Psychology Chapter 8

Development

The scientific study of how and why humans change over the course of their life span.

Cross Sectional Designs vs Longitudinal Studies

Cross sectional designs compare different age groups at one point in time while longitudinal studies follow the same individuals over an extended period.

Nature and Nurture

Nature refers to genetic or hereditary influences while nurture refers to environmental or experiential influences on development.

Resilience

The ability to adapt and recover from adversity or stress.

Physical Development

Focuses on biological growth and changes in the body and brain.

Prenatal Development

The process of growth and development before birth the three stages are germinal embryonic and fetal.

Teratogens

Environmental agents that can cause harm to a developing fetus examples include alcohol tobacco and certain medications.

Cognitive Development

The study of how thinking problem solving and decision making abilities change over time.

Piagets Four Stages of Cognitive Development

Sensorimotor preoperational concrete operational and formal operational stages.

Assimilation and Accommodation

Assimilation involves incorporating new information into existing schemas accommodation involves changing schemas to fit new information.

Object Permanence

Understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen example a child looking for a hidden toy.

Conservation

The understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance example knowing that water volume stays constant when poured into a different container.

Egocentrism

Difficulty in seeing the world from others perspectives common in the preoperational stage.

Executive Function

Cognitive processes including planning attention problem solving and self control example a child resisting temptation to wait for a reward.

Socioemotional Development

Focuses on changes in emotions personality relationships and social contexts.

Temperament

An individuals characteristic style of emotional reactivity and self regulation.

Infant Attachment

The emotional bond between an infant and caregiver.

Secure Attachment Style

Infants feel confident to explore when caregiver is present show distress when they leave and seek comfort upon return.

Eriksons Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development

Trust vs mistrust autonomy vs shame doubt initiative vs guilt industry vs inferiority identity vs role confusion intimacy vs isolation generativity vs stagnation integrity vs despair.

Baumrinds Four Parenting Styles

Authoritative high warmth and high control example setting clear rules but explaining reasons authoritarian low warmth and high control example strict rules with little explanation permissive high warmth and low control example few rules indulgent parenting neglectful low warmth and low control example uninvolved or indifferent parenting.

Emerging Adulthood

A developmental period from late teens through twenties characterized by exploration and instability.

Gender

The social and cultural meanings attached to being male or female.

Gender Identity

Ones personal sense of being male female or another gender.

Sexual Orientation

An individuals enduring physical romantic and or emotional attraction to others.

Gender Roles

Societal expectations about how males and females should think feel and behave example men being expected to be assertive.

Gender Similarities Hypothesis

The idea that males and females are similar on most psychological variables.

Kohlbergs Theory of Moral Reasoning Preconventional Level

Moral reasoning based on avoiding punishment or gaining rewards.

Kohlbergs Theory of Moral Reasoning Conventional Level

Moral reasoning based on social approval and maintaining social order.

Kohlbergs Theory of Moral Reasoning Postconventional Level

Moral reasoning based on abstract principles and personal conscience.

Prosocial Behavior

Voluntary actions intended to benefit others examples include sharing helping and comforting.