Developmental Psych Final

Conservation

Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance.

IQ

A measure of intelligence based on standardized tests.

Physical growth and change

Refers to the physical development and body changes that occur as children grow.

Piaget’s concrete operational thinking

Children begin logical thinking about concrete events but struggle with abstract ideas.

Intelligence testing

Assessments designed to measure intellectual abilities.

Self-concept

How someone thinks about, evaluates, or perceives themselves.

Self-esteem

One’s feelings of high or low self-worth.

Social cognition

The process of understanding how people think about others and themselves.

Social inference

Drawing conclusions about others based on social information.

Social responsibility

A person’s obligation to act for the benefit of society at large.

Peer group

A social group whose members have interests, social positions, and age in common.

Erikson’s Industry vs Inferiority

Stage where children learn the pleasure of applying themselves to tasks or they feel inferior.

Freud’s Latency Period

Psychosexual stage focusing on dormant sexual feelings and development of social and communication skills.

Hormones

Chemical substances that influence bodily functions, including growth and mood.

Puberty

Period of rapid physical maturation involving hormonal and bodily changes during early adolescence.

Sexual maturation

Development of sexual organs and secondary sex characteristics.

Menarche

A girl's first menstrual period.

Piaget’s formal operational thinking

Stage where people develop the ability to think about abstract concepts.

Physical changes in adolescence

Growth spurts, hormonal changes, and development of secondary sex characteristics.

Identity formation

The development of the distinct personality of an individual.

Foreclosure status

Premature commitment to an identity without exploration.

Diffusion status

Lack of direction or commitment toward identity.

Moratorium status

Actively exploring identity options without having made a commitment.

Identity achievement

Successful resolution of identity exploration and commitment to a sense of self.

Erikson’s concept of identity and adolescent identity crisis

Adolescents must explore different roles and integrate them into a single identity.

Marcia’s Modes of Identity Formation

Foreclosure, diffusion, moratorium, achievement.

Identity formation in culture/context

Identity development influenced by cultural expectations and norms.

Age clock

Internalized expectations for life milestones at different ages.

Social norms

Unwritten rules about how to behave in society.

Dialectical thinking (Reigel)

The ability to view issues from multiple perspectives and integrate them.

Biological vs social vs psychological age

Differences between physical aging, social role expectations, and mental outlook.

Sexual attitudes and behavior

Beliefs and practices related to sexual activity.

Erikson’s intimacy vs isolation

Young adults form intimate relationships or suffer feelings of isolation.

Levinson’s Seasons of a Person’s Life

Stages of adult development involving tasks and transitions.

Piaget vs Perry vs Reigel theories

Differences in cognitive development theories for young adulthood.

Self-actualization

The realization of one's potential and self-fulfillment.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

A pyramid of human needs, culminating in self-actualization.

Parenting and work in adulthood

Balancing family life responsibilities and career.

Menopause

The end of menstrual cycles, typically in middle age.

Osteoporosis

A condition in which bones become weak and brittle.

Physical changes in middle adulthood

Slower metabolism, decreased muscle mass, wrinkles, etc.

Fluid vs crystallized intelligence

Fluid: problem-solving ability; Crystallized: accumulated knowledge.

Empty nest

Feelings parents experience when children leave home.

Erikson’s Generativity vs Self-Absorption

Middle-aged adults either contribute to future generations or become self-centered.

Peck’s extension of Erikson’s theory

Additional tasks of middle adulthood like valuing wisdom over physical strength.

Men’s vs women’s midlife crisis

Differences in how men and women experience and respond to midlife challenges.

Ageism

Prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s age.

Cataract

Clouding of the eye’s lens leading to decreased vision.

Glaucoma

Eye disease that damages the optic nerve, often linked to high eye pressure.

Visual acuity

Sharpness or clarity of vision.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Atherosclerosis

Hardening and narrowing of the arteries.

Dementia

Decline in memory and cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Alzheimer’s disease

Progressive brain disorder that leads to memory loss and cognitive decline.

Stroke

A sudden interruption in blood supply to the brain.

Physical aspects of aging

Bodily changes including muscle loss, reduced bone density, and sensory decline.

Stochastic theories of aging

Aging results from random damage over time.

Speed of cognition and memory

Slowing down of information processing with age.

Sensory vs short-term vs long-term memory

Sensory: fleeting impressions; short-term: temporary storage; long-term: durable memory storage.

Erikson’s integrity vs despair

Late adulthood reflection on life: sense of fulfillment or regret.

Kubler-Ross’s Stages of Adjustment

Five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

Living wills

Legal documents specifying medical wishes if incapacitated.

Right to die

The right of a person to refuse life-sustaining treatment.