Human Development Flashcards
What is the name for the prenatal stage at 0-2 weeks
zygote
What is implantation
attachment to lining of uterus
What is a blastocyst
a cell in germinal stage consisting of inner and outer layer of cells
What is the name for prenatal stage at 2-8 weeks
embryo
Is there a heartbeat in an embryo
yes
What is the name for the prenatal stage beyond 8 weeks
fetus
At what point in the prenatal stage are motor movements and senses gained
fetal stage
What is a teratogen
any agent that produces a birth defect
What is synaptogenesis
formation of new synaptic connections
What is synaptic pruning
loss of weak connections
What is the critical period
when certain experiences are necessary for proper development
What does the critical period emphasize
the important of exposure to varrying stimuli in infants
What did the cats and stripes study test
the importance of varying stimuli in infants to prove the importance of the critical period
What is rooting reflex
stroke cheek of an infant and it will move its head toward the stimuli - looking for something to suck
What is moro reflex
sudden response to loud noise, sudden movement
What is grasping reflex
when an infants palm is stimulated, it grasps whatever object it is touching
What is maturation and how does it relate to development
maturation is the developed ability to carry out a function at a certain time frame in life
- relates to development because without maturation, these developed abilities are not possible
What system is well developed at birth
auditory
What system is not well-developed at birth
visual
What was Piaget’s insight
- children are not little adults
child learns through interacting with the world - trying to make sense of their experiences in new ways
What is a schema
A flexible concept or framework to make sense of information by organizing & interpreting
Trying to incorporate new information into a preconceived schema is called…
assimilation
Adjusting a schema to fit in new experiences is called…
accommodation
What is object permanence
awareness that an object is still present even though it is out of sight
When is object permanence developed
8-12 months
What age is the sensory motor stage
0-2
What age is the pre operational stage
2-6
What is conservation and when is it learned
the understanding that volume remains the same when moved from one place to another (ie. pouring water from one glass to another)
- develops in pre-operational stage
What theory is somewhat disproven in the preoperational stage
Piaget’s ideas
What do children in the pre operational stage lack
theory of mind
- do not understand that others around them also have mental states
What age is the concrete operational stage
7-11
At what point do children understand conservation and reversibility
concrete operational stage
What age is the formal operational stage
12-adult
At what stage can children begin to think abstractly or hypothetically
formal operational stage
What are some confusions about Piaget’s theory
- it is now believed children develop operations at earlier ages
- development is a continuous process
- understanding development is important for caregiving
In pre-conventional mortality, what types of stimuli influence children to behave
avoidance of punishment
persuasion of reward
In conventional morality, what types of stimuli or actions influence behaviour
following rules simply because they are set in place
approval of actions that maintain social order
In post-conventional morality, what types of stimuli or actions influence behaviour
follow basic ethical principles
*very few individuals actually reach this stage…
Is social bonding preference or innate in nature
innate - study of monkeys separated from mother at birth proves this conclusion
What two men studied monkeys to determine the effects of social bonding
Harlow and Bowlby
What did Harlow determine about his study
monkeys separated from mothers look for replacement figures to be attached to
What did Bowlby determine about his study
orphans struggle without emotional security provided by maternal care
What are the 3 functions of attachment
proximity maintenance
safe haven
secure base
What is proximity maintenance
seeking of physical closeness
What is safe haven
returning for comfort when in need of support
What is secure base
using an attachment figure as a foundation for confident play and exploration
What occurs in a secure attachment style
infants trust a responsive caregiver, easily comforted, and comfortable to explore
What occurs in anxious attachment style
infants cling to inconsistent caregiver, protest extremely when needs aren’t met
What occurs in avoidant attachment style
infant appears detached from unresponsive or inconsistent caregiver
What occurs in disorganized attachment style
infants alternate between wanting to get away and wanting to be close
What attachment style is low avoidance and low anxiety
secure
What attachment style is low avoidance and high anxiety
anxious/preoccupied
What attachment style is high avoidance and low anxiety
avoidant/dismissive
What attachment style is high avoidance and high anxiety
fearful (disorganized in children)
What two attachment styles are prominent in adults
secure and insecure
What does Erikson’s Psychosocial Development explain
overlapping stages that extend from infancy to old age that we need to resolve
- the way we resolve these stages impacts personality
What part of the brain controls human development
hypothalamus - released hormones like testosterone and estrogen
What are primary sex traits
changes in the body DIRECTLY related to reproduction
ie. menstruation
What are secondary sex traits
changes in the body as a result of puberty/maturation NOT directly related to reproduction
ie. voice change
What does the term menarche mean
the onset of menstruation
What does the term spermarche mean
the onset of ejaculation
How is adolescence a major time for brain development
frontal lobes undergo a massive increase in myelination, which speeds up neural firing
What is cognitive reframing
looking at our experiences from a different “frame”
What is the ability to delay gratification
putting off immediate temptations to focus on longer term goals
Why do adolescence default to strong reward impulses compared to adults
kids have less developed frontal lobes
Who has the most influential research on moral reasoning development
Kohlberg
What was Kohlberg’s theory
peoples reasons evolve as they grow up and allow them to think in more complex ways - development of moral reasoning
At the pre conventional level of morality, people mainly focus on…
self-interest and avoiding punishment
At the conventional level of morality, people mainly focus on…
laws and rules set in place my society
At the post-conventional level of morality, people mainly focus on…
abstract principles such as justice and fairness
What does the social intuitionist model say
moral decisions in every day life are based on how we feel, not how we think
Where do roots of good moral behaviour stem from
relationships and trust during infancy and youth
- develop prefrontal cortex allowing for more complex and moral thought
What is identity defined by
a clear sense of who you are, who you should build relationships with, and your role in society
What did Erikson describe in relation to adolescence and relationships
described adolescence as a stage involving struggle of identity vs role confusion
What’s the difference between cliques and crowds
cliques: friendships within small groups
crowds: specifically labelled groupings of individuals based on identity and interests (ie. jocks, nerds, etc.)
Risk taking in adolescence may be excessive in comparison to other life stages, and some psychologists believe this can be attributed to
well-developed limbic areas responsible for reward, and underdeveloped prefrontal areas.
What stage of Eriksons theory fits into early adulthood
stage 6
What is the struggle in the 6th stage of Eriksons theory
intimacy and isolation
What is the struggle of the 7th stage of Eriksons theory (and what age range does it lie)
generatively vs stagnation
(adulthood)
What are the 4 horsemen of the (relationship) apocalypse
criticism
defensiveness
contempt
stonewalling
Define criticism: the first of the 4 horsemen
picking out flaws, expressing disappointments, correcting each other and making comments about the significant other’s friends/family
Define defensiveness: the second of the 4 horsemen
responding to perceived attacks with counter-attacks
Define contempt: the third of the 4 horsemen
dismissive eye rolls, sarcastic comments, cutting tone of voice, etc.
Define stonewalling: the fourth of the 4 horsemen
shutting down, verbally and emotionally
What is socioemotional selectivity theory
describes how older people have learned to select better experiences and positive relationships for themselves
What is the final stage in Eriksons theory, and what occurs in this stage
aging (65+)
- ego integrity vs despair
What causes neurodegenerative diseases in older people, such as Alzheimers
increased buildup of proteins that cluster in areas between neurons
- often referred to as plaques
- the groupings of proteins and neurons often gets called “neurofibrillary tangles”
Socioemotional selectivity theory describes how older adults
are better at paying attention to positive things, rather than excessively dwelling on the negatives
