Unit 11: Development Flashcards
Cross-Sectional Study
A study that involves multiple individuals from each age group.
Longitudinal Study
A study that involves the same group of individuals from beginning to end.
What are the problems found with Longitudinal Studies?
Money, drop-out rate, and death of the psychologist who was leading the study.
Ecological System
The theory that looks at a child’s development within the context of the system of relationships that form his or her environment.
Microsystem
Being the first and innermost circle, this is the environment that the child is born into, influencing their experiences directly (Ex: being born into a poor family).
Mesosystem
The second circle, representing the interconnections between the elements that surround the child (Ex: If the parent does not get along with the teacher, the child might suffer).
Exosystem
The third circle, involving links between social settings that do not involve the child (Ex: Parental fighting can change their interaction with the child).
Macrosystem
The fourth and outermost circle, this describes the overarching culture that influences all other systems, such as a child’s geographic location and ethnicity (Ex: Being an intellect likely means they will move to a better place, but will still be strangers in a richer society).
Chronosystem
Refers to changes in the child and the environment over time (Ex: Divorced parents can cause trauma, but the child can eventually get over it).
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD)
A medical condition in which body deformation or facial development or mental ability of a fetus is impaired because the mother drank alcohol while pregnant.
Cephalocaudal
Relating to the development path of a baby that goes from the head to the feet.
Proximodistal
Relating to the development path of a baby that goes from the center torso to outwards towards the head and limbs.
Rooting Reflex
A reflex found in a baby where it will turn towards and begin to suck on any object that touches its cheek.
Sucking & Swallowing Reflexes
Reflexes found in a baby where they are born with the ability to suck on an object and swallow liquids.
Grasping Reflex
A reflex found in a baby where they are born with the ability to grasp on any object that touches the palms of their hands.
Startle Reflex
A reflex found in a baby where any loud noise or sudden drop will cause a flexion of the legs and embracing of the arms, followed by crying.
Mary Ainsworth
An American developmental psychologist best known for her work in Attachment Theory.
Secure Attachment
When a child is left alone by their parent, they are upset, but then are satisfied when upon return.
Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment
The child is anxious even when their parent is near and protest when they leave, but are not satisfied when their parent returns.
Avoidant Attachment
The child has little physical contact with the parent and is not distressed when the parent leaves them.
Thomas and Chess
Two American Psychologists who conducted a longitudinal study on The Stability of Temperaments, finding that temperament at 3 months old is a fair predictor for temperament at 10 years old.
3 Month-old Temperament Results
40% of babies were easy
15% of babies were slow to warm up
10% of babies were difficult
35% of babies had a mixture of 2 or more
Keep in mind that these percentages might be skewed by bias towards parents having subjective rating of their own children.
Jerome Kagan
An American Psychologist who supported Thomas and Chess by finding that ~30% of babies were uninhibited (exploratory, not shy) and ~20% were inhibited (timid).
Diana Baumrind
An American Psychologist who is known for her studies on Parenting Styles.