Human Growth and Development

How many chromosomes are in a normal human body cell?

46 chromosomes (23 pairs)

What is a gene?

A segment of DNA that contains instructions for a specific trait or function.

What is a chromosome?

A structure made of DNA that contains many genes and carries genetic information from parents to offspring.

What is genotype?

A person's complete genetic makeup inherited from their parents.

What is phenotype?

the traits that are actually expressed, meaning what can be seen, like hair color, eye color, or height

What is a dominant gene?

A gene expressed when only one copy is inherited.

What is a recessive gene?

A gene expressed only when two copies are inherited.

What causes Down syndrome?

An extra copy of chromosome 21 (Trisomy 21).

What causes Turner syndrome?

Missing all or part of one X chromosome (XO).

What causes Klinefelter syndrome?

An extra X chromosome in males (XXY).

What is a zygote?

A fertilized egg.

What is implantation?

When the blastocyst attaches to the uterine wall.

What is viability?

The ability of a fetus to survive outside the womb, usually around 22-26 weeks.

What is neurogenesis?

The formation of new neurons.

What is synaptogenesis?

The formation of new synapses between neurons.

What is synaptic blooming?

The rapid overproduction of synapses in early development.

What is synaptic pruning?

The elimination of unused neural connections.

What is neuroplasticity?

The brain's ability to change and adapt based on experience.

What is myelin?

A fatty coating around axons that speeds neural communication.

What is object permanence?

Understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.

At what age does object permanence typically develop?

Around 8 months of age.

What is stranger anxiety?

Fear or wariness of unfamiliar people that often develops around 8 months.

What is cephalocaudal development?

Growth and development from head to toe.

What is proximodistal development?

Growth and development from the center of the body outward.

What is a pincer grasp?

Using the thumb and forefinger to pick up small objects., 9-12 months

What is a schema?

A mental framework used to organize and understand information. important to to Piaget's Cognitive Development theory. Ex: Dogs have four legs, fur, and tails

What is assimilation?

Fitting new information into an existing schema. Ex: a child who knows the word "doggie" might call all four-legged animals "doggies" because that is the schema they already have

What is accommodation?

Changing a schema to fit new information. Ex: if the child learns that a horse is different from a dog, they create a new "horse" schema separate from the "dog" schema

What is egocentrism?

Difficulty seeing a situation from another person's perspective.

What is animism?

Believing nonliving objects have thoughts or feelings.

conservation task

Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in appearance. made by piaget

What is centration?

Focusing on only one aspect of a situation.

What is classification?

Grouping objects according to shared characteristics.

What is seriation?

Arranging objects in order according to a dimension such as size.

What is Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory?

Children actively construct knowledge through interactions with their environment and progress through stages of cognitive development.

What are Piaget's four stages?

Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational.

What is Erikson's Psychosocial Theory?

People experience eight psychosocial conflicts throughout life that influence development.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Initiative vs. Guilt

Industry vs. Inferiority

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Ego Integrity vs. Despair

What is Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory?

Cognitive development occurs through social interaction and cultural influences.

What is the Zone of Proximal Development?

The gap between what a child can do independently and what they can do with help from a more knowledgeable person. from Vygotsky

What is scaffolding?

Support provided by a teacher, parent, or peer that helps a child complete a task until they can do it independently. - from Vygotsky

What is Information Processing Theory?

A theory that compares the mind to a computer that processes, stores, and retrieves information.

What is Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory?

explains human development by examining how an individual's growth is shaped by five interconnected environmental layers, ranging from immediate personal relationships to broad cultural and historical contexts

What is the microsystem?

Immediate environments such as family, school, and peers.

What is the mesosystem?

Interactions between different parts of the microsystem.

What is the exosystem?

Outside influences that indirectly affect development.

What is the macrosystem?

Culture, societal values, customs, and laws.

What is the chronosystem?

Changes and events that occur over time. It represents the dimension of time and socio-historical context in a person's life. It explains how life transitions and environmental events shape development over time

What is Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development?

Moral reasoning develops through three levels.

What is preconventional morality?

Morality based on rewards and punishment. a person's sense of right and wrong is strictly driven by external consequences, self-interest, and the avoidance of punishment rather than by an internal moral compass or societal rules. Ages 0-9

What is conventional morality?

Morality based on social approval and rules. Typical Age: Early Adolescence to Adulthood
At this level, individuals internalize the moral standards of the groups they belong to, whether that be their family, peer group, or society

What is postconventional morality?

Morality based on ethical principles and justice. Individuals at this stage base their ethical decisions on abstract, universal principles like justice, human rights, and human dignity rather than strictly following societal laws or seeking external approval. 16+

What is Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence?

Intelligence consists of analytical, creative, and practical abilities.

What is analytical intelligence?

Academic and problem-solving ability.

What is creative intelligence?

the human ability to think imaginatively, invent original solutions to unfamiliar problems, and adapt to novel situations

What is practical intelligence?

Everyday problem-solving or street smarts, common sense

What is Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences?

Intelligence consists of multiple independent abilities, cannot be quantified by a single, general IQ score

What are Gardner's eight intelligences?

Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Musical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalistic.

What is Attachment Theory?

Early caregiver relationships influence future emotional and social development.

What is secure attachment?

Comfort with closeness and trust in caregivers.

What is avoidant attachment?

Avoidance of emotional closeness.

What is ambivalent attachment?

Anxious and inconsistent attachment behavior.

What is disorganized attachment?

Confused or contradictory attachment behavior. an insecure attachment style rooted in childhood trauma or inconsistent caregiving, where the primary caregiver is viewed as both a source of comfort and a source of fear

What are Baumrind's Parenting Styles?

categorizes parenting into four main styles based on two key dimensions: responsiveness (warmth and supportiveness) and parenting demandingness (behavioral control and expectations)

What is authoritative parenting?

High warmth and high control.

What is authoritarian parenting?

Low warmth and high control.

What is permissive parenting?

High warmth and low control.

What is uninvolved parenting?

Low warmth and low control. minimal communication, low structure, and emotional detachment. Children often suffer significant behavioral and emotional difficulties.

What is Marcia's Identity Status Theory?

The theory measures development based on two criteria: exploration (investigating alternatives) and commitment (investigating personal investment)

What is identity diffusion?

characterized by a lack of both exploration and commitment. Individuals in this stage may feel directionless, lack a clear sense of purpose, and are often easily influenced by peer pressure or trends

What is Identity foreclosure?

Commitment without exploration. a developmental stage where an individual commits to an identity, career, or set of beliefs without exploring alternatives. People in this state typically adopt the values and expectations of authority figures, like parents.

What is moratorium?

Exploration high, commitment low. Often referred to as an "identity crisis," this status describes those who are actively questioning, experimenting, and exploring options but have not yet committed to any single path. It is typically a period of high anxiety but also intense personal growth and passion

What is identity achievement?

Exploration followed by commitment.

What is Elkind's Theory of Adolescent Egocentrism?

Adolescents often believe others are focused on them and that their experiences are unique.

What is an imaginary audience?

Belief that everyone is watching and judging them.

What is a personal fable?

Belief that one's experiences are unique and special.

What is Phinney's Ethnic Identity Theory?

Ethnic identity develops through exploration and commitment.

What are the stages of Phinney's Ethnic Identity Theory?

Unexamined Identity, Identity Search, and Identity Achievement.

What is Activity Theory?

Older adults experience greater life satisfaction when they remain active and socially engaged.

What is Socioemotional Selectivity Theory?

Older adults prioritize emotionally meaningful relationships and experiences.

What is Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) Theory?

People adapt to aging by selecting priorities, optimizing strengths, and compensating for losses. explains how individuals manage, adapt, and thrive as they experience changes in their personal resources, health, or energy levels

What is the Scaffolding Theory of Aging?

The aging brain creates alternative neural pathways to compensate for decline.

Who developed Cognitive Development Theory?

Jean Piaget.

Who developed Psychosocial Theory?

Erik Erikson.

Who developed Sociocultural Theory?

Lev Vygotsky.

Who developed Ecological Systems Theory?

Urie Bronfenbrenner.

Who developed Moral Development Theory?

Lawrence Kohlberg.

Who developed Triarchic Theory of Intelligence?

Robert Sternberg.

Who developed Multiple Intelligences Theory?

Howard Gardner.

Who developed Identity Status Theory?

James Marcia.

Who developed Adolescent Egocentrism Theory?

David Elkind.

What are the stages of grief according to Kübler-Ross?

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

What is fluid intelligence?

The ability to solve new problems and think quickly.

What happens to fluid intelligence with age?

It tends to decline.

What is crystallized intelligence?

Knowledge and skills gained through experience.

What happens to crystallized intelligence with age?

It remains stable or increases.

What is Alzheimer's disease characterized by?

Beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.

Physical Development

Changes in the body, brain, motor skills, growth, health, and physical abilities throughout life.

Cognitive Development

Changes in thinking, learning, memory, language, problem-solving, and intelligence

Psychosocial Development

Changes in emotions, personality, relationships, self-concept, and social behavior.

Sensorimotor stage

Birth-2 years. Learns through senses and actions; develops object permanence.