Unit 8 human development

What is the nature vs. nurture debate concerned with?

It explores the extent to which heredity and the environment influence our behavior.

What does continuity vs. discontinuity refer to in human development?

It refers to whether development is a gradual cumulative change (continuity) or whether it happens in distinct stages (discontinuity).

What is the stability vs. change issue in personality development?

Whether personality traits present during infancy are carried throughout life or whether they change based on life experiences.

What is the significance of the first two years in a child's development?

These years are crucial for the child’s brain development.

What hormonal change occurs during adolescence?

A dramatic increase in sex hormones.

What defines prenatal development?

It begins with fertilization and ends with birth.

What is a zygote?

The stage when the egg is fertilized and rapid cell division occurs, lasting up to 2 weeks.

What happens during the embryonic stage?

From 3-8 weeks, the organs begin to develop.

What are the primary and secondary sex characteristics in puberty?

Primary sex characteristics involve reproductive organs, while secondary involve non-reproductive organs like breasts and body hair.

What is the role of schemas in Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

Schemas are mental representations that organize the information processed in our brain.

What is assimilation in Piaget's theory?

It is the process of fitting new information into existing schemas.

Define accommodation in Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

It is the modification of existing schemas to fit new information.

What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?

The difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can achieve with guidance from a skilled partner.

What distinguishes fluid intelligence from crystallized intelligence?

Fluid intelligence is the ability to think logically and solve novel problems, while crystallized intelligence involves utilizing knowledge and skills acquired over time.

What is the major focus of Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory?

It emphasizes the role of social interaction and cultural tools in shaping cognitive development.

What is object permanence and when do infants typically gain it?

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, typically developed around 8-10 months.

What is egocentrism in the preoperational stage of Piaget’s theory?

It is the inability to see the world from someone else's perspective.

What is meant by internalization in Vygotsky's theory?

It refers to absorbing information from a specified social environmental context.