Psyc Final

Human Development

The scientific study of age-related changes across physical, cognitive, social and behavioural domains

Developmental Psychology

The study of how behaviour and mental processes change over the lifespan

Lifespan Perspective

Changes happen throughout the entire human lifespan and must be interpreted in light of the culture and context in which they occur: interdisciplinary research is critical to understanding human development

Post-hoc Fallacy

The false assumption that because one event occurred before another event, it must caused that event

Critical Periods

Specific periods in development when an organism is especially sensitive to the presence or absence of some particular kind of experience

Sensitive Period

A span of months or years during which a child may be particularly responsive to specific forms of experience or particularly influenced by their absence. After the sensitive period, learn is still possible but very difficult

Epigenome:

The sum total of inherited and acquired molecular modifications to the genome that lead to changes in gene regulation without changing the DNA sequence of the genome

Cohorts

Groups of individuals who are born within a particular span of years and share the same historical experiences at the same point in their development

Cohort Effect:

Effect observed in a sample of participants that results from individuals in the same growing up at the same time

Teratogens

Environmental factors that can exert a negative impact on prenatal development

Reflexes:

Automatic motor response to stimuli (sucking, rooting, eyeblinking)

Stress:

The tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a situation called a stressor - a type of stimulus - strains our ability to cope effectively

Stressor:

A type of stimulus that causes stress

Primary appraisal

Initial decision regarding whether an event is harmful

Secondary appraisal

Perceptions regarding ability to cope with an event that follows a primary appraisal

Hassle

Minor annoyance or nuisance that strains our ability to cope

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Stress response pattern that consists of three stages: alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion

Fight-or-Flight Response:

Physical and psychological reaction that mobilizes people and animals to either defend themselves or escape a frightening situation

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Mental health condition caused by highly stressful or frightening event

Social Support:

Relationships with people and groups that can provide us with emotional comfort and personal and financial resources

Problem-focused coping:

Actively address the stressor by trying to solve the issue at hand

Emotion-focused coping

This involves regulating our emotions that come with stress, rather than trying to change the stressor

Behavioural control

Control behaviours (e.g., coping strategies)

Cognitive control

Controlling our thoughts; “cognitive restructuring”

Informational control

Seek out information to manage a stressful event

Proactive coping:

Seeking out information to manage a stressful event

Decisional control

Can choose among alternative courses of action

Emotional control

Can choose to suppress and express emotions (and the manner of doing so)

Catharsis

Expressing anger or other intense negative emotions expressing anger tends to increase anger (doesn’t work, can make you more angry)

Hardiness:

Set of attitudes marked by a sense of control over events, commitment to life and work, and courage and motivation to confront stressful circumstances

Rumination

Excessive, repetitive thoughts that interfere with other forms of mental activity

Health psychology:

Examines the relationship between psychology and physical health

Biopsychosocial Model

Illnesses or medical conditions are often the result of the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors

Psychoneuroimmunology

The study of the relationship between the immune system and the central nervous system

Body Mass Index (BMI)

(weight/height in inches2 ) x 703

Habits

Established behavioural patterns; non-conscious cues and lack of reasoning

Implementation Intentions

Clear plan of what we will do in specific circumstances

social Psychology

The study of the way in which people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people

Attributions

The process of assigning causes to behaviour

internal Attribution

The inference that a person is behaving in a certain way because of something about them, such as attitude, character, or personality

External Attribution

The inference that a person is behaving a certain way because of something about the situation they are in

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

Tendency as human beings to overestimate the extent to which people’s behaviour is due to dispositional influences and to underestimate the role of situational factors

Conformity:

A change in behaviour resulting from the real or imagined influences of other people

Deindividuation:

The tendency of people to engage in atypical behaviour when they are stripped of their usual identities

Social Roles:

Expectations that are shared by group members about how individuals should behave

Groupthink

An emphasis on group unanimity (everyone agrees) at the expense of critical thinking

Cult

A group of individuals who exhibit intense and unquestioning devotion to a single cause (Deep set of beliefs and values outside the norms of society)

bedience:

Adherence to instructions from authority figures

Autonomy:

To have the agency to be aware and in control of ourself

Initiative

An introductory act or step; leading action. Readiness and ability in initiating action

Industry:

Systematic work or labour; effort

Intimacy

Closeness, familiarity, affection; sexual intercourse