What does nature vs. nurture refer to?
Nature vs. nurture refers to the debate over the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.
Both aspects are essential in understanding developmental outcomes.
What is the active vs. passive debate in development?
The active vs. passive debate considers whether individuals actively shape their own development or are passive recipients of environmental influences.
This debate affects how we understand learning and growth.
What is the stability vs. change debate in development?
The stability vs. change debate examines whether personality traits and behaviors remain consistent or change over time.
This has implications for understanding lifelong development.
What was Locke’s view of development?
Locke viewed development as a process shaped by experience and learning, famously describing the mind as a ‘tabula rasa’ or blank slate.
This perspective emphasizes the role of environment in shaping individuals.
How is Erikson’s theory of development different from Freud’s?
Erikson’s theory focuses on psychosocial development across the lifespan, while Freud’s theory emphasizes psychosexual stages primarily in early childhood.
Erikson’s stages address social and emotional challenges at different life stages.
List Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development.
- Trust vs. Mistrust
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
- Initiative vs. Guilt
- Industry vs. Inferiority
- Identity vs. Role Confusion
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
- Generativity vs. Stagnation
- Integrity vs. Despair
Each stage presents a crisis that must be resolved for healthy development.
What is behaviorism?
Behaviorism is a theory that focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they’re learned through interaction with the environment.
It emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
Define psychoanalytic theory.
Psychoanalytic theory is a framework that emphasizes the influence of unconscious motives and early childhood experiences on behavior and personality.
Freud is the primary figure associated with this theory.
What is social learning theory?
Social learning theory posits that individuals learn behaviors through observation, imitation, and modeling, rather than through direct experience alone.
Albert Bandura is a key figure in this theory.
What is naturalistic observation?
Naturalistic observation is a research method involving the observation of subjects in their natural environment without manipulation.
It provides insights into real-world behavior.
List Piaget’s stages of cognitive development.
- Sensorimotor
- Preoperational
- Concrete Operational
- Formal Operational
Each stage signifies a different level of cognitive capability.
What is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory?
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory emphasizes the multiple layers of environment that influence individual development, including microsystems, mesosystems, exosystems, and macrosystems.
This model highlights the complexity of interactions between individuals and their environments.
What are the limitations/disadvantages of all research methods in psychology?
Limitations include potential bias, ethical concerns, generalizability issues, and the influence of extraneous variables.
Each research method has its own set of challenges.
What are the advantages of all research methods in psychology?
Advantages include the ability to gather diverse data, test hypotheses, and contribute to our understanding of human behavior.
Different methods provide unique insights and strengthen research findings.
What do correlation coefficients indicate?
Correlation coefficients indicate the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.
Values range from -1 to +1, where 0 indicates no correlation.
What are gametes?
Reproductive cells that unite during fertilization to form a new organism.
Gametes include sperm and ova.
Define phenotype.
The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism.
Phenotype results from the interaction of the genotype with the environment.
Define genotype.
The genetic constitution of an individual.
Genotype determines potential traits but not necessarily their expression.
How are monozygotic twins formed?
When a single fertilized egg splits into two embryos.
This results in genetically identical twins.
What is the most common cause of chromosomal abnormalities?
Errors during cell division, particularly during meiosis.
These errors can lead to conditions such as Down syndrome.
What are sex-linked chromosome anomalies?
Genetic disorders associated with genes on sex chromosomes, typically X or Y.
Examples include hemophilia and color blindness.
Define genotype-environment correlations.
The interaction between an individual’s genetic makeup and their environment.
This can influence behavior, personality, and development.
What is epigenetics?
The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence.
Epigenetic changes can be influenced by environmental factors.
Define behavioral genetics.
The field that examines the role of genetics in human behavior.
It explores how traits and behaviors can be inherited.
What is a blastocyst?
A hollow ball of cells formed in the early development of an embryo.
It is the stage that implants into the uterine wall.
What is a trophoblast?
The outer layer of cells in a blastocyst that provides nutrients to the embryo.
It eventually forms part of the placenta.
Define proximodistal growth.
Growth that occurs from the center of the body outward.
This pattern is seen in motor development.
Define cephalocaudal growth.
Growth that proceeds from the head downward.
Infants gain control over their head and face before their legs.
What is the neural plate?
A thickened region of the ectoderm that gives rise to the nervous system.
It forms during early embryonic development.
What is myelin?
A fatty substance that surrounds nerve fibers and increases the speed of nerve impulses.
Myelination is crucial for proper nervous system function.
What is ectopic pregnancy?
A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.
It can be life-threatening and requires medical intervention.
Define preterm birth.
Birth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation.
Preterm infants may face various health challenges.
What is placenta previa?
A condition where the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix.
It can cause bleeding during pregnancy and delivery.
What are types of teratogens?
Agents that cause malformation of an embryo or fetus, including:
* Drugs
* Alcohol
* Infections
* Radiation
Teratogens can have significant effects on fetal development.
What is amniocentesis?
A medical procedure used to obtain amniotic fluid for genetic testing.
It can help detect chromosomal abnormalities.
What is an ultrasound?
A diagnostic imaging technique that uses sound waves to visualize the fetus.
It is commonly used during pregnancy for monitoring development.
What is chorionic villus sampling?
A prenatal test that involves taking a sample of tissue from the placenta.
It is used to test for genetic disorders.
List the stages of labor.
- Early labor
- Active labor
- Transition
- Delivery of the baby
- Delivery of the placenta
Each stage has distinct characteristics and timing.
What is a cesarean section?
A surgical procedure to deliver a baby through an incision in the abdomen and uterus.
It may be planned or performed in emergencies.
What is an episiotomy?
A surgical cut made in the perineum during childbirth to facilitate delivery.
It is less commonly performed today due to risks and alternatives.
Define anoxia.
A condition of insufficient oxygen supply to the body or a region of the body.
Anoxia during birth can lead to serious complications.
What does preterm mean?
Born before 37 weeks of gestation.
Preterm infants may require specialized care.
Define low birth weight.
A birth weight of less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
It can be associated with various health risks.
What does small-for-date mean?
A term used to describe infants whose birth weight is below the expected weight for their gestational age.
This condition can indicate underlying health issues.
