Key Concepts in Child and Adolescent Development

Piaget's four stages of cognitive development

Sensorimotor (0-2 yrs), Preoperational (2-7 yrs), Concrete Operational (7-11 yrs), Formal Operational (11+ yrs)

Difference between fine and gross motor skills

Fine motor skills involve small movements (e.g., grasping); gross motor skills involve large movements (e.g., walking)

Erikson's definition of crisis

An emotional challenge that must be resolved for healthy psychological development

Psychosocial conflict of adolescence according to Erikson

Identity vs. Role Confusion (ages 10-20)

First Erikson stage and its central conflict

Trust vs. Mistrust (0-1 year); based on whether infant needs are met consistently

Marcia's four identity statuses

Diffusion (no crisis, no commitment), Foreclosure (commitment without crisis), Moratorium (crisis without commitment), Achievement (crisis and commitment)

Kohlberg's three levels of moral development

Preconventional (punishment/reward), Conventional (rules/approval), Postconventional (ethics/principles)

Criticism by Carol Gilligan of Kohlberg's theory

It reflects male bias; women emphasize care/responsibility over justice/rights

Four attachment types in Ainsworth's theory

Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, Insecure-Resistant, Disorganized

Physical features supporting baby-caregiver bonding

Large eyes, round cheeks — known as 'babyishness features'

Age separation anxiety typically begins

Between 7 and 12 months

Most effective parenting style

Authoritative — warm and disciplined

Four parenting styles according to Baumrind

Permissive, Authoritative, Neglectful, Authoritarian

Average height growth per year in early childhood

About 2.5 inches per year (ages 2-6)

Consequences of early puberty in girls

Higher risk of depression, eating disorders, social anxiety, and low self-esteem

Typical sleep need for adolescents

8-10 hours per night, but most adolescents don't get enough

Egocentrism in adolescence

Belief that everyone is watching them and that their experiences are unique

Key difference between anorexia and bulimia

Anorexia = restriction; Bulimia = bingeing and purging

Definition of bullying

Repeated, intentional aggression toward someone

Intelligence defined in childhood

Ability to solve problems, adapt, think critically, and learn from experience

Leading causes of death in adolescence

Suicide, homicide, and vehicle accidents

Difference between Freud's and Erikson's theories

Freud focused on psychosexual stages; Erikson emphasized psychosocial stages

How TV affects children's behavior

Can increase aggression or prosocial behavior depending on content; violent shows can desensitize children

Research on children raised in LGBT households

There are no negative developmental impacts

Rite of passage

A symbolic cultural ceremony marking a major life transition

How conformity affects adolescent development

Provides emotional support, shapes identity, and helps develop social skills

Role of friendships in adolescence

Shape identity, support moral development, reduce loneliness

Age routine begins to stabilize in infants

Between 4-6 weeks

Cortex myelination for comprehension in infants

Begins at 7-8 weeks

When babies begin turn-taking

3-4 months

When measurable attachments form in infants

5-6 months

When separation/stranger anxiety appears in infants

7-12 months

Foundational theory supporting attachment theory

Ethology — study of evolutionary behavior (e.g., imprinting)

Medical complications linked to childhood obesity

Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, joint problems

Social consequences of obesity in children

Low self-esteem, social isolation, depression, bullying

Typical expression of depression in males

Through anger and irritability

Typical expression of depression in females

Through sadness and withdrawal

Puberty

Physical and hormonal changes that lead to sexual maturity; now occurs earlier due to better nutrition and healthcare