Unit 6 Developmental Psych Flashcards
developmental psych
branch of psych that studies physical, cognitive and social change throughout lifespan
Explain the 3 key issues of developmental psychology
- nature v. nurture
(interrelationship b/w genetics and experience/learning) - Continuity v. stages
(debate whether development is cumulative or structured) - Stability v. change
(are humans more stable or adaptive?)
zygotes
fertilized egg; enters a 2 week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo
embryo
the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization thru the second month
fetus
developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth
teratogens
literally “ monster makers” agents such as chemical and viruses that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking. In severe cases, signs include a small out of proportion head and abnormal facial features
habituation
decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation
As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner
maturation
orderly sequence of biological growth relatively ininfluenced by experience
schemas
concept or framework and organizes and interprets information
sensorimotor stage
ranges from birth to age 2
infants know the world in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities
object permanence
the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived
conservation
the principle that mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in shape
egocentric
the preoperational child’s difficulty to taking another’s pov
theory of mind
people’s ideas about their own and others’ mental states—about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict
preoperational stage
from 2-6/7 years during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete loci
concrete operational stage
7-11 years of age
children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events
formal operation stage
beginning around age 12
people begin to think logically about abstract concepts
scaffold
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
Dishabituation
interest in novel events
stranger anxiety
fear of strangers that infants commonly display beginning at 8 months
attachment
emotional tie with another person
ex: shown in young
critical period
an optimal period early in the 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 in which a child is placed in an unfamiliar environment while their caregiver leaves and then returns and their child’s reactions are observed
secure attachment
demonstrated by infants who comfortable explore environments in the presence of their caregiver, show only temporary distress when the caregiver leaves and find comfort in the caregiver’s return
insecure attachment
demonstrated by infants who display either a clinging anxious attachment or an avoidant attachment that resists closeness
temperament
a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
self-concept
all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves in answer to the question, “Who am I?”
aggression
any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone physically or emotionally
Social learning theory
we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and being rewarded/punished
Gender typing
acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role
adolescence
is the transition 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 and the adolescent’s task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles
social identity
the “we” aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to “Who am I” that comes from our group memberships
intimacy
the ability to form close, loving relationships; primarily a task of young adulthood
emerging adulthood
a period from about age 18 to mid 20s when in many Western cultures are no longer adolescents buy have not yet achieved full adult independence
X chromosome
The sex chromosomes found in both males and females, females typically have two and males typically have one, when paired with another X it produces a female child
Y chromosome
The sex chromosome typically found only in males, when paired with an X from the mother it produces a male child
testosterone
The most important male sex hormone, Both males and females have it but the additional testosterone in males stimulates growth of male sex organs during the fetal period and the development of male sex characteristics during puberty
primary sex characteristics
the body structures that make sexual reproduction possible
secondary sex characteristics
nonreproductive sexual traits such as female breasts/hips and male voice quality/body hair
spermache
first ejaculation
menarche
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
sexual orientation
our enduring sexual attraction, usually towards members of our own sex or other sex; variations include attraction toward both sexes
menopause
the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines
cross-sectional studies
research that compares people of different ages at the same in time
longitudinal studies
research that follows and retests the same people over time
neurocognitive disorder (NCD or formerly called dementia)
acquired disorders marked by cognitive deficits, often related to Alzheimer’s, brain injury/disease, or substance abuse
social clock
culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, retirement
