Unit 3: Development and Learning

Developmental psychology

Studies how we grow and change throughout life, examining milestones, patterns, stability, and changes.

Cross-sectional research

Method that compares different age groups at the same time to understand developmental differences.

Longitudinal research

Method that follows individuals over time to see how they develop and change.

Chronological development

Focus on specific age-related changes in an individual's development.

Thematic development

Examination of broader patterns across a lifespan, rather than focusing solely on age.

Stability vs change in development

Concept that some traits (like personality) remain stable while others (like abilities) may change.

Teratogens

Substances that can cause developmental disorders in a fetus, such as alcohol or certain medications.

Cephalocaudal pattern

Developmental principle that control progresses from head to toe in infants.

Proximodistal pattern

Developmental principle that control develops from the center of the body outward.

Critical periods

Specific times in development when certain experiences have a crucial impact on growth.

Attachment theory

Framework that explains how early relationships with caregivers affect social and emotional development.

Secure attachment

Develops when caregivers provide consistent and responsive care, leading to trust.

Erikson's psychosocial stages

A theory proposing eight stages of development, each with a specific psychosocial conflict.

Operant conditioning

Learning process that involves shaping behavior through reinforcement or punishment.

Classical conditioning

Learning process where an individual learns to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus.

Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The difference between what a child can do independently and what they can do with help.

Schemas in cognitive development

Mental frameworks that help individuals organize and interpret information.

Crystallized intelligence

Knowledge that remains stable or increases with age, based on accumulated experience.

Fluid intelligence

Ability to solve new problems and think abstractly, which tends to decline with age.

Language acquisition device (LAD)

Chomsky's theory suggesting an innate capacity for language learning.

Phonemes

The smallest units of sound that distinguish meaning in a language.

Morphemes

The smallest units of meaning in a language, which can be standalone or parts of words.

Bilingualism

The ability to speak and understand two languages.

Social learning theory

Theory suggesting that behavior can be learned by observing others.