PSYCH150 FINAL

Development

Age related changes in capacity.

Developmental norm

The characteristics and behaviors that are typical at a specific age.

Baltes’ Developmental Assumptions

Development is lifelong, multidimensional, multidirectional, multidisciplinary, plastic, historically embedded, contextually embedded, and involves growth, maintenance, and loss.

Continuous change

Gradual and linear development.

Discontinuous change

Sudden and stage-like development.

Gametes

Sex cells (sperm and eggs).

Genotype

One’s actual genetic makeup.

Phenotype

The expression of genotype, someone’s appearance.

Dominant genes

Control the phenotype if present.

Recessive genes

Only control the phenotype if they are both the same.

Additive genes

Share control of traits.

Polygenic inheritance

Control of complex traits by many genes working together.

Passive genotype-environment correlation

When parents provide their children with their genes and a shared environment.

Evocative genotype-environment correlation

When each individual evokes distinctive reactions from his/her environment.

Active genotype-environment correlation

When each individual selects and inhabits environments that are compatible with his/her proclivities.

Epigenesis

The view that there exists a bidirectional interaction between one’s genes and one’s environment.

Reaction range

The range of possible phenotypes for any given genotype.

Critical/sensitive period

A time in life when one is most sensitive to specific stimuli.

Teratogen

An agent that can cause birth defects.

Four factors that determine effects of teratogens

Intensity, Duration, Timing, Genetic characteristics of the individual.

Prematurity

Birth sooner than 37 weeks after conception.

Cephalocaudal pattern of growth

Growth that starts at the head and progresses downward.

Proximodistal pattern of growth

Growth that starts at the center of the body and progresses outward.

Gross motor skills

The ability to control the large muscles of the body.

Fine motor skills

The ability to control the small muscles of the body.

Psychosexual theory

Developmental stages including Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital.

Psychosocial theory

Developmental stages including Trust vs Mistrust, Autonomy vs Shame, Initiative vs Guilt, Industry vs Inferiority, Identity vs Diffusion, Intimacy vs Isolation, Generativity vs Stagnation, Integrity vs Despair.

Classical conditioning

The process by which stimuli initially unable to evoke a response become able to do so through pairing.

Operant conditioning

The process by which the consequences of a behavior change the probability that behavior will reoccur.

Ecological theory

Development occurs within multidimensional contexts.

Sociocultural theory

Concerned with how society influences people.

Zone of proximal development

The difference between what someone can do alone and with expert help.

Dynamic systems theory

Development is due to the dynamic interaction of diverse developing systems.

Types of infant learning

Habituation, Incidental learning, Imitation, and Intentional learning.

Working memory

The place where information is stored temporarily; lasts up to 30 seconds.

Long-term memory

Memory that lasts up to a lifetime and has practically unlimited capacity.

Infantile amnesia

The inability to recall events before three years of age.

Self-regulation

The ability to intentionally override an impulse.

Constructivism

The view that we construct our reality depending on how we interpret stimuli.

Scheme

A mental map of some domain of knowledge.

Assimilation

Integrating new information into existing knowledge structures.

Accommodation

Changing existing knowledge structures to fit new information.

Centration

The tendency to think of stimuli only in a one-dimensional way.

Basic assumptions about information processing

Thinking is information processing, limited, flexible, and can be modeled with computers.

Secure attachment

A strong positive bond between two people.

Attachment patterns

Types include Secure, Insecure Ambivalent, Insecure Avoidant, and Disorganized.

Social referencing

Looking at one’s significant other to decide the safety of novel stimuli.

Obesity

BMI greater than 30.

Metacognition

The ability to think about thinking.

Egocentrism

The inability to see things from someone else’s perspective.

Attention

Focusing of conscious awareness.

Selective attention

Choosing one thing to pay attention to.

Sustained attention

Keeping attention focused on one thing over time.

Executive attention

Controlling one’s attentional resources.

Emotional literacy

Knowledge of emotional states and appropriate reactions.

Social cognition

Thinking about social phenomena.

Parenting styles

Includes Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive, Indifferent, and Indulgent.

Dynamic integration

A view that adolescent physical, cognitive, and social changes interact.

Hypothetical deductive reasoning

Ability to manipulate one variable while holding others constant.

Imaginary audience

Tendency to think everyone else is looking at you.

Personal fable

The view that one is special and invulnerable.

Individuation

Process by which the child forms a unique identity apart from parents.

Marcia’s four identity statuses

Diffusion, Foreclosure, Moratorium, Achieved.

Emerging adulthood

Period between adolescence and early adulthood (19-28 years).

Early adulthood

Period from 19 to 39 years.

Post-formal thought

Thought that becomes more Reflective, Relativistic, Contextual, Provisional, Realistic, and acknowledges emotions.

Intimacy vs isolation

Conflict between sharing and self-absorption.

Parental investment theory

Differences in mate selection based on the time and effort needed for child-rearing.

Social role theory

Sex differences in mate selection as adaptations to learned gender roles.

Homogamy

Tendency to prefer a partner similar to oneself.

Presbyopia

Farsightedness.

Presbycusis

Trouble distinguishing high-pitched sounds.

Generativity vs stagnation

Concern in establishing and guiding the next generation.

Sandwich generation

Age group responsible for caring for children and parents.

Empty nest syndrome

Feelings of unhappiness following children’s departure from home.

Terminal drop

Large decrease in IQ scores preceding death.

Agism

Bias against old people.

Reserve capacity

Ability to engage in activities above normal daily activities.

Life span

Maximum number of years an individual can live (120-125 years).

Life expectancy

Number of years likely lived by the average person born in a particular year.

Integrity vs despair

Conflict between knowing one has lived a productive life and fear of death.

Disengagement theory

Older adults are happiest when they retire from social activities.

Activity theory

Older adults are happiest when they continue to participate in social activities.

Kubler-Ross’ Stages of Dying

Include Denial and Isolation, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.