Child Development

embryonic stage

The second stage of prenatal development, lasting from two weeks until the end of the second month.

fetal stage

The third stage of prenatal development, lasting from two months through birth.

germinal stage

The first phase of prenatal development, encompassing the first two weeks after conception.

embryo

the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month

fetus

the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

fetal alcohol syndrome

physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman's heavy drinking

Teratogens

agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

Chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

Assimilation

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

accomodation

adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information

Jean Piaget

Four stage theory of cognitive development: 1. sensorimotor, 2. preoperational, 3. concrete operational, and 4. formal operational. He said that the two basic processes work in tandem to achieve cognitive growth-assimilation and accomodation

Imprinting

the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life

secure attachment style

an attachment style characterized by trust, a lack of concern with being abandoned, and the view that one is worthy and well liked

insecure attachment

the attachment style for a minority of infants; the infant may exhibit insecure attachment through various behaviors, such as avoiding contact with the caregiver, or by alternating between approach and avoidance behaviors

object permanence

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

sensorimotor stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities

preoperational stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage (from about 2 to 6 or 7 years of age) during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic

concrete operational stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 6 or 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events

formal operational stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning about age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts

Egocentrism

in Piaget's theory, the preoperational child's difficulty taking another's point of view

Mary Ainsworth

developmental psychology; compared effects of maternal separation, devised patterns of attachment; "The Strange Situation": observation of parent/child attachment

Lev Vygotsky

child development; investigated how culture & interpersonal communication guide development; zone of proximal development; play research

Moro reflex

Infant reflex where a baby will startle in response to a loud sound or sudden movement.

Rooting Reflex

a baby's tendency, when touched on the cheek, to turn toward the touch, open the mouth, and search for the nipple

grasping reflex

an infant's clinging response to a touch on the palm of his or her hand

conservation

the principle (which Piaget believed to be a part of concrete operational reasoning) that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects

Konrad Lorenz

researcher who focused on critical attachment periods in baby birds, a concept he called imprinting

nature-nurture issue

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture

stages vs. continuity

Debate over development occurring in set time periods verses continual or individual changes and development

change vs. stability

Do our personal characteristics change as we age?

versus

Do our personal characteristics remain stable throughout the lifespan?

permissive parenting

A parenting style characterized by the placement of few limits on the child's behavior.

authoritarian parenting

style of parenting in which parent is rigid and overly strict, showing little warmth to the child

authoritative parenting

parenting style characterized by emotional warmth, high standards for behavior, explanation and consistent enforcement of rules, and inclusion of children in decision making

zone of proximal development

In Vygotsky's theory, the range between children's present level of knowledge and their potential knowledge state if they recieve proper guidance and instruction

Kohlberg's stages of moral development

pre-conventional, conventional, post-conventional

preconventional morality

first level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development in which the child's behavior is governed by the consequences of the behavior

conventional morality

second level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development in which the child's behavior is governed by conforming to the society's norms of behavior

postconventional morality

third level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development in which the person's behavior is governed by moral principles that have been decided on by the individual and that may be in disagreement with accepted social norms

Erikson's Psychosocial Theory

stage theory of psychosocial development, lifespan consists of eight dilemmas that must be solved correctly in order to solve the next dilemma

Trust v. Mistrust

1st stage in Erikson's model; infants must learn to view the world as a predictable, safe place or face a future of guarded skepicism

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Erikson's stage in which a toddler learns to exercise will and to do things independently; failure to do so causes shame and doubt

identity vs. role confusion

Erikson's stage during which teenagers and young adults search for and become their true selves

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Erikson's stage in which individuals form deeply personal relationships, marry, begin families

diana baumrind

her theory of parenting styles had three main types (permissive, authoratative, & authoritarian)

social clock

the culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement

emerging adulthood

for some people in modern cultures, a period from the late teens to mid-twenties, bridging the gap between adolescent dependence and full independence and responsible adulthood

adolenscence

the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence

gender roles

expectations regarding the proper behavior, attitudes, and activities of males and females

sex

the biological distinction between females and males

gender

the socially constructed roles and characteristics by which a culture defines male and female

gender identity

our sense of being male or female

gender typing

The process of developing the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions associated with a particular gender.

schema

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information

integrity v. despair

8th stage in Erikson's model; when reflecting at the end of life, an older adult must feel a sense of satisfaction or experience despair (feelings of having wasted one's life)

fine motor skills

physical abilities involving small body movements, especially of the hands and fingers, such as drawing and picking up a coin

gross motor skills

physical abilities involving large body movements, such as walking and jumping

telegraphic speech

early speech stage in which a child speaks like a telegram—"go car"—using mostly nouns and verbs.

hypothetical thinking

Thinking that is based on what is possible, and not just what is real; sometimes referred to as "if-then" thinking.

secure attachment

a relationship in which an infant obtains both comfort and confidence from the presence of his or her caregiver

Morpheme

in a language, the smallest unit that carries meaning; may be a word or a part of a word (such as a prefix)

phoneme

in language, the smallest distinctive sound unit

syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

grammar

in a language, a system of rules that enables us to communicate with and understand others

linguistic determinism

language determines the way we think

linguistic relativism

the idea that language has an influence on the way we think

Benjamin Whorf

language; his hypothesis is that language determines the way we think

critical period

a specific time in development when certain skills or abilities are most easily learned

Harry Harlow

Studied attachment in monkeys with artificial mothers

attachment

an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation

Elizabeth Kubler Ross

psychologist who created the 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance