kids

Nature vs. Nurture

Nature vs. Nurture

Do genes (nature) or environmental factors (nurture) contribute more to a person's being?

Continuity vs. Stages

Is development a gradual, continuous process or a sequence of separate stages?

Stability vs. Change

Do our early personality traits persist through life, or do we become different persons as we age?

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

What is the correct chronological order of the following?

A.) Fetus, Zygote, Embryo

B.) Zygote, Embryo, Fetus

C.) Fetus, Embryo, Zygote

D.) Zygote, Fetus, Embryo

B.) Zygote, Embryo, Fetus

teratogens

agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

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

rooting reflex

a baby's tendency, when touched on the cheek, to turn toward the touch, open the mouth, and search for the nipple

sucking reflex

Reflex that causes a newborn to make sucking motions when a finger or nipple if placed in the mouth

Babinski reflex

Reflex in which a newborn fans out the toes when the sole of the foot is touched

grasping reflex

an infant's clinging response to a touch on the palm of his or her hand

tonic neck reflex

turning the head to one side, extending the arm and leg on that side, and flexing the limbs on the opposite side

Moro reflex

Infant reflex where a baby will startle in response to a loud sound or sudden movement.

stepping reflex

a neonatal reflex in which an infant lifts first one leg and then the other in a coordinated pattern like walking

Maturation

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

motor development

the progression of muscular coordination required for physical activities

Jean Piaget

Four stage theory of cognitive development: 1. sensorimotor, 2. preoperational, 3. concrete operational, and 4. formal operational. He said that the two basic processes work in tandem to achieve cognitive growth-assimilation and accomodation

Schemas

Concepts or mental frameworks that organize and interpret information.

Assimilation

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

Accomodation

the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina

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

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

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

object permanence

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

Egocentrism

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

theory of mind

people's ideas about their own and others' mental states—about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict.

stranger anxiety

the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning by about 8 months of age

separation anxiety

emotional distress seen in many infants when they are separated from people with whom they have formed an attachment

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

Konrad Lorenz

researcher who focused on critical attachment periods in baby birds, a concept he called imprinting

secure attachment

a relationship in which an infant obtains both comfort and confidence from the presence of his or her caregiver

insecure attachment

attachments marked by anxiety or ambivalence

Harlow

researcher that highlighted the importance of physical contact comfort in the formation of attachments with parents (monkeys)

self-concept

all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, "Who am I?"

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

primary sex characteristics

the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual reproduction possible

secondary sexual characteristics

Bodily structures that change with sexual maturity but are not directly related to reproduction.

Kohlberg

theorist who claimed individuals went through a series of stages in the process of moral development.

Pre-conventional

Kohlberg's stage of moral development in which rewards and punishments dominate moral thinking

conventional morality

second level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development in which the child's behavior is governed by conforming to the society's norms of behavior

post conventional

Kohlberg, whats right or wrong based on some higher moral reasoning, full internalization, adulthood if ever, not many reach it

Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson's first stage during the first year of life, infants learn to trust when they are cared for in a consistent warm manner

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Erikson's stage in which a toddler learns to exercise will and to do things independently; failure to do so causes shame and doubt

Initiative vs. Guilt

Erikson's third stage in which the child finds independence in planning, playing and other activities

Competence vs. Inferiority

children learn the pleasure of applying themselves to tasks, or they feel inferior

identity v. role confusion

5th stage in Erikson's model; adolescents must develop a sense of identity or suffer lack of direction

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Erikson's stage in which individuals form deeply personal relationships, marry, begin families

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Erikson's stage of social development in which middle-aged people begin to devote themselves more to fulfilling one's potential and doing public service

integrity vs despair

Erikson's final stage in which those near the end of life look back and evaluate their lives

authoritarian parenting

style of parenting in which parent is rigid and overly strict, showing little warmth to the child

permissive parenting

A parenting style characterized by the placement of few limits on the child's behavior.

authoritative parenting

parenting style characterized by emotional warmth, high standards for behavior, explanation and consistent enforcement of rules, and inclusion of children in decision making

menopause

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

menarche

the first menstrual period

Dementia

a slowly progressive decline in mental abilities, including memory, thinking, and judgment, that is often accompanied by personality changes

Alzheimer's disease

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

fluid intelligence

our ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood

crystal intelligence

our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age

succesful aging

the attainment of peak physical and psychological functioning and participation in rewarding social activities

stages of grief

denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

Galton

1st to suggest intelligence was inherited. Intelligence based on muscle strength, size of head, reaction time, etc.

Habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.