Unit 6 Flashcards
Developmental Psychology
main issues of developmental psych
nature vs. nurture
continuity vs stages
stability vs change
zygote
fertilized egg; enters 2 week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo
embryo
from 2 weeks after fertilization through 2nd month
fetus
developing human organism from 9 weeks to birth
terodogens
viruses or chemicals that can harm fetus/embryo
fetal alcohol syndrome
physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by mothers heavy drinking -> out of proportion head abnormal facial features
maturation
biological growth process that enable orderly changes in behavior; relatively uninfluenced by experience
Jean piaget
studied cognitive develop in children -> 4 major theories
PIAGETS 4 MAJOR THEORIES
- sensorimotor (birth-2yo) babies know world mostly through their sensory and motor experiences + lack object permanence
- preoperational (2-6/7) learn to use language but lack logic, egocentric, lack theory of mind
- concrete operational (7-11) gain logic for concrete events
- formal operational (12->) think logically about abstract ideas
egocentric
Piaget theory of preoperational children’s difficulty imagining others’ perspective
theory of mind
people’s ideas about their own and others mental states and the behaviors these might predict
schema
a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information
assimilation
interpreting new experiences in terms of our existing schemas
accommodation
adapting our current understanding (schemas) to incorporate new information
Lev Vygotsky
emphasized growth through interaction with SOCIAL environment
scaffold (Vygotsky)
a framework that offers support as they develop higher levels of thinking
zone of proximal development
zone between what a child can and can’t do encompassing what a child can do with help
autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors
Asperger’s syndrome
have normal intelligence even a higher proficiency in a specific area but lack social + communication skills and disregarding irrelevant stimuli
stranger anxiety
the fear of strangers that infants commonly display around 8 months of age
attachment
emotional tie with another person; shown in young children seeking closeness to caregivers & distress from separation
imprinting
process by which certain animals form strong attachments during early life
strange situation experiment
Mary Ainsworth; where a child is placed in an unfamiliar environment while their caregiver leaves and then returns. the child’s reactions are observed for attachments effects
secure attachment
demonstrated by infants who comfortably explore environments in the presence of their caregiver; show only temporary distress when they leave and comfort when they return
insecure attachment
demonstrated by infants who show a clinging anxious attachment or an avoidance attachment resisting closeness
temperament
a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
genetically influenced
basic trust
according to Erik Erikson a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy thanks to secure attachment
self concept
all our thoughts & feelings about ourselves to question “who am I?”
parenting styles
- authoritarian parents are coercive. they impose rules & expect obedience
- permissive parents are unrestraining. they set few limits make few demands and use little punishment
- negligent parents are uninvolved. they aren’t demanding or responsive
- authoritative parents are confrontive. They are demanding and responsive.
adolescence
the transition period from childhood to adulthood extending from puberty to independence
puberty
the period of sexual maturation during which a person becomes capable of reproducing
Lawrence Kohlberg’s moral reasoning
- preconventional morality: self interest rewards punishments
- conventional morality: uphold laws/rules for social standing
- postconventional morality: actions reflect belief in rights/principles
identity
our sense of self according to Erikson; the adolescents task to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles
social identity
that “we” aspect of our social concept; part of our identity that comes from group memberships
Erikson’s stages
[0-1] Infancy. Basic trust vs mistrust
[1-3] Early Childhood. autonomy vs shame
[3-6] Play age. initiative vs guilt
[6-12] school age. industry vs inferiority
[12-19] Adolescence. identity vs confusion
[20-25] Early Adulthood. intimacy vs isolation
[26-64] adulthood. generativity vs stagnation
[65-💀] Old age. integrity vs despair
intimacy (Erikson)
the ability to form close loving relationships; a primary development task of young adulthood
X Chromosome
the sex chromosome found in both males and females. Females have 2
Y Chromosome
sex chromosome found only in males
testosterone
most important male sex hormone. both male and female have it but more in males which stimulates growth of male sex organs during fetal period and male sexual development in puberty
primary sex characteristics
body structures (ovaries/ testes) needed for sexual reproduction
spermarche
the first ejaculation usually by age 14 the main landmark of puberty
menarche
the first menstrual period usually within a year of age 12.5
intersex
a condition present at birth due to unusual combination of male and female chromosomes hormones and anatomy possessing sexual characteristics of both sexes
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS
life threatening sexually transmitted disease caused by HIV; depletes the immune system leaving person vulnerable to infection
sexual orientation
our enduring sexual attraction usually toward members of our own sex (homosexual) or the other sex (heterosexual) variations include attraction toward both sexes (bisexual)
alzheimer’s disease
causes deterioration of memory and reasoning. 5-20 years -> emotionally flat disoriented inconvenient mentally vacant
social clock
the culturally preferred timing of social events (marriage parenthood retirement)
secondary sex characteristics
/nonreproductive sexual traits (female breaststroke and hips/ male voice quality and body hair)
