Unit 3 Psych

Stability and Change

Refers to the extent to which individuals' traits and behaviors remain consistent over time (stability) or transform significantly (change).

Nature Versus Nurture Debate

Involves the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to human development.

Continuous Development

The perspective that development is a gradual, ongoing process without distinct stages.

Discontinuous Development

The perspective that development occurs in distinct stages, each characterized by qualitative differences in behavior and cognition.

Cross-Sectional Research

A research design that observes different individuals of various ages or developmental stages at a single point in time.

Longitudinal Research

A research method that studies the same group of individuals over an extended period to track changes and developments.

Teratogens

Substances or environmental factors that can cause congenital anomalies or developmental disruptions during prenatal development.

Maternal Illnesses

Infections and chronic conditions that can negatively impact prenatal development and lead to significant health issues for the fetus.

Genetic Mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence that can lead to congenital conditions and developmental disorders.

Attachment Theory

Explains how the bond between a child and their caregiver affects social-emotional development, with styles categorized into secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized.

Secure Attachment

Develops when caregivers are consistently responsive to the child's needs, resulting in healthy relationships and emotional regulation.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Stressful or traumatic events experienced before age 18 that can have lasting effects on social-emotional development and behavior.

Identity Formation

The process by which adolescents develop a sense of self through exploring various roles, beliefs, and values.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Refers to the range of tasks that a child can perform with guidance but cannot yet accomplish independently.

Crystallized Intelligence

The accumulation of knowledge, facts, and skills acquired through life experiences.

Fluid Intelligence

The capacity to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge.

Social Clock

The culturally preferred timing of social events, like marriage, parenthood, and retirement.

Egocentrism

The tendency for children to view the world solely from their own perspective.

Overgeneralization

Occurs when children apply regular grammatical rules to irregular words.

Visual Cliff

An experimental apparatus used to study depth perception in infants and young animals.

Critical Period

A specific timeframe during development when certain environmental stimuli or experiences are crucial for normal development.

Imprinting

A form of rapid learning occurring in a critical period that leads to long-lasting behavioral responses to a specific individual or object.

Separation Anxiety

The distress experienced by infants when separated from their primary caregivers.

Peer Relationships

Critical for social-emotional development, influencing behavior, identity formation, and mental health.

Parenting Styles

Patterns of behavior and attitudes that significantly influence children's social-emotional development.

Psychosocial Crisis

A specific conflict or challenge that individuals must navigate at different stages of development according to Erik Erikson.

Reflexes

Involuntary, automatic responses to specific stimuli present at birth that are crucial for infant survival.

Regular Format

A consistent style used for presenting information, often featuring headings, bullet points, or uniform spacing for clarity and readability.