Developmental Psychology: Lifespan, Theories, and Social Influences

Developmental psychology

The scientific study of how and why human beings change over the course of their life.

Chronological development

The progression of development in a sequential order based on age.

Lifespan development

The study of how people grow and change from conception to death.

Cross-sectional studies

Research that compares different groups of people at one point in time.

Longitudinal studies

Research that follows the same group of individuals over a period of time.

Nature and nurture

The debate regarding the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to human development.

Continuous development

The view that development is a gradual, continuous process.

Discontinuous development

The view that development occurs in distinct stages.

Stability and change

The concept that some traits remain stable while others may change throughout a person's life.

Prenatal Development

The process of development that occurs during the nine months before birth.

Conception

The process of fertilization when a sperm cell merges with an egg cell.

Zygote

The fertilized egg that results from the union of sperm and egg.

Embryo

The developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month.

Placenta

The organ that nourishes the fetus and removes waste products.

Fetus

The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception until birth.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations.

Teratogens

Agents that can cause malformation or harm to a developing fetus.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

A range of effects that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

A severe form of FASD characterized by physical and cognitive abnormalities.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events occurring before the age of 18 that can have lasting effects on health and well-being.

Newborn Abilities & Reflexes

Innate reflexes and abilities present in newborns that facilitate survival.

Rooting reflex

A reflex that helps infants find food by turning their head toward a touch on the cheek.

Startle (Moro) reflex

A reflex in which an infant reacts to a sudden loss of support by spreading arms and legs.

Grasping reflex

A reflex that causes infants to grasp objects placed in their hands.

Maturation

The biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior.

Neural development

The process of growth and development of the nervous system.

Pruning

The process of eliminating unused neural connections to improve efficiency.

Critical periods

Specific times in development when certain skills or abilities are most easily acquired.

Fine motor skills

The ability to control small movements, typically involving the hands and fingers.

Gross motor skills

The ability to control large movements, typically involving the arms and legs.

Adolescence

The developmental stage that occurs from puberty to adulthood.

Puberty

The period of sexual maturation during which a person becomes capable of reproduction.

Menarche

The first occurrence of menstruation in females.

Spermarche

The first occurrence of ejaculation in males.

Primary sex characteristics

The physical features directly involved in reproduction.

Secondary sex characteristics

The non-reproductive sexual traits such as breast development and body hair.

Emerging adulthood

A developmental stage from late teens to mid-20s characterized by exploration and instability.

Early adulthood

The developmental stage typically ranging from the late teens to the early 30s.

Middle adulthood

The developmental stage from approximately 40 to 65 years of age.

Late adulthood

The developmental stage that begins around age 65 and continues until death.

Menopause

The time in a woman's life when menstruation ceases, typically occurring in middle age.

Death-deferral phenomenon

The tendency for people to postpone death until a significant event, such as a holiday or family gathering.

Gender identity

A person's internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not correspond with their biological sex.

Gender roles

Socially constructed roles and behaviors typically associated with being male or female.

Social learning theory

The theory that people learn behaviors through observation and imitation of others.

Androgyny

A gender role that includes both masculine and feminine traits.

Sexual orientation

A person's emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to others.

Schemas

Cognitive frameworks that help organize and interpret information.

Assimilation

The process of incorporating new experiences into existing schemas.

Accommodation

The process of adjusting schemas to fit new information.

Object permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.

Theory of mind

The ability to understand that others have thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives different from one's own.

Kohlberg's stages of moral development

A theory that describes the development of moral reasoning through different stages.

Attachment

The emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver.

Secure attachment

A strong emotional bond characterized by trust and a sense of safety.

Insecure attachment (avoidant)

A type of attachment characterized by avoidance of closeness and emotional distance.

Insecure attachment (anxious)

A type of attachment characterized by anxiety and uncertainty in relationships.

Disorganized attachment

A type of attachment characterized by a lack of clear attachment behavior.

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development

A theory that outlines eight stages of psychosocial development throughout the lifespan.

Identity formation processes

The processes through which individuals develop a sense of self and personal identity.

Imaginary audience

The belief that others are as focused on oneself as one is.

Personal fable

The belief that one's experiences are unique and not understood by others.

Social clock

The culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage and parenthood.