Unit 4 Key Terms

Question 1

An approach to psychology which focuses on how behavior + mental processes are affected by and affect changes throughout lifespans.

Answer 1

Developmental psychology

Question 2

A discussion about whether biology or developmental factors have more of an impact on an individual’s behavior.

Answer 2

Nature-Nurture Controversy

Question 3

Whether developmental changes should be measured quantitatively or qualitatively.

Answer 3

Continuity-Discontinuity Controversy

Question 4

Whether individuals’ personality stays the same from birth to death or changes over time.

Answer 4

Stability-Change Controversy

Question 5

A time during development when a change or progression is easiest

Answer 5

Critical Period

Question 6

The development of a baby from embryo to birth

Answer 6

Prenatal development

Question 7

A fertilized egg, containing diploid chromosomes from both parents DNA, that undergoes a 2 week period of accelerated cell division.

Answer 7

Zygote

Question 8

The maturing group of dividing cells from 2 weeks to 2 months after fertilization; critical stage fro development.

Answer 8

Embryo

Question 9

The unborn human with specialized cells forming internal organs, limbs, and head.

Answer 9

Fetus

Question 10

Any substance that complicates normal pre-birth development, specifically during the embryonic period.

Answer 10

Teratogen

Question 11

A condition which develops in unborn babies who’s carrier consumes a large amount of alcohol while pregnant.

Answer 11

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Question 12

A newborn, under 28 days old, at the highest risk of dying.

Answer 12

Neonate

Question 13

Inborn involuntary responses to stimuli.

Answer 13

Reflex

Question 14

A reflex where an infant’s cheek is touched they will open their mouth and lean toward the side that was touched.

Answer 14

Rooting Reflex

Question 15

A reflex where something is placed in an infant’s hand and they wrap their hand around it.

Answer 15

Grasp Reflex

Question 16

A reflex where an infant feels like they’re falling and they fling out their arms with palms up.

Answer 16

Moro Reflex

Question 17

A phenomenon seen in children where they will have decreased responses to a stimulus after repeated exposures.

Answer 17

Habituation

Question 18

A stage of development that signals the start of adolescence, where genital organs develop and secondary sex characteristics appear.

Answer 18

Puberty

Question 19

Organs which develop during puberty which are directly involved in reproduction.

Answer 19

Primary Sex Characteristics

Question 20

Features not directly involved in reproduction but develop during puberty.

Answer 20

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Question 21

The first menstrual cycle at and average age of 12.

Answer 21

Menarche

Question 22

Beginning between ages 45 and 55; a transition in the menstrual cycle, marked at 12 months after a last period

Answer 22

Menopause

Question 23

Rules or categories developed in order to understand patterns, behavior, and other information.

Answer 23

Schema

Question 24

Processing new information and organizing it into an existing schema

Answer 24

Assimilation

Question 25

Processing new information and modifying existing schema

Answer 25

Accommodation

Question 26

A period of development (birth –> 2) where children use inborn abilities to obtain information about the environment

Answer 26

Sensorimotor Stage

Question 27

An understanding that objects still exist when not observed, usually developed in early childhood.

Answer 27

Object Permanence

Question 28

A period of development, toddler through age 7, where children begin to think more symbolically.

Answer 28

Preoperational Stage

Question 29

A characteristic of childhood development where the child is unable to understand that others don’t view the world the way they do.

Answer 29

Egocentrism

Question 30

A step in child development where children can make logical operations

Answer 30

Concrete Operational Stage

Question 31

An ability developed in early childhood where the child is able to understand that a quantity does not change despite changes in apparent size.

Answer 31

Conservation

Question 32

A developmental stage where a person is able to form hypothesis and possibilities.

Answer 32

Formal Operational Stage

Question 33

A period where instruction is most effective for learning.

Answer 33

Zone of Proximal Development

Question 34

A degrading brain disorder where memory and thinking skills are destroyed.

Answer 34

Alzheimers Disease

Question 35

How peoples’ sense of right and wrong develop and mature.

Answer 35

Moral Development

Question 36

Lasting until age 8; The first level of moral development where morals are defined by authority figures.

Answer 36

Preconventional Level

Question 37

A stage of moral development where morality is based on other people and social systems.

Answer 37

Conventional Level

Question 38

A stage of moral development where morality is defined by abstract principals and personal ideals.

Answer 38

Post Conventional Level

Question 39

An emotional bond between people; infant + Caregiver; which impacts development

Answer 39

Attachment

Question 40

The emotional tendencies of an individual’s personality which affects speed and intensity of emotional reactions.

Answer 40

Temperment

Question 41

A strict parenting style where parents set rigid rules without explanation and inflict severe punishments if rules are not followed.

Answer 41

Authoritarian Parenting Style

Question 42

A parenting style where parents set limits and rules with explanations and discuss their child, as well as supporting and responding to the child’s viewpoint.

Answer 42

Authoritative Parenting Style

Question 43

A parenting style where parents set no limits and do not require mature behavior from their child.

Answer 43

Permissive Parenting Style

Question 44

Added to Freud’s theory of psyhcosexual development by including the influence of social dynamics and it’s extension into adulthood

Answer 44

Erickson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development.