delveopmental psychology real

Zygote

A fertilized egg with 46 chromosomes, formed by the union of sperm and egg.

Embryo

The developing human organism from 2 weeks to 2 months after fertilization.

Fetus

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

Teratogens

Substances such as drugs and viruses that can harm the developing fetus.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Physical and cognitive abnormalities caused by a mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Habituation

The decreased response to a repeated stimulus, which is a fundamental form of learning.

Maturation

Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, such as walking and talking in children.

Schema

Mental frameworks that organize and interpret information, helping us understand and make sense of the world.

Assimilation

Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas, allowing us to incorporate new information into our existing knowledge.

Accommodation

Adapting our current schemas to incorporate new information, which leads to the modification of existing cognitive structures.

Sensorimotor Stage

The stage (0-2 years) in Piaget's theory where infants explore the world through their senses and actions, developing object permanence and basic understanding.

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched, which develops in the sensorimotor stage.

Preoperational Stage

The stage (2-6/7 years) in Piaget's theory where children learn to use language but do not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic.

Conservation

The understanding that certain properties, such as mass and volume, remain the same despite changes in the form of objects, a concept developed in the concrete operational stage.

Egocentrism

The difficulty in perceiving things from another person's point of view, commonly observed in the preoperational stage.

Theory of Mind

The understanding that others have thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perspectives that are different from our own, which develops in the preoperational and concrete operational stages.

Concrete Operational Stage

The stage (7-11 years) in Piaget's theory where children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events and understand analogies.

Formal Operational Stage

The stage (12+ years) in Piaget's theory where abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking develop, allowing individuals to ponder on complex moral and ethical issues.

Scaffold

Support for learning and problem-solving that gradually decreases as the individual's skills and understanding develop.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in communication and social interaction, often accompanied by repetitive behaviors.

Stranger Anxiety

The fear of strangers that infants commonly display, typically beginning around 8 months of age.

Attachment

The emotional bond that forms between an infant and their caregiver, demonstrated by the infant seeking closeness and comfort from the caregiver.

Critical Period

A specific window of time in development during which an organism is particularly sensitive to specific environmental stimuli, and if not exposed to these stimuli, normal development may be disrupted.

Imprinting

A rapid and relatively permanent type of learning that occurs during a critical period, leading to the formation of strong attachments, often observed in animals.

Strange Situation

A research procedure developed by Mary Ainsworth to observe attachment relationships between a caregiver and child.

Secure Attachment

An attachment style where infants confidently explore their environment while the caregiver is present, and show distress when the caregiver leaves, but are easily soothed upon their return.

Insecure Attachment

An attachment style where infants avoid attachment or show anxiety and resistance, often due to inconsistent caregiving.

Temperament

A person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity, which is influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

Basic Trust

Erik Erikson's concept of a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy, developed during infancy through appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers.

Self-Concept

A person's understanding and evaluation of themselves, including their physical, psychological, and social attributes.

Parenting Styles

Different approaches to child-rearing, including authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative styles, which significantly influence a child's social and emotional development.

Sex

Biological characteristics that define male and female, including genetic, hormonal, and anatomical differences.

Gender

The social and cultural roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with being male or female, which vary across different societies and time periods.

Aggression

Physical or verbal behavior intended to cause harm or destruction, which can be influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.

Relational Aggression

Aggression aimed at damaging social relationships, often involving manipulation, exclusion, or spreading rumors.

Gender Roles

The set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits that society considers appropriate for men and women, which vary across different cultures and historical periods.

Gender Identity

An individual's personal sense of their own gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating others, and by being rewarded or punished for certain behaviors.

Gender Typing

The acquisition of traditional masculine or feminine roles and behaviors, influenced by socialization and cultural norms.

Androgyny

The presence of both masculine and feminine characteristics in an individual's personality, which allows for greater flexibility in behavior and adaptation to different situations.

Transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from the sex they were assigned at birth, which may involve transitioning to align with their gender identity.

Adolescence

The transitional period between childhood and adulthood, characterized by physical, cognitive, and social changes.

Puberty

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

Moral Intuitions

Quick, gut-level feelings that precede moral reasoning, influencing our immediate judgments and decisions in moral dilemmas.

Delay of Gratification

The ability to resist the temptation for an immediate reward and wait for a later, more valuable reward, which is linked to long-term success and well-being.

Identity

One's sense of self, including personal values, beliefs, and aspirations, shaped by experiences and social interactions.

Social Identity

The part of an individual's self-concept that is derived from their membership in social groups, such as family, ethnicity, or nationality.

Intimacy

The ability to form close, loving relationships with others, characterized by emotional closeness, trust, and mutual support.

Emerging Adulthood

The period from late teens to mid-twenties, marked by exploration, instability, and self-focus, bridging the transition from adolescence to full adulthood.

Sex Chromosomes

The pair of chromosomes that determine an individual's biological sex, with females having two X chromosomes and males having one X and one Y chromosome.

Sex Hormones

Hormones that influence the development of male and female characteristics, including testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

Primary Sex Characteristics

The body structures that make sexual reproduction possible, such as the reproductive organs and external genitalia.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Physical features that distinguish males and females and are not directly involved in reproduction, such as breast development and facial hair.

Spermarche

The first ejaculation in males, marking the onset of sperm production and sexual maturity.

Menarche

The first menstrual period in females, signaling the onset of reproductive capability.

Intersex

A condition present at birth where an individual's reproductive anatomy does not fit typical definitions of male or female, leading to variations in sex characteristics.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

A disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to infections and diseases.

Sexual Orientation

An enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to members of the same or opposite sex, or both, forming a key aspect of an individual's identity.

Menopause

The natural cessation of menstruation and reproductive capacity in women, typically occurring in their late 40s or early 50s.

Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD)

A disorder marked by a significant decline in at least one area of cognitive functioning, such as memory, attention, or reasoning, affecting an individual's daily life.

Alzheimer's Disease

A progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and changes in behavior, leading to severe impairment in daily functioning.

Social Clock

The culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement, influencing individuals' life choices and expectations.