unit 6

Developmental Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.

Zygote

The fertilized egg; it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo.

Embryo

The developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month.

Fetus

The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth.

Teratogens

Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during parental development and cause harm.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a a pregnant woman's heavy drinking. In severe cases, symptoms include noticeable facial misproportions.

Alzheimer's Disease

A progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, finally, physical functioning.

Temperament

A person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Maturation

Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.

Schema

A concept of framework that organizes and interprets information.

Assimilation

Interpreting one's new experience in terms of one's existing schemas.

Accommodation

Adapting one's current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information.

Sensorimotor Stage

In Piaget's theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities.

Object Permanence

The awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived.

Preoperational Stage

In Piaget's theory, the stage (from about 2 to 6 or 7 years of age) during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic.

Conservation

The principle (which Piaget believed to be a part of concrete operational reasoning) that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects.

Egocentrism

In Piaget's theory, the preoperational child's difficulty taking another's point of view.

Concrete Operational Stage

In Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 6 or 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events.

Formal Operational Stage

In Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning about age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts.

Attachment

An emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation.

Critical Period

An optimal period shortly after birth when an organism's exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces proper development.

Imprinting

The process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life.

Adolescence

The transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence.

Puberty

The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.

Menarche

The first menstrual period.

Menopause

The time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines.

Crystallized Intelligence

One's accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age.

Fluid Intelligence

One's ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood.

Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration

APGAR

Harlow

Tested on monkeys, contact comfort, if a baby is not held it will not develop an attachment

Ainsworth

"Strange situation," stranger enters/mom leaves, secure, avoidant, anxious/ambivalent

Secure

Cries without mom, can be distracted, reunion is happy, successful relationships

Avoidant

Doesn't notice mom's gone, reunion is indifferent, can't commit in relationships

Anxious/Ambivalent

Freaks out without mom, wants nothing to do with mom at the reunion, clingy in relationships

Authoritarian

Dictator, "because I said so"

Permissive

No rules, "friend," doesn't want to be the bad guy

Authoritative

Happy medium, explains punishments

Authoritarian, Permissive, Authoritative

Parenting styles

Sensorimotor

Stage 1 of cognitive development

Object Permanence

Key event of the sensorimotor stage

Preoperational

Stage 2 of cognitive development

Pretend Play, Language Development

Two key events of the preoperational stage

Concrete Operational

Stage 3 of cognitive development

Conservation, Math Transformations

Key event of concrete operational stage

Formal Operational

Stage 4 of cognitive development, final stage

Abstract Logic

Key event of formal operational stage

Kohlberg

Moral development, lifespan development, only studied men

Gilligan

Studied women, same results as Kohlberg

Preconventional

Uses rewards & punishments as reasons to do (or not to do) something

Conventional

Uses other people's expectations as a reason to do (or not to do) something

Postconventional

Uses their own ethics and bases responses on human rights

Marcia

Came up with the idea of identity states

Identity Achievement

Has gone through an identity crisis and came out with a well-defined sense of self

Identity Achievement

Committed to a set of personal values and goals, well-prepared to make meaningful lives for themselves

Identity Diffusion

No clear idea of their own identity and they are not trying to find a new one

Identity Diffusion

Struggled with their identity and has now stopped trying

Identity Diffusion

Lack of self identity and no commitment to values or goals

Identity Foreclosure

Accept the identity and values that were given in childhood

Identity Foreclosure

Not given a chance to explore other alternatives

Moratorium

Trying to achieve identity through experimentation and trial-and-error

Denial (Illness)

Looking for a second opinion, ignorance, "I'll get through this, there's no way this is true"

Denial (Grievance)

Making themselves busy, leaving child's room as it is

Anger (Illness)

Blaming themselves, god, illness, objects

Anger (Grievance)

Blaming those diagnosed, others, god

Bargaining (Illness)

Asking doctors, god for a second chance, "just let me see my child one more time and I can die happy"

Bargaining (Grievance)

"Take me instead," "if I only had one more day..."

Depression

Doesn't want to do anything

Acceptance (Illness)

Bucket list, able to talk about illness, satisfaction

Acceptance (Grievance)

"They're in a better place," packing child's things away

Trust vs. Mistrust

If needs are dependably met, infants develop a sense of basic trust

Trust vs. Mistrust

Infancy-1 year

Erik Erickson

Social development

8

Stages of social development

Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt

Toddlers learn to exercise will and do things for themselves, or they will doubt their abilities

Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt

Toddlerhood (1-2 years)

Initiative vs. Guilt

Preschoolers learn to start tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about efforts to be independent

Initiative vs. Guilt

Preschooler (3-5 years)

Competence vs. Inferiority

Children learn the pleasure of applying themselves to tasks, or they feel inadequate

Competence vs. Inferiority

Elementary school (6-Puberty)

Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt

"Mom, I can do it!" Dusting, vacuuming, etc.

Initiative vs. Guilt

"I don't want to mess anything up," not trusting anyone else to do it correctly, etc.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Adolescence (Teen-20s)

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Teenagers work at refining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

State we are presently in

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Young Adulthood (20s-early 40s)

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Young adults struggle to form close relationships and to gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially alone.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Mid-life crisis

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Middle adulthood (40s-60s)

Generativity vs. Stagnation

The middle-aged discover a sense of contributing to the world in two ways: through their job, or through their family; or they may feel a lack of purpose.

Integrity vs. Despair

Late adulthood

Integrity vs. Despair

When reflecting on his or her life, the older adult may feel a sense of accomplishment or regret.

Sensorimotor, Trust vs. Mistrust, Preconventional

When a baby is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?

Preoperational, Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt, Preoconventional

When a toddler is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?

Preoperational, Initiative vs. Guilt, Preconventional

When a preschooler is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?

Concrete Operational, Competence vs. Inferiority, Conventional

When an elementary schooler is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?

Formal Operational, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Conventional

When a middle schooler/high schooler is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?

Formal Operational, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Postconventional

When a [young] adult is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?

Formal Operational, Generativity vs. Stagnation, Postconventional

When a middle-aged adult is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?

Formal Operational, Integrity vs. Despair, Postconventional

When an elderly person is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?