Comprehensive Developmental Psychology & Aging: Key Theories, Research, and Stages

What are the 4 Conceptions of Age?

Chronological, biological, psychological, and social.

What are the Age Periods of Development?

Infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, late adulthood.

What is the Nature versus Nurture debate?

A discussion regarding the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to human development.

Who are some key theorists in development?

Locke, Rousseau, Gesell, Freud, Erickson, B.F. Skinner, Bandura, Piaget, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner.

What are the Stages of Piaget's Cognitive Development?

Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages.

What are Erickson's Psychosocial Stages?

Eight stages that describe the psychosocial development throughout the lifespan, from trust vs. mistrust to integrity vs. despair.

What is descriptive research?

Research that provides a detailed account of a phenomenon without manipulating variables.

What is correlational research?

Research that examines the relationship between two or more variables without inferring causation.

What is experimental research?

Research that tests hypotheses by manipulating one or more independent variables to observe the effect on a dependent variable.

What are the 5 main APA Code of Ethics?

No harm, informed consent, confidentiality, deception, and debriefing.

How many chromosomes does a human have?

Humans typically have 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs.

What are the different gene types?

Homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, recessive, and polygenic.

What type of environmental factors change gene expression?

Epigenetic factors can turn genes on or off, affecting gene expression.

What are the Prenatal Developmental periods?

Germinal Period (2 weeks), Embryonic Period (3-8 weeks), Fetal Period (9 weeks to birth).

What outside factors can affect fetal development?

Factors include teratogens, maternal health, nutrition, substance use, infections, stress, and environmental toxins.

What are maternal factors affecting pregnancy?

Conditions such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, and infections can affect pregnancy outcomes.

What is the leading cause of death for infants aged 1-12 months?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a leading cause.

What is the difference between Synaptic Blooming and Synaptic Pruning?

Synaptic Blooming refers to the rapid creation of synapses during early development, while Synaptic Pruning is the process of eliminating unused synapses.

How long does a baby stay in REM sleep?

Infants can spend about 50% of their sleep in REM sleep.

What are 7 Common Infant Reflexes?

Rooting, sucking, grasping, Moro reflex, Babinski reflex, stepping reflex, and tonic neck reflex.

What is nativism?

The belief that certain skills or abilities are innate and not acquired through experience.

What are Ainsworth's 4 attachment styles?

Secure, ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized/disoriented.

What is the corpus callosum?

A thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, facilitating communication between them.

What are Fine Motor Skills?

Skills that involve the use of small muscles for tasks such as writing or buttoning a shirt.

What are Gross Motor Skills?

Skills that involve the use of large muscles for activities such as walking, running, or jumping.

What is Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development?

The difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can do with guidance.

What is Theory of Mind?

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

What are the three parenting styles?

Authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive.

What effect does spanking have?

Spanking can lead to increased aggression, antisocial behavior, and mental health issues in children.

What is Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence?

A theory that identifies three types of intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical.

What is dyslexia?

A learning disorder characterized by difficulty in reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters.

What is Kohlberg's 3 Stages of Moral Development?

Pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional levels of moral reasoning.

What is the imaginary audience?

A cognitive distortion where adolescents believe they are the focus of everyone else's attention.

What is intuitive thought?

A type of thinking that is based on feelings and experiences rather than logical reasoning.

What is analytical thought?

A type of thinking that involves logical reasoning and systematic problem-solving.

What are Marcia's Four Identity Statuses?

Identity diffusion, identity foreclosure, identity moratorium, and identity achievement.

What is Self Concept?

An individual's perception of themselves, including their traits, behaviors, and characteristics.

What is Self Esteem?

An individual's overall evaluation of their worth or value.

What is Autonomy versus Attachment?

A developmental conflict where individuals seek independence while maintaining emotional bonds with caregivers.

What is Deviant Peer Contagion?

The phenomenon where negative behaviors are reinforced among peers, leading to increased risk-taking or delinquency.

What are the 5 characteristics of emerging adulthood?

Identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling in-between, and a sense of possibilities.

What effects does alcohol and substance abuse have on college students?

Increased risk of academic failure, health issues, and social problems.

What is the connection between brain and sex?

The brain plays a crucial role in sexual arousal and behavior, influenced by hormones and neurotransmitters.

What is sexual orientation as a continuum?

The idea that sexual orientation exists on a spectrum rather than as a binary classification.

Who is Alfred Kinsey?

A biologist and sexologist known for his research on human sexual behavior.

What is Post Formal Thought?

A stage of cognitive development that goes beyond formal operational thinking, incorporating practical and contextual reasoning.

What is dialectical thought?

A type of reasoning that considers multiple perspectives and the complexities of situations.

What are the 4 Stages of Career Development?

Exploration, establishment, maintenance, and decline.

What is a NEET?

An acronym for 'Not in Education, Employment, or Training,' referring to young people who are disengaged from work and education.

What is sexism?

Prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex or gender.

What do Bohlin and Hagekull say about shyness in infancy?

They suggest that shyness can be a stable trait that affects social interactions later in life.

What is the Five Factor Model?

A model of personality that includes five dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

What are the two dimensions of Bartholomew's attachment theory?

Anxiety and avoidance, which describe different attachment styles.

What is Erikson's sixth stage of psychosocial development?

Intimacy vs. Isolation, focusing on forming intimate relationships.

What factors influence attraction?

Proximity, similarity, physical attractiveness, and reciprocity.

What is Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Love?

A theory that describes love in terms of three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment.

What is primary aging?

The inevitable biological aging process that occurs over time.

What is secondary aging?

Aging that results from environmental factors and lifestyle choices.

What are some effects of lack of sleep in middle adulthood?

Increased risk of health problems, cognitive decline, and mood disturbances.

What happens to women in menopause?

Women experience the cessation of menstruation and a decline in estrogen levels, leading to various physical and emotional changes.

What is crystallized intelligence?

The ability to use learned knowledge and experience.

What is fluid intelligence?

The capacity to reason and solve novel problems, independent of any knowledge from the past.

What was the Seattle Longitudinal Study?

A study that examined the effects of aging on cognitive abilities over time.

What can cause a midlife crisis?

Factors such as unfulfilled dreams, life transitions, and personal reflection can contribute to a midlife crisis.

What is Erikson's generativity versus stagnation?

A stage in middle adulthood where individuals strive to create or nurture things that will outlast them.

What is the primary generative type according to Erikson?

The desire to contribute to the well-being of future generations.

What is the virtue achieved when one reaches generativity?

Care.

What is the Sandwich Generation?

A group of middle-aged individuals who are simultaneously caring for their aging parents and their own children.

What is Empty Nest Syndrome?

Feelings of sadness or loss that parents may experience when their children leave home.

What is a Kinkeeper?

A family member, often a woman, who takes on the responsibility of maintaining family connections and traditions.

Why do men divorce at this stage?

Reasons may include dissatisfaction with the marriage, desire for independence, or midlife crises.

Why do women divorce at this stage?

Women may seek divorce due to unfulfilled emotional needs, dissatisfaction, or changes in personal identity.

What is the impact of remarriage and life after divorce?

Remarriage can lead to new family dynamics, challenges, and opportunities for personal growth.

Can ageism lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Yes, negative stereotypes about aging can influence behavior and attitudes, reinforcing those stereotypes.

What is the leading cause of disability in older adults?

Chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.

What percentage of people are 65 years or older?

Approximately 15% of the population in many developed countries.

What are the characteristics of aging according to the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging?

Changes in physical health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being.

What is the Hayflick limit?

The number of times a normal somatic human cell will divide before cell division stops, typically about 40-60 divisions.

What is the Sensory Register?

The initial stage of memory where sensory information is stored for a very brief period.

What is memory in late adulthood?

Memory may decline, particularly in episodic and working memory, but semantic memory often remains stable.

What is intelligence and wisdom in late adulthood?

While fluid intelligence may decline, crystallized intelligence and wisdom often increase with experience.

What are Cognitive Reserves?

The brain's resilience to damage, which can be influenced by education, lifestyle, and cognitive engagement.

What is Erikson's Integrity versus despair?

The final stage of psychosocial development where individuals reflect on their life and either feel a sense of fulfillment or regret.

What is Socioemotional Selectivity Theory?

A theory suggesting that as people age, they prioritize emotionally meaningful goals and relationships.

What is Palliative Care?

A specialized medical care focused on providing relief from symptoms and stress of serious illness.

What are the stages of grief?

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

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