Lifespan Development

These flashcards cover key concepts in lifespan development, focusing on theories and stages of psychological growth.

Developmental psychology

The study of age-related changes in behavior and mental processes from conception to death.

Nature versus Nurture

A debate regarding the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.

Maturation

A sequence of genetically programmed processes of growth and development that occur over time.

Critical period

A specific time of great sensitivity to age-related learning that shapes the capacity for future cognitive developments.

Continuity approach

The view that development is a continuous process as new abilities, skills, and knowledge are gradually added.

Stage theory

A theory that posits development occurs through a series of distinct stages, each marked by a fundamental change in abilities.

Longitudinal method

A research method that measures a single individual or group of individuals over an extended period of time.

Cross-sectional method

A research method that compares individuals of various ages at one point in time.

Prenatal period

The time from conception to birth, during which significant developmental processes occur.

Teratogens

Toxic substances that can harm the fetus if ingested or contracted by the mother.

Fetal alcohol syndrome

A combination of birth defects caused by maternal alcohol abuse, including organ deformities and cognitive or growth retardation.

Attachment

The strong bond of affection that forms between a child and a caregiver, crucial for emotional and social development.

Secure attachment

A type of attachment characterized by the caregiver meeting the infant's needs consistently, leading to positive emotional outcomes.

Insecure attachment

A type of attachment formed when caregivers fail to meet the infant’s needs consistently, often resulting in negative emotional outcomes.

Schema

A concept or framework that organizes and interprets information.

Assimilation

The process of absorbing new information into an existing schema.

Accommodation

The process of adjusting old schemas or developing new ones to include new information.

Sensorimotor stage

The initial stage of cognitive development from birth to approximately age 2, where infants explore the world through their senses and actions.

Preoperational stage

The stage of cognitive development from ages 2 to 7, where children begin to engage in symbolic thought but lack logical operations.

Concrete operational stage

The stage of cognitive development from ages 7 to 11, where children can think logically about concrete objects.

Formal operational stage

The final stage of cognitive development that begins in adolescence, characterized by the ability to think logically about abstract concepts.

Temperament

An individual’s characteristic manner of behavior, believed to have a strong genetic basis.

Parenting styles

Different approaches to raising children, each with distinct characteristics and developmental outcomes.

Trust versus mistrust

Erikson's first psychosocial crisis occurring from birth to age 1, focusing on the infant's need for consistent care.

Autonomy versus doubt

Erikson's second psychosocial crisis from ages 1 to 3, emphasizing the child's need for independence and control over their environment.

Initiative versus guilt

Erikson's third psychosocial crisis occurring from ages 3 to 6, centered around the child's initiative in play and interactions.

Industry versus inferiority

Erikson's fourth psychosocial crisis from ages 6 to 12, focusing on the child's ability to succeed in formal educational settings.

Identity versus role confusion

Erikson's fifth psychosocial crisis during adolescence, regarding the struggle to form a personal identity.

Intimacy versus isolation

Erikson's sixth psychosocial crisis in early adulthood, focusing on the ability to form intimate relationships.

Generativity versus self-absorption

Erikson's seventh psychosocial crisis in middle adulthood, emphasizing the concern for the next generation.

Integrity versus despair

Erikson's eighth psychosocial crisis in late adulthood, focusing on reflection on one's life and achieving a sense of fulfillment.

Lawrence Kohlberg

An American psychologist known for his theory of stages of moral development and moral reasoning.

Preconventional morality

The first level of moral reasoning, typical of young children, characterized by self-centered decisions to avoid punishment.

Conventional morality

The second level of moral reasoning, typical of adolescents and adults, focusing on conforming to societal rules and norms.

Postconventional morality

The third level of moral reasoning, characterized by personal standards of right and wrong based on abstract principles of justice.

Carol Gilligan

A researcher who criticized Kohlberg's theory for not accounting for differences in moral reasoning between genders.