Human Development Final Exam Review

What is the difference between growth and development?

Growth refers primarily to physical changes such as height and weight, while development encompasses a broader range of changes including functional and behavioral changes, skill acquisition, and overall progress toward maturity.

Physical Development

Changes in the body and brain, including height, weight, motor skills, puberty, and sensory changes.

Cognitive Development

Refers to the development of learning skills, attention, memory, language acquisition, thinking, reasoning, and creativity.

Socioemotional Development

Focuses on emotions, personality, and social relationships; encompasses the growth of understanding, managing, expressing emotions, and maintaining relationships.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate concerning the relative influence of genetics (nature) and the environment (nurture) on human development.

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors affect gene expression and thus influence biological traits.

What is the fundamental concept of 'Trust vs. Mistrust'?

It's the first stage in Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development where infants learn to trust based on caregiver reliability.

What is 'Positive Reinforcement'?

A concept in operant conditioning where a desirable stimulus is added after a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior happening again.

What does 'Egocentrism' refer to?

The difficulty that young children have in seeing things from another person's perspective, especially noted in Piaget's preoperational stage.

What are the three parts of Freud's personality structure?

Id (pleasure principle), Ego (reality principle), and Superego (internalized societal norms and morals).

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget’s first stage of cognitive development (0-2 years) where infants learn through their senses and actions.

What occurs during the 'Embryonic period'?

From 2 to 8 weeks post-conception, the embryo forms three layers of cells and undergoes organogenesis.

What device is crucial for maintaining communication between the left and right brain hemispheres?

Corpus Callosum.

What role do 'Neurotransmitters' play in the brain?

Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons and other cells, crucial for many bodily functions.

What does 'Cortisol' do?

It is a stress hormone that helps the body respond to stress but can lead to negative effects if high levels persist.

What does 'Dopamine' represent?

A neurotransmitter linked to pleasure, motivation, and reward, released during enjoyable experiences.

Authoritative Parenting

A balanced approach that sets clear rules while also listening to children's thoughts, promoting independence and responsibility.

What is 'Mean World Syndrome'?

A phenomenon where heavy exposure to violent media leads individuals to believe the world is more dangerous than it actually is.

What is the significance of the 'Critical Age Hypothesis'?

It suggests that there's a specific period in early childhood when language acquisition is most effective.

What is the outcome of 'Unoccupied play'?

The earliest stage of play in infancy, characterized by random movements and explorations without specific goals.

What might result from 'Attachment deprivation'?

Potential negative consequences include emotional insecurity, cognitive delays, and difficulties in forming healthy relationships.