unit 6 - developmental psychology Flashcards
developmental psychology
study of the physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the lifespan
zygote
fertilized egg, lasts two weeks
embryo
developing human organism, begins at two weeks
fetus
developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth
teratogens
agents that can reach the embryo during prenatal development and cause harm (ex. chemicals and viruses)
habituation
decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation (used to explore infants abilities)
maturation
biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior
infantile amnesia
the inability to remember clearly or accurately the first years of life
jean piaget
developmental psychologist who created a theory that all humans progress through four cognitive developmental stages
schemas
a concept or mental image that provides a framework for understanding future experiences
assimilation
incorporating new information into our existing schemas without modification
accommodation
adjusting out schemas to fit the particulars of new experiences
piaget’s 4 stages of cognitive development
sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational
sensorimotor stage
0-2 years, infants experience their world through their senses and motor activities. have object permanence
object permanence
awareness that objects continue to exist even when not perceived. begins at 8 months
preoperational stage
2-6/7 years, child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic. lacks conservation, has egocentrism, and the theory of mind
conservation
the child doesn’t understand that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same even if the object’s form changes
egocentrism
inability to take another’s point of view
theory of mind
people’s ideas about their own and others’ mental stages
concrete operational stage
6/7-11 years, children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events
formal operational stage
12+ years, people begin to think logically about abstract concepts
lev vygotsky
russian developmental psychologist who said children learn best by interacting with others
attachment
an emotional tie; survival impulse that keeps infants close to their caregivers
critical period
an optimal period early in life when exposure to certain stimuli or experience produces normal development
imprinting
the process by which certain animals form strong attachments during an early-life critical period. introduced by konrad lorenz
securely attached
a positive parent-child relationship in which the child displays confidence when the parent leaves and finds comfort when the parent returns
insecurely attached
generally a negative parent-child relationship marked by anxiety or avoidance that resists closeness
self-concept
all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves. positive self-concepts: more confident, independent, optimistic, and sociable. emerges at 12-18 months
diana baumrind
researched parenting styles; authoritarian, permissive, authoritative
authoritarian
parents impose rules and expect obedience. effect on children: less social skills & self-esteem
permissive
parents submit to their children’s desires. parents make few demands and little punishments. effect on children: more aggressive & immature
authoritative
parents are demanding and responsive. set rules and enforce them while explaining them. effect on children: highest self-esteem self-reliance, and social competence
primary sexual characteristics
the body structures directly involved in reproduction
secondary sexual characteristics
characteristics not directly involved in reproduction (voice quality, body hair, etc)
lawrence kohlberg
harvard psychologist who researched moral development. proposed 3 stages of development; preconventional, conventional, and post conventional
preconventional level
the first stage of moral development. from birth-9 years. moral values reside in a person’s own needs and wants. characterized by a desire to avoid punishment or gain reward
conventional level
second stage of moral development from 9-19 and beyond. morality of law & social rules. moral judgments are made to get approval by pleasing & helping others and being good citizens
post conventional level
third stage of moral development. adolescence to beyond. morality of the abstract. rules agreed on by the whole society are accepted as binding, yet looked on as subject to change (ex. thanos)
cultural bias
a criticism of kohlberg’s theory. collectivist cultures see morality as tied in with the good of the community, not to some personal standard
erik erikson
psychologist who created a theory that each stage of life has a crisis that needs resolution. 8 stages
1st stage - erik erikson
trust vs mistrust. from 0-1 year
2nd stage - erik erikson
autonomy vs shame & doubt. from 1-3 years
3rd stage - erik erikson
initiative vs guilt. from 3-6 years
4th stage - erik erikson
industry vs inferiority. from 6-12 years
5th stage - erik erikson
identity vs role confusion. from 12-19 years
6th stage - erik erikson
intimacy vs isolation. from 20-40 years
7th stage - erik erikson
generativity vs stagnation. from 40-64 years
8th stage - erik erikson
ego integrity vs despair. from 65-death
emerging adulthood
a period from the late teens to mid-twenties, bridging the gap between adolescent dependence and full independence and responsible adulthood
midlife transition
as people enter their forties they undergo a midlife transition into middle adulthood, which for some, is a crisis
social clock
the culturally preferred timing of special events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement
