Unit 1 (exam 1) Flashcards
produce changes in an individual’s physical nature. Genes inherited from parents, the development of the brain, height and weight gains, changes in motor skills, nutrition, exercise, the hormonal changes of puberty, and cardiovascular decline are all examples
biological processes
holds that development reflects the influence of several environmental systems. The theory identifies five environmental systems: microsystem(setting in which the individual lives(family, peers, school, neighborhood)), mesosystem(relations between microsystems or connections between contexts. family experiences to school experiences, school to church experiences, family to peer(parents reject child, child has hard time developing positive relations with teachers)), exosystem(consists of links between a social setting in which the individual does not have an active role and the individual’s immediate context(child’s home experience, influenced by mother’s work experience)), macrosystem(involves the culture in which individuals live(culture=behavioral patterns beliefs and products passed down & cross-cultural info about generality of development)), and chronosystem(consists of the patterning of environmental events and transitions over the life course, as well as sociohistorical circumstances(divorce, opportunities for women to have a career have changed since the 1960s.))
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory
an in-depth look at a single individual. (done when for either practical or ethical reasons, the unique aspects of an individual’s life cannot be duplicated and tested in other individuals.)
case study
refer to changes in an individual’s thinking, intelligence, and language. (Watching a colorful mobile swinging above the crib, putting together a two-word sentence, memorizing a poem, imagining what it would be like to be a movie star, and solving a crossword puzzle all involve)
cognitive processes
are due to a person’s time of birth, era, or generation but not to actual age. (In life-span development research)(important because they can powerfully affect the dependent measures in a study ostensibly concerned with age.)
cohort effects
focuses on the degree to which development involves either gradual, cumulative change or distinct stages. (In terms of cumulative change an oak tree grows from seedling to giant tree. In terms of distinct stages, a child’s first word, seemingly abrupt or discontinuous, is actually result of weeks and months of growth and practice.
continuity-discontinuity issue
a number based on a statistical analysis that is used to describe the degree of association between two variables.
correlation coefficient
the goal is to describe the strength of the relationship between two or more events or characteristics. The more strongly the two events are correlated, the more effectively we can predict one event from the other.
correlational research
a research strategy that simultaneously compares individuals of different ages. Might include three groups of children: 5-year olds, 8 year olds, 25 year olds etc. (compared with respect to dependent variables like IQ, memory, peer relations, etc.)
cross-sectional approach
encompasses the behavior patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a particular group of people that are passed on from generation to generation
culture
aims to observe and record behavior (for example, a researcher might observe the extent to which people are altruistic or aggressive toward each other)
descriptive research
the pattern of movement or change that begins at conception and continues through the human life span
development
does not follow any one theoretical approach but rather presents what are considered the best features of each theory. (In this way, it represents the study o f development as it actually exists-with different theorists making different assumptions, stressing different problems, and using different strategies to discover information.
eclectic theoretical orientation
recently there has been increased interest in the transition between adolescence and adulthood, a transition that has been referred to as__.(occurs approximately from 18 to 25 years of age and is a time of considerable exploration and experimentation, especially in the areas of identity, careers, and lifestyles.
emerging adulthood
eight stages of development unfold as we go through life. At each stage, a unique developmental task confronts individuals with a crisis that must be resolved. (trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame and doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority, identity versus identity confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, integrity versus despair)
Erikson’s theory
rooted in cultural heritage, nationality, race, religion, and language. (African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans)
ethnicity
the study of the behavior of animals in their natural habitat.(stresses that behavior is strongly influenced by biology, is tied to evolution, and is characterized by critical or sensitive periods(during which the presence or absence of certain experiences has a long-lasting influence on individuals))
ethology
a carefully regulated procedure in which one or more factors believed to influence the behavior being studied are manipulated while all other factors are held constant.
experiment
the characteristics of people as females and males, is another important aspect of sociocultural contexts.
gender
specific assertions and predictions that can be tested
hypothesis
emphasizes that individuals manipulate information, monitor it, and strategize about it.(Does not describe development stage-like. instead individuals develop a gradually increasing capacity for processing information, which allows them to acquire increasingly complex knowledge and skills)
information processing theory
a controlled setting where many of the complex factors of the “real world” are absent.
laboratory
views development as lifelong, multidimensional, multidirectional, plastic, multidisciplinary, and contextual, and as a process that involves growth, maintenance, and regulation of loss.
life-span perspective
a research strategy in which the same individuals are studied over a period of time, usually several years or more (70 year time span)
longitudinal approach
means observing behavior in real-world settings and making no effort to manipulate or control the situation.
naturalistic observation
concerns the extent to which development is influences by nature and by nurture. Nature refers to an organism’s biological inheritance, nurture to its environmental experiences.
nature-nurture issue
unusual occurrences that have a major impact on the individual’s life. These events do not happen to all people, and when they do occur they can influence people in different ways. (death of parent, teen pregnancy, fire, lottery)
nonnormative life events
common to people of a particular age group. These influences include biological processes such as puberty and menopause, beginning formal education, and retirement.
normative age-graded influences
common to people of a particular generation because of historical circumstances. For example, in their youth AMerican baby boomers shared the experience of the cuban missle crisis, the assassination of J.F.K., and the beatles invasion.
normative history-graded influences
states that children go through four stages of cognitive development as they actively construct their understanding of the world.(two processes underlie this cognitive construction of the world: organization and adaptation. (sensorimotor(symbolic thought), preoperational(words and images), concrete operational(reason logically and classify objects), formal operational(abstract, idealistic and logical))
Piaget’s theory
brain, use one hemisphere to be able to do any type of function. The ability for the brain to change through new experiences. (Create new neurons and networks, adapt and grow over time, influenced by various factors such as genetics, environment, and learning)(the ability to materials or living tissues to change shape or function under stress or stimulation)
plasticity
describe development primarily in terms of unconscious processes that are heavily colored by emotion. (emphasize that behavior is merely surface characteristic and that a true understanding of development requires analyzing the symbolic means of behavior and the deep inner workings of the mind.
psychoanalytic theories
hold that development can be described in terms of behaviors learned through interactions with our surroundings.
social cognitive theory
refers to a person’s position within society based on occupational, educational, and economic characteristics.
socioeconomic status (SES)
involve changes in an individual’s relationships with other people, in emotional regulation, and in personality.(infant smile in response to parent’s touch)
socioemotional processes
involving the degree to which early traits and characteristics persist or change over time.
stability-change issue
has uniform procedures for administration and scoring. (allow performance comparisons)
standardized test
an interrelated, coherent set of ideas that helps to explain phenomena and make predictions
theory
a sociocultural cognitive theory that emphasizes how culture and social interaction guide cognitive development. (learn from knowledgeable others, scaffolding, zone of proximal development)
Vygotsky’s theory
investigators seek to discover whether the behavior and psychological characteristics of adopted children are more like those of their adoptive parents, who have provided a home environment, or more like those of their biological parents, who have contributed heredity.
adoption study
widely used to assess the health of newborns at one and five minutes after birth. (heart rate, respiratory, muscle tone, body color, and reflex. 0-2 scoring. 7-10=good, 5-maybe developmental difficulties, 3& under-emergency
apgar scale
the field that seeks to discover the influence of heredity and environment on individual differences in human traits and development(twin studies and adoptive families
behavior genetics
the formation of a connection, especially a physical bond, between parents and the newborn in the period shortly after birth. the process of nurturing social connection, attachment that develops between parents and children. (emotions of affection and trust)
bonding
threadlike structures made up of deoxyribonucleic acid
chromosomes
a complex molecule with a double helix shape that contains genetic information
DNA
a caregiver who provides continuous physical, emotional, and educational support for the mother before, during, and after childbirth. remain with parents through labor, attends a child birthing woman. (greek-a woman who helps)
doula
a chromosomally transmitted form of intellectual disability, caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21.
down syndrome
the period of prenatal development that occurs from two to eight weeks after conception. During this period, the rate of cell differentiation intensifies, support systems for cells form, and organs develop.
embryonic period
emphasizes that development is the result of an ongoing, bidirectional interchange between heredity and environment.
epigenetic view
emphasizes the importance of adaptation, reproduction, and “survival of the fittest” in shaping behavior.
evolutionary psychology
the process of a single sperm cell from a male unites with an ovum in a female’s fallopian tube
fertilization
a cluster of abnormalities and problems that appear in the offspring of mothers who drink alcohol heavily during pregnancy. (facial deformities, defective limbs, heart, learning problems)
fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)
lasts about seven months, is the prenatal period that extends from two months, after conception until birth in typical pregnancies. Growth and development continue their dramatic course during this time
fetal period
a genetic disorder that results from an abnormality in the x chromosome, which becomes constricted and often breaks. (more frequent in males) (intellectual disability, autism, a learning disability, or short attention span)
fragile x syndrome (FXS)
the interaction of a specific measured variation in DNA and a specific measured aspect of the environment
Gene x Environment (G x E) interaction
units of hereditary information composed of DNA. Direct cells to reproduce themselves and manufacture the proteins that maintain life
genes
a person’s genetic heritage; the actual genetic material
genotype
the period of prenatal development that takes place in the first two weeks after conception. (includes the creation of the fertilized egg (zygote), cell division, and the attachment of the multicellular organism to the uterine wall.
germinal period
involves skin-to-skin contact in which the baby, only wearing a diaper, is held upright against the parent’s bare chest(2-3 hours a day, extended in early infancy)
kangaroo care
a chromosomal disorder in which males have an extra x chromosome, making them xxy instead of xy. (undeveloped testes, enlarged breasts, and become tall)
Klinefelter syndrome
weight less than five pounds and eight ounces at birth
low birth weight infants
a specialized form of cell division that occurs to form eggs and sperm (or gametes)
meiosis
cellular reproduction in which the cell’s nucleus duplicates itself with two new cells being formed, each containing the same DNA as the parent cell, arranged in the same 23 pairs of chromosomes
mitosis
a childbirth method in which no drugs are given to relieve pain or assist in the birth process. The mother and her partner are taught to use breathing methods and relaxation techniques during delivery.
natural childbirth
nerve cells that handle information processing at the cellular level in the brain. (born with about 100 billion, in prenatal development more to specific locations and start to become connected)
neurons
organ formation that takes place during the first two months of prenatal development
organogenesis
the way an individual’s genotype is expressed in observed and measurable characteristics
phenotype
involves a major depressive episode that typically occurs about four weeks after delivery . (have strong feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair that for at least a 2 week period.)
postpartum depression
the period after childbirth when the mother adjusts, both physically and psychologically to the process of childbearing. This period lasts for about 6 weeks or until her body has completed its adjustment and returned to a nearly prepregnant state.
postpartum period
this childbirth strategy is similar to natural childbirth but includes a special breathing technique to control pushing in the final stages of labor and more detailed anatomy and physiology instruction. (developed by French obstetrician Lamaze.)
prepared childbirth
are born three weeks or more before the pregnancy has reached its full-termin other words, 35 or fewer weeks after conception.
preterm infants
any agent that can potentially cause a birth defect or negatively alter cognitive and behavioral outcomes
teratogen
a chromosomal disorder in females in which either x chromosome is missing, making the person xo instead of xx, or part of one x chromosome is deleted. (short in stature, webbed neck)
turner syndrome
a study in which the behavioral similarity of identical twins is compared with the behavioral similarity of fraternal twins
twin study
a chromosomal disorder in which the male has an extra y chromosome. (cognitive defects and more externalizing and internalizing problems)
xyy syndrome
the fertilized egg ( a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes; a fertilized ovum.
zygote
Piagetian concept of adjusting schemes to fit new information and experiences
accommodation
piagetian concept of using existing schemes to deal with new information or experiences
assimilation
developmental sequence in which the earliest growth always occurs at the top-the head-with physical growth in size, weight, and feature differentiation gradually working from top to bottom
cephalocaudal pattern
also called parentese, language spoken in a higher pitch, slower tempo, and with more exaggerated intonation than normal, with simple words and sentences
child-directed speech
recovery of a habituated response after a change in stimulation
dishabituation
a mechanism that Piaget proposed to explain how children shift from one stage of thought to the next
equilibration
involve more finely tuned movements, such as finger decterity.
fine motor skills
skills that involve large-muscle activities, such as moving one’s arms and walking.
gross motor skills
the ability to produce and comprehend an endless number of meaningful sentences using a finite set of words and rules
infinite generativity
the ability to relate and integrate information from two or more sensory modalities, such as vision and hearing
intermodal perception
a form of communication whether spoken, written, or signed, that is based on a system of symbols. consists of the words used by a community and the rules for varying and combining them.
language
the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched.
object permanence
the first of Piaget’s stages, which lasts from birth to about 2 years of age; during this stage, infants construct an understanding of the world by coordinating sensory experiences with motoric actions.
sensorimotor stage
the use of short, precise words without grammatical markers such as articles, auxiliary verbs, and other connectives. Not limited to two words.
telegraphic speech
A method developed by Fantz to determine whether infants can distinguish one stimulus from another by measuring the length of time they attend to different stimuli.
visual preference method
as the infant or child seeks to construct an understanding of the world, the developing brain creates__. In Piaget’s theory, actions or mental representations that organize knowledge.
schemas
occurs when information interacts with sensory receptors-the eyes, ears, tongue, nostrils, and skin.(the product of the interaction between the sensory receptors)
sensation
the name given to decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations of the stimulus. (decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations of the stimulus.
habituation
the collection of neural fibers that connects to the right and left hemispheres of the brain, permits them to communicate, and coordinate processing.
corpus callosum
the specialization of function in one hemisphere of the cerebral cortex or the other
lateralization
the process of encasing axons with fat cells, begins prenatally and continues throughout childhood, even into adolescence.
myelination
developmental perspective in which biological processes and environmental conditions influence the brain’s development; the brain has plasticity and is context dependent; and cognitive development is closely linked with brain development.
neuroconstructivist view
proliferation of new immature neurons during 5th week. 200,000 neurons every min.
neurogenesis
most active during the first 5 weeks of life in the sensorimotor cortex and subcortical parts of the brain because these parts of the brain are important for other areas of the brain to connect to for normal functioning. (creation of new synapses, new connections, happens during whole life of a human being, most active is the first weeks of life.)
synaptogenesis
a sequence in which growth starts at the center of the body and moves toward the extremities. (ex. onfants control the muscles of their trunkand arms before they control their hands, and they use their whole hands before they control several fingers.
proximodistal pattern
the destruction of unimportant neurons to increase the processing speed of the nervous system (not negative its efficient)
pruning
the interpretation of what is sensed. (air waves that contact ears might be interpreted as noise or as musical sounds.
perception
a condition that occurs when an infant stops breathing, usually during the night, and suddenly dies without apparent cause (one main cause of infant death more than 2,000 cases annually.)
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
a life-threatening injury that occurs when an infant is forcefully shaken back and forth, a motion that ruptures blood vessels in the brain and breaks neural connections.
shaken baby syndrome
built-in reactions to stimuli, and they govern the newborn’s movements. (genetically carried survival mechanisms that are automatic and involuntary)
reflexes
important accomplishments in gross motor skills during the first year, culminating in the ability to walk easily. (1) prone, lift head, 2)Prone, chest up, use arms for support, 3)roll over 4)support some weight with legs, 5)sit without support, 6)stand with support, 7)pull self to stand 8) walk using furniture for support, 9)stand alone easily 10)walk alone easily
motor milestones
