Week 7 Flashcards
What is developmental psychology
The study of continuity and change in physical, perceptual, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning throughout ones life.
What are the two types of research methods for developmental psychology
- Longitudinal research
- Cross-sectional research
What is longitudinal research?
A type of research in which the same group of people are tested over a length of time.
What is cross-sectional research
A type of research that compares different groups of people of different ages.
What is a cohort
A group who are in a category
What is a disadvantage of cross-sectional research
Certain circumstances that only affect one cohort may affect data
What are the three stages of prenatal development
- Germinal
- Embryotic
- Fetal
What is a zygote
The first cell created when a sperm cell reaches an ovum
Describe the germinal period
The zygote moves through the falopian tube to the uterin lining and is implanted to the wall of the uterus
What is the length of the embryonic period
2-8 weeks
What can occur during the Fetal period and how long can it last
It lasts 8 weeks until birth and the baby can make movements and this is when differences in gender appear
What scenarios cause risks for fathers trying to have children
- If they are over 50
- If they are teenagers
- Are exposed to solvents or other chemicals
What are teratogens and give example
Teratogens are substances that can cross the placental barrier
- German measles
- X-rays or other radioactive or toxic substances
- STDs
- Cigarettes
- Alcohol
- Other drugs
Describe infancy
Stage that begins at birth and lasts until 18-24 months and is a time of rapid, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development
What type of reflexes do newborns display
Reflexes that promote survival
What are reflexes
Specific patterns of motor responses triggered by specific sensory stimulation
What is the cephalocaudal rule
Tendency for motor skills to emerge in a sequence from the head to feet
What is the Proximodistal rule
Tendency for motor skills to emerge from the center to peripheral areas
What changes occur to the brain in early development
- Axons are coated with myelin
- The brain triples in weight
- Neurons become arranged by function
What is plasticity
Degree to which a developing structure can be changed through experiences
What is the sensitive period
A period in time when an organism is most sensitive to the experiences they face
What is a scheme
An internal cognitive structure that gives a person a procedure to follow within a given circumstance. We don’t begin life with many of these.
What three processes lead from built-in schemes to complex mental schemes
Assimilation
Accommodation
Equilibration
What is assimilation
Using schemes to make sense of an environment
