AP Psychology: Key Concepts in Developmental Psychology

Key concepts in developmental psychology.

developmental psychology

a branch of psychology that studies how people grow and change through their lifespan, specifically physical, mental, social, and emotional changes

longitudinal study

a study that follows the same group of people over a long period of time

cross-sectional study

a study that looks at different people in different age groups/cohorts/cross-sections at once

nature vs. nurture

one of the themes of developmental psychology. attempts to study whether our development is influenced more by our genetics or our environment.

stability vs. change

one of the themes of developmental psychology. attempts to study whether different variables and traits persist across our lifetime or if they evolve and change

continuous vs. discontinuous stages

one of the themes of developmental psychology. attempts to study whether our behaviors and other mental processes develop in a continuous flow or in clear stages

prenatal development

physical development before birth

teratogens

any harmful agent, such as chemicals or viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus and negatively impact its development (e.g. alcohol, prescriptions, etc.)

newborn stage

birth - 2 months of age

infancy

birth - 12 months of age

rooting/rooting reflex

when a baby’s cheek is stroked, they will turn their head in the direction of the movement and open their mouth

sucking reflex

when the roof of a baby’s mouth is touched, they begin to suck

grasping reflex

when an object touches a baby’s palm, they will grasp it tightly and curl their fingers

Babinski reflex

when the sole of a baby’s foot is touched, they will fan their toes

Moro reflex

a baby will extend their arms and legs whenever startled

plantar reflex

a baby curls their toes when their foot is pressed

stepping reflex

whenever a baby is held up just above the ground and their feet touch the ground, they will start “stepping”

swimming reflex

whenever a baby is placed in water, they will hold their breath and move their arms and legs in a swimming motion

visual cliff

a perceived drop-off to test depth perception in babies

synaptogenesis

formation of new connections between nerve cells that allow for the development of crucial skills

cognition

our mental processes such as thinking, problem-solving, memory, and communicating

sensorimotor stage

developmental stage from birth to 2 years old. babies take in the world through their senses and body movements (seeing, listening, touching, tasting) and realize they can make things happen

object permanence

the ability to understand that an object can continue to exist even when not seen/perceived

preoperational stage

developmental stage from 2 years to 6/7 years of age

parallel play

playing alongside peers rather than with them

centration

only focusing on one aspect of a situation

animism

attaching thoughts, feelings, and intentions to inanimate objects

egocentrism

the inability to understand perspectives other than one’s own

theory of mind

the ability to understand perspectives other than one’s own

concrete operational stage

developmental stage from 7 years to 11 years of age. in this stage, children can think logically about concrete ideas

conservation

the ability to understand that an object can remain the same volume or mass even if its shape or size changes

reversibility

the ability to mentally reverse an action or process

formal operational stage of development

developmental stage from 11 years to adulthood

zone of proximal development (ZPD)

area of skills where you can do something if you are helped by someone who is more skilled than you are (More Knowledgeable Other)

scaffolding

supports to help develop new skills- breaking down a large concept into smaller parts to learn each part of the whole.

phoneme

the smallest unit of sound that carries meaning in language

syntax

how to arrange words to create well-formed sentences

morpheme

each part of a word with meaning

authoritative parenting

one of four recognized parenting styles. parent has clear expectations and rules but willing to talk through them and supporting exploration for the child

authoritarian parenting

one of four recognized parenting styles. 'because I said so.' parent creates rules and doesn't let the child do anything else with strict punishments

permissive parenting

one of four recognized parenting styles. parent is very lenient, sets few rules, and provides little discipline, often taking on a more “friend-like” role with their children, resulting in a lack of clear structure and expectations for behavior

neglectful parenting

one of four recognized parenting styles. parent characterized by a lack of responsiveness to a child's needs, is largely uninvolved, shows little emotional warmth or guidance, and essentially ignores their child's emotional and developmental requirements

secure attachment

developed through touch with a parent as a young child and helps feel enough safety to explore areas that are not as safe

contact comfort

the comfort that a child feels in close contact with an adult. helps develop secure attachment

temperament

a person's behavior and how they interact with their environment, AKA natural disposition

microsystem

the most immediate surroundings that influence a person's development. (e.g. the friends you see daily, siblings, parents, teachers, coaches)

mesosystem

the interactions between different microsystems

exosystem

the larger social system that indirectly influences development (e.g. neighborhoods, schools, religious groups, clubs, parents' workplaces)

macrosystem

broader cultural context that shapes development (e.g. nation, culture, government/political system, social norms, etc.)

chronosystem

a model that considers how time and the timing of major life events impact a person's development

self-concept

refers to the way you see and understand yourself, including your beliefs, values, and the roles you play in life. the mental picture or description of who you are

self-esteem

refers to the emotional aspect of your self-image- how you feel about yourself. it involves the value you place on yourself, whether you feel confident, worthy, and positive about who you are

psychosocial development

process of growing and maturing within your environment. Erikson has 8 stages of psychosocial development

trust vs. mistrust

if needs are met, infants develop trust (infancy; birth-18 mos.)

autonomy vs. shame and doubt

child explores independence and gains confidence, or feels/is shamed for trying to do things on their own (early childhood; 2-3 yrs.)

initiative vs. guilt

child explores their ability to take initiative, or is criticized and feels guilt about trying new things (preschool; 3-5 yrs.)

industry vs. inferiority

child explores hard work and feels competent and accomplished, or feels inadequate (school age; 6-12 yrs.)

identity vs. role confusion

child forms positive and stable personal identity, or experiences confusion about their role in life (adolescence; ages 12-18 yrs.)

intimacy vs. isolation

adult forms positive, meaningful relationships and emotional connections, or is lonely/isolated (young adulthood; 18-40 yrs.)

generativity vs. stagnation

adults experience the desire to help others and contribute meaningfully to society, or feel unfulfilled and/or a lack of purpose (middle adulthood; 40-65 yrs.)

integrity vs. despair

adult reflects back on their life with a feeling of satisfaction or a sense of regret/despair/dissatisfaction about quality of life and/or missed opportunities (late adulthood; 65+ yrs.)

identity diffusion

individuals who have not yet explored or committed to an identity

identity foreclosure

individuals who have made a commitment to an identity, but did so without exploring any other options

identity moratorium

individuals who are actively exploring identities but have not yet made a commitment

identity achievement

individuals who have explored different options and have made a conscious commitment to their identity

adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

stressful or traumatic events that occur before the age of 18. may severely impact individual’s development and overall health

social clock

perceived culturally preferred timing of social events, such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement. themes are love and work.