Unit 4 - Developmental Psychology Flashcards
Developmental Psychology
The study of how people continually develop physically, cognitively, and socially
Continuity (issue)
Is development a continuous process or does it happen in stages?
Nature vs. Nurture (issue)
How do genetics and the environment shape/influence development?
Stability (issue)
Are personality traits changeable over time?
Zygotes
A fertilized egg cell that enters a 2 week period of rapid cell division, becomes an Embryo
Embryo
A developing human person from 2 weeks to 8 weeks after fertilization
Fetus
A developing human person from 9 weeks to birth
Teratogens
Harmful substances such as chemicals, viruses, and drugs that damage an embryo or fetus during prenatal development
Fetal Alchohol Syndrome (FAS)
Physical and Cognitive abnormalities caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking
Rooting reflex
A reflex in babies that automatically turns the face towards a stimulus and causes sucking/rooting motions with the mouth
Habituation
An infant’s decreased response to a repeated stimulation
Maturation
Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior
Cognition
Mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Schemas
A concept used to organize and interpret information or experiences
Assimilate (part of schema’s function)
Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas
Accommodate (part of schema’s function)
Adjusting schemas to incorporate new information or experiences
Sensorimotor Stage
Experiencing the world through senses and actions
From ages 0-2
Pre-operational Stage
The stage during which a child learns to use language and how to represent objects with words and images, but doesn’t’ use logical reasoning
From ages 2-7
Concrete Operational Stage
The stage of cognitive development during which children gain mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete concepts/events
From ages 7-11
Formal Operational Stage
The stage of cognitive development during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts
From ages 12-death
Object Permanence
The awareness of an object’s existence when it isn’t perceived
Develops in Sensorimotor Stage
Conservation
The principle that properties like mass, volume and quantity remain the same despite changes in form
Develops in Pre-operational Stage
Symbolic thinking
A type of thinking in which symbols or internal images are used to represent object, people, and events
Develops in Pre-operational Stage
Egocentrism
The inability to differentiate between other people’s points of view
Develops in Pre-operational Stage
Theory of Mind
The ability to infer/form ideas about mental states of other people and yourself
Develops in Pre-operational Stage
Stranger Anxiety
The ability to evaluate people as unfamiliar and possibly threatening
Attachment
An emotional bond between two people
Critical Period
A period after birth when exposure to certain events creates proper development
Imprinting
The process by which animals from attachments during a critical period very early in life, doesn’t apply to people
Secure Attachment
Attachment style in which infants are able to explore new environments comfortably, are upset when their caregiver leaves, and happy when their caregiver returns
Insecure Attachment
Attachment style in which infants don’t explore very much in new environments, and show little emotion when their caregiver leaves or returns
Temperament
A person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
Basic Trust
A sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy
Self-Concept
An understanding and assessment of self
Authoritarian parenting style
Imposing rules and expecting obediance
Permissive parenting style
Submitting to children’s desires
Authoritative parenting style
Both demanding and responsive to their children
Adolescence
The transition period from childhood to adulthood
Puberty
The time when people develop sexually
Primary sex characteristics
Body structures that make sexual reproduction possible
Secondary sex characteristics
Non-reproductive sexual characteristics
Pre-conventional morality
A focus on self interest, and obeying rules to avoid punishment or gain concrete awards
Seen in little kids
Conventional morality
Caring for others and upholding laws and social rules
Seen in adolescents
Post-conventional morality
Using abstract reasoning, and judging actions as right because they flow from people’s self-defined basic ethical principles
Seen in young adults and onwards
Identity
The sense of self
Social Identity
The aspect of self concept that focuses on social memberships in groups
Trust vs Mistrust (stage of development)
If needs are met, infants develop a sense of basic trust
Erikson’s 1st stage of development
Ages 0-1
Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt
Children are focused on developing a greater sense of self-control and learn to exercise their will
Erikson’s 2nd stage of development
Ages 1-3
Initiative vs Guilt
Children learn to initiate tasks and assert their power and control through social interaction
Erikson’s 3rd stage of development
Ages 3-6
Industry vs Inferiority
Children develop a sense of competence and pride in their abilities by applying themselves to tasks, and forming a strong self-concept
Erikson’s 4th stage of development
Ages 6-puberty
Identity vs Role Confusion
Teenagers work at refining a sense of self by exploring who they are as individuals through testing roles and integrating them to form a single identity
Erikson’s 5th stage of development
Ages teens-20’s
Intimacy vs Isolation
Young adults face challenges of forming close relationships with others and gaining the capacity for intimate love
Erikson’s 6th stage of development
Ages 20’s - 40’s
Generativity vs Self-Absorption
People discover a sense of contributing to the world
Erikson’s 7th stage of development
Ages 40’s - 60’s
Integrity vs Despair
Reflecting on life, people may feel happy or regretful
Erikson’s 8th stage of development
Ages 60’s - death
Intimacy
The ability to form close, loving relationships
Emerging Adulthood
A transitional period between adolescent dependance and full independence and responsible adulthood
Menopause
The time of natural cessation (ending) of menstruation, also refers to biological changes a woman experiences as the ability to reproduce declines
Cross-sectional studies
A study in which people of different ages are compared with each other
Longitudinal studies
A research in which the same people are restudied and retested over time
Crystallized intelligence
Accumulated knowledge and verbal skills, increases with age
Fluid intelligence
The ability to reason quickly and abstractly
Social Clock
The culturally preferred timing of social events suck as marriage, parenthood, and retirement
