AP Psychology Unit 7 Flashcards

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts from AP Psychology Unit 7.

Developmental Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change across the life span.

Nature and Nurture

The debate over the relative contributions of genetics and environment to development.

Continuity and Stages

The issue of whether development is gradual and continuous or occurs in distinct stages.

Stability and Change

The issue of whether traits remain consistent or change over time.

Prenatal Development

The process of development from conception to birth.

Conception

The fertilization of an egg by a sperm.

Zygote

The fertilized egg during the first two weeks after conception.

Embryo

The developing human organism from about two weeks through two months after conception.

Fetus

The developing human organism from about nine weeks after conception to birth.

Teratogens

Harmful agents that can damage the developing embryo or fetus.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure resulting in physical and cognitive impairments.

Epigenetic Effect

Environmental influences that affect gene expression without changing DNA.

Maternal Illnesses

Diseases or infections in the mother that can affect prenatal development.

Genetic Mutations

Random errors in genes that can cause developmental abnormalities.

Newborn Reflex Responses

Inborn automatic responses such as sucking or grasping.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a repeated stimulus.

Maturation

A biological growth process that enables orderly changes in behavior.

Brain Growth Spurts

Rapid periods of brain development occurring at different ages and brain regions.

Pruning Process

The elimination of unused neural connections to strengthen frequently used ones.

Motor Development

The progression of physical movement abilities.

Infantile Amnesia

The inability to remember events from early childhood.

Rooting

A newborn reflex that helps infants locate food by turning toward touch.

Visual Cliff

A test of depth perception using a glass-covered drop-off.

Cognition

The mental activities involved in thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Jean Piaget

A developmental psychologist who proposed stages of cognitive development.

Schemas

Concepts or frameworks that organize and interpret information.

Assimilation

Interpreting new information using existing schemas.

Accommodation

Adapting schemas to incorporate new information.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's stage (birth-2 years) where knowledge develops through sensory and motor experiences.

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen.

Stranger Anxiety

Fear of unfamiliar people that begins around 8 months.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's stage (2-7 years) marked by symbolic thinking but lack of logical reasoning.

Egocentrism

The inability to see the world from another's perspective.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's stage (7-11 years) characterized by logical thinking about concrete events.

Conservation

The understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape.

Mental Operations

Reversible mental actions used in logical thinking.

Theory of Mind

The ability to understand others' mental states.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's stage (12+ years) involving abstract and hypothetical reasoning.

Abstract Logic

Thinking about ideas not tied to concrete objects.

Lev Vygotsky

A psychologist who emphasized social and cultural influences on learning.

Scaffolding

Temporary support provided to help a learner achieve a task.

Mind Blindness

Difficulty perceiving others' thoughts and feelings.

Autism

A developmental disorder characterized by social and communication difficulties.

Zone of Proximal Development

The range between what a learner can do alone and with help.

Social Development

The development of relationships and social skills.

Attachment

An emotional bond between infant and caregiver.

Harry Harlow

A researcher who studied attachment using monkeys.

Secure Base

A trusted caregiver that provides comfort and confidence.

Critical Period

A time when certain experiences are essential for normal development.

Imprinting

The rapid formation of attachment early in life.

Mere Exposure Effect

The tendency to prefer stimuli we are frequently exposed to.

Strange Situation Experiment

A procedure used to study attachment by observing infant reactions to separation.

Secure Attachment

Attachment style marked by trust and comfort with caregiver.

Insecure Attachment

Attachment style marked by anxiety or avoidance.

Mary Ainsworth

A psychologist who identified attachment styles.

Anxious Attachment

Attachment style marked by fear of abandonment.

Avoidant Attachment

Attachment style marked by emotional distance.

Temperament

A person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Separation Anxiety

Distress experienced when separated from a caregiver.

Erik Erikson

A psychologist who proposed stages of psychosocial development.

Basic Trust

The belief that the world is predictable and reliable.

Disorganized Attachment

Attachment style lacking consistent coping behaviors.

Deprivation of Attachment

The absence of nurturing relationships during early development.

Self-Concept

All thoughts and feelings about oneself.

Authoritarian Parenting

Parenting style that is strict and controlling.

Permissive Parenting

Parenting style that is lenient with few rules.

Authoritative Parenting

Parenting style that is supportive with clear standards.

Life-span Perspective

The view that development continues throughout life.

Adolescence

The transition period from childhood to adulthood.

Puberty

The period of sexual maturation.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Reproductive organs.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Nonreproductive physical traits that develop at puberty.

Menarche

The first menstrual period.

Spermarche

The first ejaculation.

Adolescent Brain Development

Brain maturation involving the frontal lobes.

Moral Reasoning

Thinking about right and wrong.

Lawrence Kohlberg

A psychologist who proposed stages of moral development.

Preconventional Morality

Morality based on self-interest and avoidance of punishment.

Conventional Morality

Morality based on social rules and approval.

Postconventional Morality

Morality based on universal ethical principles.

Moral Intuition

Automatic feelings about right and wrong.

Moral Action

Doing what one believes is morally right.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share others' feelings.

Delayed Gratification

The ability to postpone immediate rewards.

Psychosocial Development

Development of personality and social relationships.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson's stage focused on reliability of caregivers.

Autonomy vs. Doubt

Erikson's stage focused on independence.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Erikson's stage focused on goal-directed behavior.

Industry vs. Inferiority

Erikson's stage focused on competence.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Erikson's stage focused on self-identity.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Erikson's stage focused on close relationships.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Erikson's stage focused on contributing to society.

Integrity vs. Despair

Erikson's stage focused on reflecting on life.

Social Identity

The roles and group memberships that define a person.

Intimacy

Close emotional relationships.

Ecological Systems Theory

A theory emphasizing environmental influences on development.

Microsystem

Immediate environment such as family and school.

Mesosystem

Interactions between microsystems.

Exosystem

External settings that indirectly affect development.

Macrosystem

Cultural values and norms.