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
A natural growth process that leads to predictable changes in behavior, mostly unaffected by experience.
To developmental psychologists, it is a biological sequence, not a term to describe becoming more like an adult
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
Leads to basic trust (sense that the world is predictable and reliable)
Insecure attachment
Demonstrated by infants, who are super clingy, have anxious or avoidant attachment, and resists closeness
Tempermant
A person’s innate and inborn characteristic emotional reactivity & intensity
Basic trust
Erik Erikson - a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy, formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers
Self-concept
All our thoughts and feelings about ourselves and the answer to the question “Who am I?”
Authoritarian parents
They have rules and expect obedience
Authoritative parents
Have rules, but allow exceptions and discussions
Permissive parents
Don’t have rules, little punishment
Negligent parents
Uninvolved, don’t care
Sex
The biologically influenced characteristics by which people define male and female
Gender
Socially influenced characteristics, by which people define boy, girl, man, woman
Aggression
Any verbal or physical behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally
Relational aggression
An active aggression intended to harm a persons relationship or social standing
Role
A set of expectations about social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
Gender role
A set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for males or females
Gender identity
Our sense of being male, female, or our combination of the two
Social learning theory
Theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating, and by being rewarded and punished
Gender typing
The acquisition of a traditional male or female role
Androgyny
Displaying both traditional, masculine and feminine psychological characteristics
Transgender
Umbrella term describing people whose general identity/expression differs from their birth-designated sex
Adolescence
Transition from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence
Puberty
Period of sexual maturation when a person becomes capable of reproducing
Identity
Our sense of self, Erikson: adolescence’s task is to solidify a sense of self by testing various roles
Social identity
The “we“ aspect of our self-concept, the answer to “Who am I?” that comes from group memberships.
Intimacy
(Erikson) ability to form close relationships, primary developmental took place in young adulthood
Emerging adulthood
18-mid 20’s, or in Western cultures, no longer adolescents, but have not yet achieved full independence as adults
X Chromosomes
Sex chromosomes in males and females, females have an 2 X, males have 1.
Y chromosome
Sex chromosome typically only found in males
Testosterone
Male sex hormone, in both males and females - more in males
Primary sex characteristics
Body structures that make sexual reproduction possible (ovaries, testes)
Secondary sex characteristics
Non-reproductive sexual traits (breasts, hips) (voice, body hair)
Spermarche
First ejaculation
Menarche
First menstrual period
Intersex
Condition at birth due to unusual combinations of male and female chromosomes, hormones and anatomy, possessing biological sexual characteristics of both sexes
AIDS
Life-threatening STI caused by HIU, deplete immune system
Sexual orientation
Our enduring sexual attraction, usually to opposite sex, our own sex, or both
Menopause
Time of natural end of menstruation, also refers to biological changes in women as her ability to reproduce declines
Cross-sectional study
Research that compares people of different ages at the same point in time
Longitudinal study
Research that follows and retests the same people overtime
Neurocognitive disorders (NCDS)
Acquired (not lifelong) disorders marked by cognitive deficits, often related to Alzheimer’s, brain injury, or substance abuse
Alzheimer’s disease
Neurocognitive disorder marked by a neural plagues, often after 80, progressive decline in memory and other cognitive abilities
Social clock
Culturally preferred timing of social events (marriage, parenthood, retirement)
Association areas
The brain’s association areas, those linked with thinking, memory and language, were the last cortical areas to develop and mental abilities surged
Schemas
Concepts or mental molds into which we pour our experiences
Ex. For “doggy”, might include: furry coat, four legs, long tail, wet tongue, cold nose, friendly, fun
Preoperational stage
in Piaget’s theory, the stage from about 2-6 or 7 years of age, during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic
Separation anxiety
Peaks at around 13 months, then gradually declines: this is with their parents
Anxious attachment
People constantly crave acceptance but remain vigilant to signs of possible rejection
Type of insecure attachment: in a relationship, it can cause constant concern over rejection, leading to clinginess
Avoidant attachment
People experience discomfort getting close to others and use avoidant strategies to maintain distance from others
Type of insecure attachment: in relationships it can decrease commitment and increase conflict
Microsystem
Part of ecological systems theory: immediate setting with involving direct interactions with family, peers, school, etc.
*small
Mesosystem
Part of ecological systems theory: connections between microsystems, like family experiences affecting school relationships
*middle
Exosystem
Part of ecological systems theory: broader institutions that indirectly influence the microsystem, such as parents’ workplace
*external
Macrosystem
Part of ecological systems theory: cultural context shaping behavior and beliefs
*larger
Chronosystem
Part of ecological systems theory: environmental events over a lifespan, like the COVID-19 shutdown
*time
Adolescent Egocentrism
Heightened self-consciousness in adolescents, characterized by two types of social thinking: imaginary audience, personal fable
Imaginary Audience
A phenomenon in which they believe they are being closely or constantly being watched and judged, as if on stage
Personal fable
A phenomenon in teens in which they perceive themselves as unique and invincible, often leading to risky behaviors like reckless driving or substance abuse, based on the belief that negative consequences only happen to others
ACEs
Negative childhood experiences (ACEs) that can have enduring impacts on health and well-being (abuse, household dysfunction, violence)
1990s ACE study surveyed thousands about childhood experiences and current health, revealing a link between ACEs and issues like depression and cardiovascular disease in adolescence and adulthood
Connection proved between childhood trauma and adult health issues
Identity Elements
Occupational, political, religious, sexual orientation, achievement, sexual orientation, racial/ethnic, interests, personality, familial, physical, gender
Identity Status
The 4 different orientations adolescents occupy while developing aspects of the sense of self (identity)
Defined by two aspects:
Is the individual committed to an identity or sense of self (yes or no)
Is the individual searching for identity or sense of self (yes or no)
Emerging adulthood
A period from about 18-mid 20s when many in Western cultures are no longer adolescents but have not yet achieved full independence as adults
Terminal decline
As you get closer to death, you experience changes in things like you cognition, mood, health
Neurocognitive disorders
Acquired disorders marked by cognitive deficits, often related to Alzheimer’s, brain injury or disease, or substance abuse.
