unit 6 Flashcards
Epigenetics
show how environmental influences effect the expression of genes
developmental psychology
a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span
continuity and stages
what parts of our development are gradual and continuous versus abrupt
stability and change
which of our traits persist through life, how do we change as we age
zygot
the fertilized egg; it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell devision and develops to an embryo
Embryo
the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month
fetus
the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth
habituation
decreases responsiveness w/ repeated stimulation. as infants gain familiarity w/ repeated exposure to a stimulus, their interest wains
maturation
biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience
what did Piaget study
cognition of children and maturation stages
schema
a concept or framework that organizes and interprets info
assimilation
interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schema
Accommodation
adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new info
sensorimotor stage
in Piaget’s theory the stage (from birth to nearly 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly through sensory impressions
temperment
a persons stable emotional reactivity and intensity
rooting reflex
sucking, tonguing, swallowing and breathing for infants
object permanence
the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived
pre-operational stage
in Piaget’s theory, the stage (from about 2-6 or 7 years) during which a child learns to use language but doesn;t yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic
conservation (piaget)
the principle (which piaget believed tp be a part of concrete operational reasoning) thhat properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in teh forms of objects
egocentrism
in piagets theory, the preoperational child’s difficulty taking another’s point of view
theory of the mind
people’s ideas about their own and other’s mental states-about their feelings perceptions, thoughts and the behaviors these might predict
concrete operational stage
in piagets theory, the stage of cognitive development (from 7-11) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events
formal operational stage
in piagets theory, the stage of cognitive development (starting around age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts
scaffold
a framework that offers children temporary support as they develop higher levels of thinking
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
stranger anxiety
the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning by about 8 months of age
Attachment
an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to their caregiver and showing distress on separation
critical period
an optimal period early in life of an organism when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development
imprinting
the process by which certain animals form strong attachments during early life
strange situation
a procedure for studying child-caregiver attachment; a child is placed in a unfamiliar environment while their caregiver leaves and then returns, and the childs reactions are observed
secure attachment
Demonstrated by infants who comfortably explore environments in the presence of their caregiver, show only temporary distress when the caregiver leaves, and find comfort in the caregivers return
insecure attachment
demonstrated by infants who display either a clinging, anxious attachment or an avoidant attachment that resists closeness
what did lev vygotsky do and think
-sociocultural theory
-human development and learning is a social process
-zone of proximal development
Temperament
a persons characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
basic trust
according to Erik Erikson, a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be formed during infancy
self-concept
all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question “who am i”
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
identity
our sense of self; according to erickson, the adolescents task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles
social identity
the “we” aspect of our self concept-co ncept
intimacy
in ericksons theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships;a primary development tesk in young adulthood
emerging adulthood
a. period from about age 18-mid twenties, when in many western cultures are no longer adolescents but have not yet achieved full independents
sex
in psychology, the biologically influenced characteristics by which people define male and female
gender
in psychology, the socially influenced cahhracteristics by which people define boy, girl, man , or woman
aggression
any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or mentally
relational aggression
an act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a person’s relationship or social standing
role
a set of expectations (norms) bout a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
gender role
a set of expected behavior, attitudes, and traits for males or females
gender identity
our sense of being male, female, or some combination of the two
social learning theory
the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitation and by being rewarded or punished
gender typing
the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role
androgyny
displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics
x chromosome
the sex chromosome found in both males and females, females typically have two while males only have one paired with a y chromosome
y chromosome
the sex chromosome typically found only in males paired with a y chromosome
Testosterone
the most important male sex hormone. both males and females have it, but testosterone in males stimulate the development during the fetal period and puberty
Primary sex characteristics
the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitals) that make sexual reproduction possible
secondary sex characteristics
Non-reproductive sexual traits such as as breasts, hips, voice quality, and body hair
Spermarche
the first ejaculation
menarchy
the first menstrual period
intersex
a condition present at birth due to unusual combinations of male and female chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy; possessing biological sexual characteristics of both sexes
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
a life-threatening sexually transmitted infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) AIDS depletes the immune system, leaving the person vulnerable to infection
sexual orientation
our enduring sexual attraction, usually toward members of our own sex (Homosexual orientation) or the other sex (Heterosexual orientation) and both sexes (bisexual orientation)
Menopause
the time of natural cessation of mensuration; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines
Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs)
Acquired (not lifelong) disorders marked by cognitive deficits; often related to alzheimers desease, brain injury, or desease, or substance abuse. in older adults formal called dementia
Alzheimers disease
a neurocognitive disorder marked by neural plaques, often w/ onset after age 80, entailing a progressive decline in memory and other cognitive abilities
social clock
the culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement
Three parenting styles
Authoritarian: parents impose strict rules and expect obedience
Permissive: parents submit to children’s demands
Authoritative: parents are demanding but responsive to children
Neuron pruning
Unused neural connections are lost to make other pathways more efficient
Kholberg’s 3 levels of moral thinking
-preconventional: before age 9, show morality to avoid punishment or gain reward
-conventional: by early adolescence, social rules and laws are upheld for their own sake
-post conventional: affirms peoples agreed upon rights or follows their own ethical principles
Eriksons stages of psychosocial development
-infancy (to 1) -trust vs mistrust
-toddlerhood (1-2) - autonomy vs shame
-preschooler (3-5)- initiative vs guilt
-elementary (6-puberty) - competence vs inferiority
-adolescence (teen-20s) - identity vs role confusion
-young adulthood (20s-early 40s) intimacy vs isolation
-mid adulthood (40s-60s) generative vs stagnation
-late adulthood (late 60s and up) integrity vs despair
