Chapter 2 Units 1 - Complexity of Psychological Development

abstract thinking

Piagat’s theory: A way of thinking that does not rely on being able to see, visualise, experience or manipulate in order to understand something.

accommodation

Involves changing pre-existing information to fit new information.

adaptation

Involves taking in, processing, organising and using new information in ways to adjust to change.

animism

The belief that everything which exists has some kind of consciousness.

assimilation

The process of taking in new information and fitting it into a pre-existing mental idea about an object or experience.

attachment

The emotional bond which forms between and infant and another person.

biological factor

Biopsychosocial model: A psychologically based or determined influence, often not under our control, since and genes we inherit.

centration

The cognitive ability to only focus on one quality or feature of an object at a time.

classification

The ability to organise objects or events into categories based on common features that set them apart from other categories.

cognitive development

Development changes in mental abilities.

conservation

Understanding that certain properties of an object can remain the same even when its appearance changes.

critical period

Specific period during development where an organism is most vulnerable to the deprivation or absence of certain environmental stimuli or experiences.

development

Psychological or physical change in an organism that accrues over time.

development norm

A data set showing the typical skills and expected levels of achievement associated with a particular age or stage of development.

disorganised attachment

A type of insecure attachment characterised by inconsistent or odd and contradictory behaviours by an infant when separated/reunited with a caregiver.

egocentrism

The tendency to perceive the world only from one’s point of view.

emotion

emotional development

The development changes in how an individual experiences different feelings, and how they are expressed, interpreted and dealt with.

environment

All experiences, objects and events which we are exposed to throughout our entire life.

expressive behaviour

In relation to emotion, an overt expression of behaviour which communicates an emotion.

goal directed behavior

To perform and successfully complete a sequence of actions with a particular purpose in mind.

heredity

The transmission of characteristics from biological parents to their offspring via genes at the same time of conception; also referred to as nature.

idealistic thinking

Comparing oneself and others to a perfect standard and striving towards being like that ideal.

imprinting

A type of learning where a very young animal fixes/attached itself to the first object which it has visual, auditory or tactile experience with and seems to form an attchment to that object.

insecure avoidant attachment

A type of attachment where there is a negative relationship and the infant does not seek closeness or contact with the caregiver and treats them much like a stranger.

insecure resistance attachment

A type of attachment where there is a negative relationship and the infant constantly checks the caregivers whereabouts, constantly pleading, tries to re-establish contact, clings, then resists contact.

lifespan development

mistrust

is developed when care is irregular or rejecting, often becoming anxious and insecure.

nature

hereditary factors that may impact on development.

nurture

environmental factors that may impact on development.

object performance

understanding that an object still exists even if it cannot be seen heard or touched.

physiological response

psychological factor

An internal mental process and influence such as the effects of our prior experiences, memories and ways of thinking.

psychological crisis

Erikson’s theory: A personal conflict an individual faces in adjusting to society.

psychological development

Erikson’s theory: change involving both psychological processes taking place within the individual (‘psycho’) and their experiences with other people (‘social’).

reversibility

Piaget’s theory: The ability to mentally follow a sequence of events or line of reasoning back to its starting point.

role confusion

Stage 5: a sense of not knowing who they are, where they belong, to whom they belong to or where they are headed in life.

schema

Piaget’s theory: a mental idea of what something is and how to act on it.

secure attachment

A type of attachment where there is a positive relationship and the infant feels safe and secure.

sensitive period

A period of time during development where an individual is more responsive to certain types of environmental experiences or learning.

separation anxiety

The distress and unease experienced by a child when away (or facing the prospect of being away) from the people whom they are attached.

shame

social behaviour

Any action that is directly or indirectly influenced by the actual, imagined, expected or implied presence of others.

social development

Developmental changes in an individuals relationships with other people and their skills and interacting with others.

social factor

Biopsychosocial model: an influence from the social environment in which we interact with others, such as the range of quality of relationships with family and our cultural backgrounds.

stranger anxiety

Distress and unease experienced by a young child when around unfamiliar people.

strange situation

A test to measure the attachment relationships a child has with their parent.

subjective feeling

In relation to an emotion, it's an interpersonal experience by an individual.

surrogate

A person or object that takes on the role of another.

symbolic thinking

Piaget's theory: The ability to use symbols, words and pictures to represent objects that are not physically present.

transformation

Piaget's theory: understanding that something can change from one state to another.

trust

The views and expectations that infants develop about their environment.