Psychology in everyday life chapter 3

developmental psychology

a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

Chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

DNA

A molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

Genes

The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA.

Heredity

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

Genome

The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organisms chromosomes.

Environment

Every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor

Epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

Zygote

the fertilized egg; it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo

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

Teratogen

An agent, such as a chemical or virus, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.

fetal alcohol syndrome

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

Reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus

temperament

a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

identical twins

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical siblings

fraternal twins

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than non birth brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment

Maturation

Biological growth processes leading to orderly changes in behavior, mostly independent of experience

critical period

A period early in life when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences is needed for proper development

cognition

all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Schema

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information

Assimilation

Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

accommodation

adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information

sensorimotor stage

In Piaget's theory, the stage during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities.

object permanence

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

preoperational stage

In piaget's theory, the stage(2-6 years)in which a child learns to use language but cannot yet preform the mental ape rations of concrete logic

conservation

The principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in shapes.

Egocentrism

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

theory of mind

peoples ideas about their own and others mental states

Autism Spectrum Disorder

A disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors

concrete operational stage

in Piaget's theory, the period of cognitive development from ages 7 to 11 during which children gain the mental operations that enables them to think logically about concrete events

formal operational stage

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

stranger anxiety

the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning by about 8 months of age

Attachment

An emotional tie with another person

Basic trust

According to Erik Erikson, a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers.

adolescence

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

Puberty

the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing

Identity

Our sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescent's task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and blending various roles.

social identity

the "we" aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answers to who am i? That comes from our group memberships

intimacy

in Erikson's theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships; a primary developmental task in early adulthood

emerging adulthood

a period from about age 18 to the mid-twenties, when many in western cultures are no longer adolescents but have not yet achieved full independence as adults.

Menopause

the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends

cross-sectional study

research in which people of different ages are compared with one another

longitudinal study

research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period.

social clock

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