Exam 2 Flashcards
amnion
A watertight membrane that surrounds the developing embryo, regulating its temperature and cushioning it against injuries.
anencephaly
Condition in which the top of the neural tube fails to close and the main portion of the brain above the brain stem fails to develop properly.
anoxia
A lack of sufficient oxygen to the brain that may result in neurological damage or death.
adrenarche
A period of increased production of adrenal hormones, starting around 6–8 years of age, that normally precedes increased production of gonadal hormones associated with puberty.
androgens
Male hormones that help trigger the adolescent growth spurt and the development of the male sex organs, secondary sex characteristics, and sexual motivation.
andropause
The slower and less-dramatic male counterpart of menopause, characterized by decreasing levels of testosterone and symptoms that include low libido, fatigue and lack of energy, erection problems, memory problems, and loss of pubic hair.
antioxidant
Vitamins C, E, and similar substances that may increase longevity, although not for long, by inhibiting the free radical activity associated with oxidation and in turn preventing age-related diseases.
avoidant
relating to or denoting a type of personality or behavior characterized by the avoidance of intimacy or social interaction.
Avoidant attachment
An insecure infant caregiver bond or other intimate relationship characterized by little separation anxiety and a tendency to avoid or ignore the attachment object upon reunion.
attachment
A strong affectional tie that binds a person to an intimate companion and is characterized by affection and a desire to maintain proximity.
Attachment theory
The theory of close relationships developed by Bowlby and Ainsworth and grounded in ethological theory (with psychoanalytic theory and cognitive theory); it says that close emotional bonds such as parent-child attachments are biologically based and contribute to species survival.
blastocyst
A hollow sphere of about 100 to 150 cells that the zygote forms by rapid cell division as it moves through the fallopian tube.
chorion
A membrane that surrounds the amnion and becomes attached to the uterine lining to gather nourishment for the embryo.
couvade
Sympathetic pregnancy, or the experiencing by fathers of some of the same physiological symptoms their pregnant partners experience (for example, bloating, weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, and nausea).
critical period
A defined period in the development of an organism when it is particularly sensitive to certain environmental influences; outside this period, the same influences will have far less effect.
cephalocaudal principle
The principle that growth proceeds from the head (cephalic region) to the tail (caudal region).
companionate love
In Sternberg’s triangular theory of love, affectionate love characterized by high intimacy and commitment but low passion.
consummate love
In Sternberg’s triangular theory of love, love with high levels of all three components of love: passion, intimacy, and decision/commitment.
differentiation
In brain development, the progressive diversification of cells that results in their taking on different characteristics and functions.
Disorganized–disoriented attachment
An insecure infant–caregiver bond, common among abused children, that combines features of the resistant and avoidant attachment styles and is characterized by the infant’s dazed response to reunion and confusion about whether to approach or avoid the caregiver.
emotion regulation
The processes involved in initiating, maintaining, and altering emotional responses.
emotional competence
Mastery of emotions in terms of appropriate expression of emotions, understanding of emotions and what triggers them, and ability to regulate emotions.
emotional display rules
Cultural rules specifying what emotions should and should not be expressed under what circumstances (for example, “look pleased when you receive a lousy gift”).
endocrine glands
A type of gland that secretes chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream. Endocrine glands play critical roles in stimulating growth and regulating bodily functions.
error theories of aging
Theories of aging that call attention to haphazard processes that cause damage or errors in cells to accumulate and organ systems to deteriorate. Contrast with programmed theories of aging.
estrogen
The female hormone responsible for the development of the breasts, the female sex organs, and secondary sex characteristics and for the beginning of menstrual cycles.
embryonic period
Second phase of prenatal development, lasting from the third through the eighth prenatal week, during which the major organs and anatomical structures begin to develop.
fetal alcohol syndrome
A group of symptoms commonly observed in the offspring of mothers who use alcohol heavily during pregnancy, including a small head, widely spaced eyes, and mental retardation.
fetal period
The third phase of prenatal development, lasting from the ninth prenatal week until birth; during this period, the major organ systems begin to function effectively and the fetus grows rapidly.
fetal programming
Processes through which the prenatal environment affects the genetic unfolding of the embryo/fetus and its physiologic functions in ways that can influence health and mental health much later in life.
free radicals
Chemically unstable byproducts of metabolism that have an unpaired electron and react with other molecules to produce toxic substances that damage cells and contribute to aging.
germinal period
First phase of prenatal development, lasting about 2 weeks from conception until the developing organism becomes attached to the wall of the uterus.
Hayflick limit
The estimate that human cells can double only 50 times, plus or minus 10, and then will die.
homogamy
Basis for mate selection centered on similarity between partners in demographic and personal characteristics. Contrast with complementarity.