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Developmental psychology

The study of physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout life.

Nature vs. Nurture

Whether genetics (nature) or environment (nurture) influences development more.

Continuous vs. Discontinuous

Whether development is gradual or happens in distinct stages.

Stability vs. Change

Whether traits stay the same or change over time.

Cross-sectional studies

Compares different age groups at one time (fast but cohort effects).

Longitudinal studies

Studies the same people over time (accurate but time-consuming).

Teratogens

Harmful substances (e.g., alcohol, drugs) that affect prenatal development.

Factors affecting prenatal development

Nutrition, stress, maternal age, exposure to toxins.

Maturation

Biological growth that unfolds naturally; experience can speed it up or slow it down.

Early childhood physical development

Growth in motor skills, coordination, and brain development.

Gross Motor Skills

Large movements (e.g., walking).

Fine Motor Skills

Small movements (e.g., writing).

Reflexes

Automatic responses in newborns (e.g., rooting, grasping, sucking, Moro reflex).

Rooting reflex

Baby turns head when cheek is touched, looking for a nipple.

Vision in babies

Poor at birth; improves over months.

Visual cliff test

Tests depth perception in infants.

Critical period

A crucial time for development (e.g., language acquisition in early years).

First language deadline

By puberty, otherwise fluency is unlikely.

Imprinting

When certain animals form attachments early in life (e.g., ducks following a mother).

Growth spurt & puberty

Rapid physical growth and sexual maturation in adolescence.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Reproductive organs.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Non-reproductive traits (e.g., facial hair, breasts).

Menarche

First menstrual period.

Spermarche

First ejaculation.

Physical changes in adulthood

Slower metabolism, vision decline, menopause, muscle loss.

Cognitive development

Growth in thinking, problem-solving, and learning.

Schema

Mental framework (e.g., dogs have four legs).

Assimilation

Fitting new info into an existing schema (e.g., calling a cat a dog).

Accommodation

Changing a schema for new info (e.g., realizing cats and dogs are different).

Piaget's Stages

Sensorimotor (0-2 years), Preoperational (2-7 years), Concrete Operational (7-11 years), Formal Operational (12+ years).

Object permanence

Knowing things exist when unseen.

Conservation

Understanding quantity remains the same despite changes in shape.

Reversibility

Ability to mentally reverse actions.

Pretend play

Using imagination.

Mental symbols

Using symbols to represent objects.

Animism

Believing objects have life.

Egocentrism

Seeing only one's own perspective.

Theory of mind

Understanding others' thoughts.

Abstract thought

Thinking beyond the concrete.

Order of Piaget's Stages

Sensorimotor → Preoperational → Concrete → Formal.

Object permanence

Sensorimotor concept where objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.

Egocentrism

Preoperational concept where a child cannot see a situation from another person's perspective.

Conservation

Concrete Operational concept that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or arrangement.

Abstract thought

Formal Operational concept that involves thinking about concepts and ideas that are not physically present.

ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development)

The gap between what a child can do alone vs. with help.

Scaffolding

Providing structured support for learning.

Fluid Intelligence

Quick thinking ability that declines with age.

Crystallized Intelligence

Knowledge and skills that increase with age.

Dementia symptoms

Memory loss, confusion, personality changes.

Language

System of communication using symbols.

Phoneme

Smallest sound unit (e.g., 'ba' in 'bat').

Morpheme

Smallest meaning unit (e.g., 'un' in 'undo').

Grammar

Rules for language structure.

Semantics

Meaning of words.

Syntax

Sentence structure.

Cooing

Language development stage (0-2 months) involving vowel sounds.

Babbling

Language development stage (4-6 months) involving random sounds.

One-word stage

Language development stage (1 year) involving single words.

Telegraphic speech

Language development stage (2 years) involving short, simple sentences.

Overgeneralization

Applying grammar rules too widely (e.g., 'goed' instead of 'went').

Socioemotional development

Growth in emotions, relationships, and personality.

Temperament

Natural personality; types include easy, difficult, slow-to-warm-up.

Separation anxiety

Distress when away from caregivers, peaks at 1 year.

Attachment styles

Patterns of attachment including Secure, Avoidant, Resistant, and Disorganized.

Secure attachment

Comfortable attachment style where the child seeks the parent.

Authoritative parenting

Parenting style characterized by high warmth and discipline, leading to the best outcomes.

Parallel play

Playing near but not with others, typical in early childhood.

Imaginary audience

Belief that everyone is watching you, common in adolescence.

Social clock

Cultural expectations for life events such as marriage and job.

Erikson's Psychosocial Theory

Theory consisting of 8 life stages with conflicts to resolve.

ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

Traumatic events affecting development.

Ecological Systems Theory

Theory explaining how environment affects development.

Microsystem

Immediate surroundings in the ecological systems theory.

Macrosystem

Cultural context in the ecological systems theory.