developmental psychology

developmental psychology

Study of physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the lifespan

nature and nurture

Interaction between genetic inheritance and environmental experiences in shaping an individual's development

continuity and stages

Debate between gradual and abrupt changes in development, and the identification of developmental stages

stability and change

Exploration of persisting traits and changes in behavior and personality as individuals age

prenatal development

The course of physical and psychological development before birth

teratogens

Agents, such as drugs or viruses, that can cause harm to the developing fetus during prenatal development

zygote

The fertilized egg that undergoes rapid cell division and eventually develops into an embryo

embryo

The developing organism from approximately 2 weeks to 2 months after fertilization

fetus

The developing organism from approximately 9 weeks after conception until birth

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

A pattern of physical and mental defects that can develop in a fetus due to high levels of alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy

habituation

The decreasing responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated exposure

maturation

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

schema

A mental framework for organizing and interpreting information

assimilation

The process of interpreting new experiences in terms of existing mental structures without changing them

accommodation

The process of adjusting existing mental structures to encompass new experiences

sensorimotor stage

The stage during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities

object permanence

The awareness that objects continue to exist even when they are not perceived

preoperational stage

The stage during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic

conservation

The principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects

egocentrism

The preoperational child's difficulty in taking another person's point of view

theory of mind

The understanding of one's own and others' mental states, including beliefs, intentions, and emotions

concrete operational stage

The stage during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events

formal operational stage

The stage during which people develop the ability to think about abstract concepts and hypothetical situations

scaffold

A framework that offers temporary support to facilitate higher-level thinking

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

A complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior

stranger anxiety

The fear and wariness of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning around 8 months of age

attachment

The emotional bond that forms between an infant and their primary caregiver, leading the infant to seek closeness and display distress upon separation

critical period

A specific time during development when certain experiences have a particularly strong impact on an individual's abilities and behavior

imprinting

The process by which certain animals form strong attachments during an early-life critical period

strange situation

A research procedure used to study infant-caregiver attachment, involving brief separations and reunions

secure attachment

A healthy attachment style in which infants are able to explore their environment comfortably in the presence of their caregiver and display distress upon separation, but are easily soothed upon their return

insecure attachment

An unhealthy attachment style in which infants either avoid their caregiver or display extreme clinginess and distress upon separation

temperament

A person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

basic trust

Erik Erikson's concept of a sense of security and predictability in the world, developed during infancy through consistent and reliable caregiving

childhood neglect or abuse

The biopsychosocial effects of physical, psychological, and social development resulting from inadequate or harmful caregiving

self-concept

The overall set of beliefs and perceptions that individuals have about themselves

parenting styles

Different approaches to child-rearing, including authoritarian, permissive, negligent, and authoritative styles

outcomes of parenting styles

The effects of different parenting styles on children's social skills, self-esteem, and cognitive and emotional development

sex

Biologically influenced characteristics that define male and female

gender

The socially influenced characteristics that define the categories of boy, girl, man, and woman

aggression

Physical or verbal behavior intended to cause harm to others

relational aggression

Aggression that is intended to harm a person's relationships or social status

gender bias in the workplace

Differences in perception, compensation, and family-care responsibilities based on gender

gender roles

The set of societal expectations regarding behaviors, attitudes, and traits that are considered appropriate for males and females

gender identity

An individual's personal sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with their biological sex

social learning theory

The theory that suggests people learn social behaviors through observation, imitation, and reinforcement

gender typing

The acquisition of traditional masculine or feminine roles and behaviors

androgyny

The presence of both masculine and feminine characteristics in an individual's personality

transgender

Describing individuals whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth

early experiences modifying the brain

Activities and experiences that can activate and strengthen neural pathways in the developing brain

adolescence

The transitional period from childhood to adulthood, typically marked by physical, cognitive, and social changes, extending from puberty to independence

puberty

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

adolescent cognitive and moral development

The changes in reasoning and moral intuitions that occur during adolescence

social tasks and challenges of adolescence

The developmental tasks and challenges related to identity, social identity, and intimacy that adolescents face

parents and peers influence on adolescents

The impact of parental and peer relationships on adolescents' independence and social behavior

emerging adulthood

The period from approximately 18 to the mid-twenties, characterized by exploration, instability, and a focus on self-development

sex hormones

Hormones that influence sexual development and behavior, including testosterone and estrogen

intersex condition

A biological condition in which an individual is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't fit typical definitions of male or female

sexually transmitted infections prevention

Efforts to prevent the spread of infections through safe sexual practices and effective communication

factors influencing teenagers' sexual behaviors

Environmental and individual factors that influence the sexual behaviors of teenagers

research findings about sexual orientation

The enduring patterns of romantic or sexual attraction and the biological explanations for sexual orientation

physical changes during middle and late adulthood

The biological changes, including menopause and aging effects, that occur during middle and late adulthood

memory changes with age

The differences in memory recall, prospective memory, and the decline in memory function associated with aging

neurocognitive disorders and Alzheimer's disease

Acquired cognitive deficits and the progressive decline in cognitive abilities, often associated with aging

social journey from early adulthood to death

The societal expectations, romantic relationships, and effects of aging that individuals experience from early adulthood to the end of life