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Developmental Psychology |
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The Branch of Psychology that studies patterns of growth and change that occur throughout life |
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Nature-nurture issue |
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the issue of the degree to which environment and heredity influence behavior |
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Identical Twins |
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Twins who are genetically identical |
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Cross-sectional Research |
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A Research Method that compares people of different ages at the same point in time |
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Longitudinal Research |
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A research method that investigates behavior as participants age |
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Sequential Research |
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A research method that combines cross-sectional and longitudinal research by considering a number of different age groups and examining them at several points in time |
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Chromosomes |
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Rod-shaped structures that contain all basic hereditary information |
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Genes |
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The parts of the chromosomes through which genetic information is transmitted |
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Zygote |
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The new cell formed by the union of an egg and sperm |
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Embryo |
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A developed zygote that has a heart, a brain, and other organs |
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Fetus |
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A developed individual, from eight weeks after conception til birth |
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Age of viability |
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The point at which a fetus can survive if born prematurely |
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Teratogens |
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Environmental agents such as a drug, chemical, virus, or other factor that produce a birth defect |
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Neonate |
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A newborn Child |
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Reflexes |
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Unlearned, involuntary responses that occur automatically in the presence of certain stimuli |
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Habitiuation |
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The decrease in the response to a stimulus that occurs after repeated presentation of the same stimulus |
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Attachment |
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The postive emotional bond that develops between a child and a particular individual |
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Authoritarian Parents |
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Parents who are rigid and punitive and value unquestioning obedience from their children |
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Permissive Parents |
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Parents who give their children relaxed or inconsistent direction and, although warm, require litte of them |
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Authoritative Parents |
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Parents who ar firm, set clear limits, reason with their children and explain things to them |
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Uninvolved Parents |
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Parents who show little interest in their children and are emotionally detached |
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Temperament |
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Basic, innate dispostion |
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Psychosocial development |
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Developments of individuals' interactions and the understanding of each other and of their knowledge and understanding of themselves as members of society |
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Trust-versus-mistrust stage |
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According to Erikson, the first stage of psychosocial development, occuring from brith to age 1.5 years, during which time infants develop feelings of trust or lack of trust |
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Autonomy-versus- shame-and-doubt stage |
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The period during which, according to Erikson,toddlers(Age 1.5-3 years)develop indepedence and autonomy if exploration and freedom are encouraged, or shame and self-doubt if they are restricted or over-protected |
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Initiative vs Guilt Stage |
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According to Erikson, The period during children ages 3 to 6 experience conflict between indepedence of action and the sometimes negative result of that action |
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Industry vs Inferiority Stage |
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According to Erikson, the last stage of childhood, during which children age 6-12 years may develop positive social interactions with others or may feel inadequate and become less sociable |
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Cognitive Development |
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The process by which child's understanding of the world change as a function of age and experience |
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Sensorimotor Stage |
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According to Piaget, the stage from birth to 2 years, during which a child has little competence in representing the environment by using images, language, or other symbols |
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Object Permanence |
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The awareness that objects- and people- continue to exsist even if they are not in sight |
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Preoperational Stage |
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according to Piaget, the period from 2 to 7 years of age that is characterized by language development |
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Egocentric Stage |
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A way of thinking in which a child veiws the world entirely from his or her own perspective |
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Principle of Conservation |
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The knowledge that quantity is unrelated to the arrangement and physical appearance of objects |
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Concrete Operation Stage |
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According to Piaget, the period from 7-12 years of age that is characterized by logical thought and a loss of egocentrism |
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Fromal Operational Stage |
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According to Piaget, the period from 12 to adulthood that is characterized by abstract thought |
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Information Processing |
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The way in which people take in, use, and store information |
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Metacognition |
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An awareness and understanding of one's own cognitive process |
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Zone of proximal development |
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According to Vygotsky, the level at which a child can almost, but not fully, comprehend or preform a task on his or her own |
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Adolescence |
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The developmental stage between childhood and adulthood |
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Puberty |
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The period at which maturation of the sexual organs occurs, beginning at about 11 to 12 for girls and 13 to 14 for boys |
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Identity vs role confusion Stage |
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According to Erikson, a time in adolescence of major testing to determine one's unique qualities |
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Identity |
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The distinguishing character of the individual: who each of us is, what our roles are and what we are capable of |
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Intimacy vs isolation Stage |
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According to Erikson, a period during early adulthood that focuses on developing close relationships |
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Generativity vs Stagnation Stage |
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According to Erikson, a period during middle adulthood during which we take stock of our contributions to family and society |
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Ego-integrity vs despair Stage |
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According to Erikson, a period during late adulthood until death during which we review life's accomplishments and failures |
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Menopause |
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The period during which women stop menstrating and are no longer fertile |
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Genetic preprogramming theories of aging |
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Theories that human cells have a built in time limit to their reproduction, and that after a certain time they are no longer able to divide |
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Wear and Tear theories of aging |
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Theories that suggest that the mechanical functions of the body simply stop working efficiently |
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Alzheimer's Disease |
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A progressive brain disorder that leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in cognitive abilities |
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Disengagement theory of aging |
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A theory that suggests that aging produces a gradual withdrawal from the world on physical, psychological and social levels |
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Activity Theory of Aging |
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A theory that suggests that the elderly that are most successful while aging are those who maintain the interest and activities they had during middle age |
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Life Review |
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The process by which people review and evaluate their lives |
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