Unit 2: Developmental Psychology Flashcards
zygote
stage in prenatal development from conception to 2 weeks
embryo
stage in prenatal development from 2 to 9 weeks, wherein organs and primary sex characteristics begin to develop
fetus
stage in prenatal development from 9 weeks to birth
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS):
): 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
rooting reflex
infant reflex wherein the baby will, when touched on the cheek, turn its head toward the direction of the touch
sucking reflex
when an object is placed in the baby’s mouth, baby will begin to suck on it
grasping reflex
when touched on the palm of the hand, a baby will wrap his fingers tightly around the stimulus
Moro reflex
infant startle response; when alarmed, the baby will fling his limbs outward, then retract them and hold them close to his body
Babinski reflex
when stroked on the bottom of the foot, a baby will spread its toes
Jean Piaget
Cognitive developmental theorist; most famous for his 4-stage model of cognitive development
object permanence
awareness that things continue to exist even though they are not perceived; develops at 6-8 months of age
attachment
an emotional tie with another person; shown in infants by their seeking closeness with caregivers and displaying distress upon separation
stranger anxiety
fear of people other than those with whom the infant is familiar; appears around 8 months and peaks at 13 months
Harry Harlow
presented infant monkeys with a choice between two artificial mothers; the monkeys preferred the warm, cloth mothers to cold ones with food
Mary Ainsworth
: researcher who described attachment styles in infants as measured by the “strange situation” test
secure attachment
demonstrated when infants seem to view their caregiver as a “secure base” for exploration, seeking closeness to him/her and being upset at separation.
strange situation
test developed by Mary Ainsworth to assess attachment style in infants; involves separation and reunion with a parent
anxious attachment
demonstrated by babies who seem constantly afraid of potential separation from the caregiver; they cling to caregivers in strange settings and display intense distress upon separation
avoidant attachment
demonstrated by babies who seem to avoid contact and closeness with caregivers
Lawrence Kohlberg
used moral dilemmas to assess moral thinking in children; most well-known for his description of levels of morality (preconventional, conventional, postconventional)
Sex
either of the two categories (male or female) into which most organisms are divided
Gender
in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female
Gender Roles
behaviors that tend to be associated with being male or female
Gender Identity
your identity as it is experienced with regard to your individuality as male or female
Gender-Schema Theory
the theory that children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male and female and that they adjust their behavior accordingly.
Androgyny
showing characteristics of both sexes
Sexual Orientation
: an enduring sexual attraction toward members of either one’s own sex (homosexual orientation) or the other sex (heterosexual orientation).
Alfred Kinsey:
regarded by some as the father of the scientific study of human sexuality. Published a series of reports which described common sexual behaviors in the US
Homophobia
prejudice against (fear or dislike of) homosexual people and homosexuality
intersexed
Condition in which a person’s biological sex is ambiguous, often combining aspects of both male and female anatomy and physiology
transgendered
Condition in which a person’s psychological gender identity conflicts with his or her biological sex.
transsexual
A transgendered person who undergoes surgery and hormone treatments to physically transform his or her body into the opposite sex.
