Module 3.2

Question 1

Developmental psychology

Answer 1

the branch of psychology that studies the changes—physical, mental, and behavioral—that occur from conception to old age and investigates the various biological, neurobiological, genetic, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors that affect development throughout the lifespan

Question 2

Cross sectional study

Answer 2

research that involves different groups of people who do not share the same variable of interest (like the variable you’re focusing on) but who do share other relevant variables

Question 3

Longitudinal study

Answer 3

the study of a variable or group of variables in the same cases or participants over a period of time, sometimes several years

Question 4

Teratogens

Answer 4

an agent that induces developmental abnormalities in a fetus

Question 5

Genetic mutations

Answer 5

a permanent change in the genetic material of an organism

Question 6

Physical milestones

Answer 6

behaviors or physical skills seen in infants and children as they grow and develop. Rolling over, crawling, walking, and talking are all considered milestones

Question 7

Psychological milestones

Answer 7

these would include cognitive, social/emotional, and communication milestones

Question 8

Fine motor skills

Answer 8

describing activities or skills that require coordination of small muscles to control small, precise movements, particularly in the hands and face; examples include handwriting, drawing, cutting, and manipulating small objects

Question 9

Gross motor skills

Answer 9

describing activities or skills that use large muscles to move the trunk or limbs and control posture to maintain balance. Examples of gross motor skills include waving an arm, walking, hopping, and running

Question 10

Reflexes

Answer 10

any of a number of automatic, unlearned, relatively fixed responses to stimuli that do not require conscious effort and that often involve a faster response than might be possible if a conscious evaluation of the input were required

Question 11

Rooting reflex

Answer 11

an automatic, unlearned response of a newborn to a gentle stimulus (like the touch of a finger) applied to the corner of the mouth or to the cheek, in which the infant turns their head and makes sucking motions

Question 12

Visual cliff

Answer 12

an apparatus that demonstrates an early ability in infants to perceive depth and an innovative way to assess infant responses

Question 13

Critical periods (in infancy)

Answer 13

an early stage in life when an organism is especially open to specific learning, emotional, or socializing experiences that occur as part of normal development and will not recur at a later stage

Question 14

Imprinting

Answer 14

they will follow the first object they encounter as a means of survival

Question 15

Puberty

Answer 15

the stage of development when the genital organs reach maturity and secondary sex characteristics begin to appear, signaling the start of adolescence

Question 16

Primary sex characteristics

Answer 16

testes in males, ovaries in females are directly involved in reproduction of the species

Question 17

Secondary sex characteristics

Answer 17

are features not directly concerned with reproduction, such as voice quality, facial hair, and breast size

Question 18

Menarche

Answer 18

the first incidence of menstruation in a female, marking the onset of puberty

Question 19

Spermarche

Answer 19

a male’s first ejaculation of semen

Question 20

Menopause

Answer 20

the biological stage of life in which reproductive capacity declines and finally ceases; this results from changes in the levels of estrogens and progesterone