Unit 9 Flashcards
Developmental psychology
Branch of psychology that studies, physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the lifespan
Zygote
Fertilized egg, 2-week period of cell division, then develops into an embryo
Embryo
Developing human organism from 2 weeks after fertilization - 2 months
Fetus
Developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception-birth
Teratogens
“Monster makers”, chemicals & viruses that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
Physical & cognitive abnormalities in children caused by the mother’s heavy drinking
I.E. -> abnormal facial-features, behavioral issues
Habituation
Decreasing responsiveness w/ repeated stimulation
As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure, they look away sooner
Maturation
Biological growth process that enables orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience
Cognition
All mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Schema
A concept/framework that organizes & interprets info
Assimilation
Interpreting new experiences in terms of old/existing schemas
(Kids may call 4-legged animals dogs)
Accommodation
Adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new info
(OG dog schema is too broad)
Sensorimotor stage
In Piaget’s theory, stage from birth-2 years where infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities
(Hearing, looking)
Object permanence
The awareness that things continue to exist, even when not perceived
Conservation
The principal that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects (part of concrete operational reasoning)
Egocentrism
In Praget’s theory, the child’s difficulty taking another point of view
Theory of mind
Peoples ideas about their own and others mental states, how this would predict feelings, thoughts, and behaviors
(Why someone is angry)
Concrete operational stage
In Piaget’s theory, state of cognitive development from 7-11 where children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events (conservation????????????)
Formal operational stage
In Piaget’s theory, stage of cognitive development beginning at 12 where people being to think logically about abstract concepts (moral reasoning)
Scaffold
Framework that offers children temporary support as they develop higher levels of thinking
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Appears in childhood, marked by significant deficiencies is in communication and social interaction, fixated interests, and repetitive actions
Stranger anxiety
Begins at about 8 months, infants display a fear of strangers
Attachment
An emotional tie with another person, shown in younger children by their seeking of closeness with their caregiver and showing distress during separation
Critical period
An optimal period early in life when exposure a certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development (contact & familiarity)
Imprinting
The process by which certain animals form strong attachments during early life
Strange situation
Procedure designed by Mary Ainsworth for studying child caregiver attachment, the child’s reaction is observed when placed an unfamiliar environment while the caregiver leaves, then returns
Secure attachment
Demonstrated by infants who comfortably explore environments while in the presence with their caregiver, and only show temporary distress when they leave, and find comfort when the caregiver returns