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development |
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the sequence of age-related changes that occur as a person progresses from conception to death |
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zygote |
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a one-celled organism formed by the union of a sperm and an egg |
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prenatal period |
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exents from conception to birth, usually encompassing nine months of pregnancy |
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germinal stage |
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the first phase of prenatal development, encompassing the first two weeks after conception |
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placenta |
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a structure that allows oxygen and nutrients to pass into the fetus from the mother's bloodstream and bodily wastes to pass out to the mother |
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fetal stage |
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the third stage of prenatal development, lasting from two months through birth |
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age of viability |
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the age at which a baby can survive in the event of a premature birth |
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fetal alcohol syndrome |
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a collection of congenital (inborn) problems associated with excessive alcohol use during pregnancy |
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motor development |
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refers to the progression of muscular coordination required for physical activities |
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cephalocaudal trend |
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the head-to-foot direction of motor development |
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proximodistal trend |
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the center-outward direction of motor development |
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maturation |
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development that reflects the gradual unfolding of one's genetic blueprint |
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developmental norms |
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indicate the typical (median) age at which individuals display various behaviors and abilities |
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attachment |
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refers to the close emotional bonds of affection that develop between infants and their caregivers |
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separation anxiety |
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emotional distress seen in many infants when they are separated from people with whom they have formed an attachment |
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fast mapping |
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the process by which children map a word onto an underlying concept after only one exposure |
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overextension |
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occurs when a child incorrectly uses a word to describe a wider set of objects or actions than it is meant to |
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underextensions |
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occur when a child incorrectly uses a word to describe a narrower set of objects or actions than it is meant to |
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telegraphic speech |
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consists mainly of content words; articles, prepositions, and other less critical words are omitted |
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overregularizations |
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occur when grammatical rules are incorrectly generalized to irregular cases where they do not apply |
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stage |
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a developmental period during which characteristic patterns of behavior are exhibited and certain capacities become established |
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cognitive development |
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refers to transitions in youngsters' patterns of thinking, including reasoning, remembering, and problem solving |
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object permanence |
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develops when a child recognizes that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer visible |
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conservation |
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Piaget's term for the awareness that physical quantities remain constant in spits of changes in their shape or appearance |
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centration |
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the tendency to focus on just one feature of a problem, neglecting other important aspects |
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irreversibility |
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the inability to envision reversing an action |
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egocentrism |
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thinking is characterized by a limited ability to share another person's viewpoint |
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animism |
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the belief that all things are living |
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secondary sex characteristics |
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physical features that distinguish one sex from the other but that are not essential for reproduction |
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puberty |
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the stage during which sexual functions reach maturity, which marks the beginning of adolescence |
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primary sex characteristics |
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the structures necessary for reproduction |
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menarche |
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the first occurrence of menstration |
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spermarche |
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the first occurence of ejaculation |
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dementia |
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an abnormal condition marked by multiple cognitive deficits that include memory impairment |
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fluid intelligence |
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involves basic reasoning ability, memory capacity, and sppeed of information processing |
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crystallized intelligence |
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involves the ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills in problem solving |
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sex |
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refers to the biologically based categories of female and male |
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gender |
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refers to culturally constructed distinctions between femininity and masculinity |
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gender stereotypes |
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widely held beliefs about females' and males' abilities, personality traits, and social behavior |
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gender differences |
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actual disparities between the sexes in typical behavior or average ability |
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gender roles |
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expectations about what is appropriate behavior for each sex |
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