AP Psychology Unit 4: Neuroscience, Development, & Drugs

accommodation

adjusting existing schemas or creating new ones to incorporate new information

adolescence

the transitional period from childhood to adulthood marked by physical, cognitive, and social changes

adulthood

the stage of life following adolescence characterized by full physical and psychological maturity

adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

potentially traumatic events in childhood such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction

aggression

physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone

animism

the belief that inanimate objects have thoughts and feelings

androgyny

having both traditionally masculine and feminine characteristics

anxious attachment

an attachment style marked by fear of abandonment and strong desire for closeness

asexual

experiencing little or no sexual attraction

assimilation

interpreting new experiences using existing schemas

attachment

an emotional bond between an infant and caregiver

authoritarian parenting

parenting style that is strict, demanding, and low in warmth

authoritative parenting

parenting style that is demanding but responsive and supportive

avoidant attachment

an attachment style characterized by emotional distance and self-reliance

basic trust

Erikson’s stage in which infants learn whether the world is reliable and safe

chronosystem

the dimension of time in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory

cognition

mental activities involved in thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

concrete operational stage

Piaget’s stage where children think logically about concrete events

conservation

understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape

critical period

a time when certain experiences are necessary for normal development

cross-sectional study

research comparing people of different ages at the same time

dementia

a decline in cognitive functioning severe enough to interfere with daily life

developmental psychology

the study of physical, cognitive, and social development across the lifespan

disorganized attachment

an attachment style showing inconsistent and confused behavior

ecological systems theory

theory explaining development through interactions with environmental systems

egocentrism

difficulty seeing the world from others’ perspectives

emerging adulthood

a period from late teens to mid-20s focused on identity exploration

estrogens

sex hormones that promote female traits and reproduction

exosystem

external settings that indirectly influence development

fetal alcohol syndrome

physical and cognitive abnormalities caused by prenatal alcohol exposure

formal operational stage

Piaget’s stage of abstract and hypothetical reasoning

gender

socially constructed roles and expectations associated with sex

gender identity

one’s internal sense of gender

gender role

societal expectations for behavior based on gender

gender typing

learning gender roles through socialization

habituation

decreased response to repeated stimuli

identity

sense of self defined by values, beliefs, and goals

identity achievement

having explored and committed to an identity

identity diffusion

lack of commitment and exploration

identity foreclosure

commitment without exploration

identity moratorium

active exploration without commitment

imaginary audience

belief that others are constantly watching and judging

imprinting

strong attachment formed early in life

insecure attachment

attachment marked by anxiety or avoidance

intersex

having biological sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions

intimacy

close emotional connection with others

longitudinal study

research following the same individuals over time

macrosystem

cultural values and beliefs that influence development

maturation

biological growth processes guided by genetics

menarche

first menstrual period

menopause

cessation of menstruation

mesosystem

interactions between microsystems

microsystem

immediate environment (family, school, peers)

neglectful parenting

parenting style low in warmth and control

object permanence

awareness that objects exist even when unseen

parallel play

children playing near but not with each other

permissive parenting

parenting style high in warmth and low in control

personal fable

belief that one’s experiences are unique

preoperational stage

Piaget’s stage marked by symbolic thinking and egocentrism

pretend play

imaginative play using symbols

primary sex characteristics

reproductive organs

psychosocial stages of development

Erikson’s stages based on social challenges

puberty

period of sexual maturation

relational aggression

harming others through relationships

reversibility

understanding actions can be undone

role

expected behavior in a social position

rooting reflex

infant’s instinct to turn toward touch

schema

mental framework for organizing information

secondary sex characteristics

physical traits appearing at puberty

secure attachment

attachment marked by trust and comfort

self-concept

understanding of who you are

sensorimotor stage

Piaget’s stage where infants learn through senses and actions

separation anxiety

distress when separated from caregiver

sex

biological classification of male or female

sexual aggression

coercive sexual behavior

sexual orientation

enduring pattern of sexual attraction

sexuality

feelings and behaviors related to sexual attraction

scaffold

support provided to help learning

social clock

culturally preferred timing of life events

social learning theory

learning through observation and imitation

social script

expected sequence of behaviors

social identity

sense of self based on group membership

spermarche

first ejaculation

strange situation

procedure to assess attachment

stranger anxiety

fear of unfamiliar people

temperament

characteristic emotional reactivity

teratogens

harmful agents affecting prenatal development

testosterone

hormone associated with male traits

theory of mind

understanding others have thoughts and feelings

visual cliff

apparatus testing depth perception

X chromosome

sex chromosome associated with female traits

Y chromosome

sex chromosome triggering male development

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

range of tasks a child can perform with help

acetylcholine

neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement and memory

action potential

neural impulse traveling down an axon

addiction

compulsive substance use despite consequences

adrenaline

hormone that prepares body for stress

agonist

substance that increases neurotransmitter action

alcohol

depressant affecting coordination and judgment

all-or-none response

neuron fires completely or not at all