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83 Cards in this Set
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developmental psychology |
the psychological specialty that studies how organisms grow and change over time as the result of biological and environmental influences. |
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nature-nurture issue |
the long-standing discussion over the relative importance of nature (heredity) and nurture (environment) in their influence on behavior and mental processes. |
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twin study |
a means of separating the effect of nature and nurture by which investigators compare characteristics of adopted children with those of individuals in their biological and adoptive families. |
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innate ability |
Capability of an infant that is inborn or biologically based. |
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prenatal period |
the developmental period before birth |
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zygote |
a fertilized egg |
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embryo |
in humans, the name for developing organism during the first 8 weeks after conception |
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placenta |
the organ interface between the embryo or fetus and the mother. The placenta separates the bloodstreams, but it allows the exchange of nutrients and waste products. |
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teratogen |
substances from the environment, including viruses, drugs, and other chemicals, that can damage the dwelling organism during the prenatal period. |
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Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) |
a set of physical and mental problems seen in children whose mothers drink excessive amounts of alcohol during pregnancy. |
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neonatal period |
in humans, the neonatal (newborn) period extends through the first month after birth. |
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mimicry |
The imitation of other people's behaviors |
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synchronicity |
the close coordination between the gazing, vocalist, touching, and smiling of infants and caregivers |
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innate reflex |
reflexive response present at birth |
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infancy |
in humans, infancy spans the time between the end of the neonatal period and the establishment of language- usually at about 18 months to 2 years. |
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sensitive period |
a span of time during which the organism is especially responsive to stimuli of a particle sort. Organisms may have sensitive periods for exposure to certain hormones or chemicals; similarly, they may have sensitive periods for learning language or receiving the visual stimulation necessary for normal development of vision |
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synaptic pruning |
the process of trimming unused brain connections, making neurons available for future development. |
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maturation |
the process by which the genetic program manifests itself over time |
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genetic leash |
Edward Wilson's term for the constraints placed on development by heredity |
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contact comfort |
stimulation and reassurance derived from the physical touch of a caregiver |
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attachment |
the enduring socio-emotional relationship between a child and a parent or other regular caregiver. |
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imprinting |
a primitive form of learning in which some young animals follow and form an attachment to the first moving object they see and hear |
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secure attachment |
the attachment style of children who are related and comfortable with their caregivers and tolerant of stranger and new experiences - as contrasted with children who are insecurely attached. |
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seperation anxiety |
a common pattern of distress seen in young children when separated from their caregivers. |
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anxious-ambivalent attachment |
one of two primary response patterns seen in insecurely attached children in which a child want contact with the caregiver, shows excessive distress when serparated from the caregiver, and proves difficult to console even when reunited. |
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avoidant attachment |
one of two primary response patterns seen in insecurely attached children in which a child shows no interest in contract with the caregiver and displays neither distress when separated from the caregivers nor happiness when reunited. |
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psychosocial stage |
in Erikson's theory, the developmental stages refer to eight major challenges that appear successively across the lifespan, which require an individual to rethink his or her foals, as well as relationships with others. |
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trust |
the major developmental goal during the first 18 months of life. According to Erikson's theory, the child must choose between trusting or not trusting others. |
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self-control |
the ability to delay instant gratification in pursuit of longer-range positive outcomes. |
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executive function |
cognitive abilities in the frontal lobes necessary for couples thinking, planning, and goal-directed behavior. |
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language acquisition device (LAD) |
A biologically organized mental structure in the brain that facilities the learning of language because (according to Chomsky) it is innately programmed with some of the fundamental rules of grammar. |
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babbling |
the production of repetitive syllables, characteristic of the early stages of language acquisition. |
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grammar |
the rules of a language, specifying how to use the elements of language and word order to produce understandable sentences. |
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Telegraphic speech |
short, simple sequences of nouns and verbs without plurals, tenses, or function words like "the" and "of"- somewhat like the language once used in telegrams. |
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morpheme |
a meaningful unit of language that makes up words. Some whole words are morphemes. (example:word); other morphemes include grammatical components that alter a word's meaning (examples: -ed, -ing, and un-) |
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cognitive development |
the global term for the development of thought processes from childhood through adulthood |
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stage theory |
an explanation of development that emphasized distinctive or rather abrupt changes. A stage theory of cognitive development, then, emphasizes revolutionary changes in thought processes. |
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schema |
in Piaget's theory, a mental structure or program that guides a developing child's thought. |
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assimilation |
a mental process that incorporates new information into existing schemas |
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accommodation |
a mental process that modifies schemas in order to include (or accommodate) new information. |
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sensorimotor stage |
the first stage in Piaget's theory, during which the child relies heavily on innate motor responses to stimuli. |
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sensorimotor intelligence |
Piaget's term for the infant's approach to the world, relying on relatively physical (motor) repsonses to sensory experience. |
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object permanence |
the knowledge that objects exist independently of one's own actions or awareness. |
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goal-directed behavior |
an ability that emerges during the sensorimotor period by which infants develop the ability to keep a simple goal in mind as they pursue it. |
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mental representation |
the ability to form internal images of objects and events. |
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preoperational stage |
the second stage in Piaget's theory, marked by well-developed mental representation and the use of language. |
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egocentrism |
the Piaget's theory, the inability to realize that there are other viewpoints beside one's own. |
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animistic thinking |
a pre operational mode of thought in which inanimate objects are imagined to have life and mental processes. |
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irreversibility |
the inability, in the preoperational child, to think through a series of event or mental operations and then mentally reverse the steps. |
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centration |
a pre operational thought pattern involving the inability to take into account more than one factor at a time |
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conservation |
the understanding the the physical properties of an object or substance do not change when appearances change but nothing is added or taken away. |
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concrete operational stage |
the third of Piaget's stages, when a child understands conservation but still is incapable of abstract thought |
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concrete operational stage |
the third of Piaget's stages, when child understands conservation but still is incapable of abstract thought. |
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mental operation |
solving a problem by manipulating images in one's mind. |
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theory of mind |
an awareness that other people's behavior may nbc influences by beliefs, desires, and emotions that differ from one's own. |
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wave metaphor |
a way of conceptualizing cognitive development as occurring more gradually- in "waves"- rather than abruptly, as the stage theory suggest. |
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temperament |
An individual's characteristic manner of behavior or reaction- assumed to have a strong genetic basis. |
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socialization |
the lifelong process of shaping an individual's behavior patterns. values, standards, skills, attitudes, and motives to conform to those regarded as desirable in a particular society. |
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authoritarian parent |
one of the four parenting styles, characterized by demands for conformity and obedience, with little tolerance for discussion of rules, which the parent enforces with punishment or threats of punishment . |
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authoritative parent |
one of the four parenting styles, characterized by high expectations of the children, which the parent enforces with consequences rather than punitive actions. Authoritative parents combine high standards with warmth and respect for the child's. |
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permissive parent |
one of the four parenting styles, characterized by setting few rules and allowing children to make their own decisions. While they may be caring and communicative, permissive parents give most decision-making responsibility to their children |
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uninvolved parent |
one of the four parenting styles, characterized by indifference or rejection, sometimes to the point of neglect or abuse. |
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autonomy |
in Erikson's theory, autonomy is the major developmental task of the second stage in childhood. Achieving autonomy involves developing a sense of independence, as opposed to being plagued by self-doubt. |
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initiative |
in Erikson's theory, initiative is the major developmental task in the third state of childhood. Initiative is characterized by the ability to initiate activities oneself, rather than merely responding to others or feeling guilt at not measuring up to other's expectations. |
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Industry |
Erikson's term for a sense of confidence that characterized the main goal of the fourth developmental stave in childhood. Children who do not develop industry (confidence) will slip into a self-perception of inferiority. |
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attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
A psychological disorder involving poor
impulse control, difficulty concentrating on a task for a sustained period of time, high distractibility, and excessive activity. |
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adolescence |
in industrial societies, a developmental period beginning at puberty and ending (less clearly) at adulthood. |
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rite of passage |
social ritual that marks the tradition between developmental stages, especially between childhood and adulthood. |
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puberty |
the onset of serial maturity |
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menarche |
the onset of menstruation |
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body image |
an individual's perception of and feeling about their physical appearance |
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formal operational stage |
the last of Piaget's stages, during which abstract thought appears. |
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stage of moral reasoning |
distinctive way of thinking bout ethical and moral problems. According to Kohlberg, moral reasoning progresses through a series of developmental stages that are similar to Piaget's stages of cognitive development. |
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Identity |
in Erikson's theory, identity is a sense of who one is- a coherent self. Developing a sense of identity is the main goal of adolescence. |
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revolution in aging |
a change in the way people think about aging in modern industrialized nations. This new perspective grows expedited of increased longevity, better heath care, and more lifestyle choices available to older adults. It has also simulated the psychological study of adult development. |
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Emerging adulthood |
a transition period between adolescence and adulthood. |
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peer marriage |
marriage in which the couple see each other as partners and friends, as contrasted with the other stereotypic roles of "husband" and "wife" |
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generativily |
the process of making a commitment beyond oneself to family, work, society, or future generations. In Erikson's theory, generativity is the developmental challenge of midlife. |
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transition |
a period of time during which an individual redefines or transforms a life role, goal, value, or lifestyle. |
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ego-integrity |
in Erikson's theory, the developmental task of late adulthood- involving the ability to look back on life without regret and to enjoy a sense of wholeness |
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Alzheimers Disease |
a degenerative brain disease, usually notice first by its debilitating effects on memory. |
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selective social interaction |
Choosing to restrict the number of one's social contacts to those who are the most gratifying |
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Adoption Study |
a method of separating the effect of nature and nurture by which investigators compare characteristics of adopted children with those of individuals in their biological and adoptive families. |