Developmental Psychology Flashcards

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in developmental psychology as outlined in the lecture notes.

Stability and change

Traits that remain consistent versus those that change over time.

Nature and nurture

The interplay between genes and environment in human development.

Continuous development

A gradual and smooth process of development.

Discontinuous development

Development characterized by distinct stages.

Cross-sectional research

Research that compares different ages at one point in time.

Longitudinal research

A study that follows the same individuals over time.

Teratogens

Harmful agents that can cause malformations during prenatal development.

Milestones

Typical ages at which certain skills are acquired.

Fine motor coordination

Control over small muscle movements.

Gross motor coordination

Control over large muscle movements.

Maturation

The biological growth processes that occur with age.

Reflexes

Automatic responses to stimuli.

Critical periods

Fixed times during development when experience is crucial.

Imprinting

A form of learning where a young animal forms an attachment to the first moving object it sees.

Physical Development

Changes in the body and motor skills throughout life.

Puberty

The period of sexual maturation.

Primary sex characteristics

The reproductive organs directly necessary for reproduction.

Menarche

The first menstrual period.

Crystallized intelligence

Knowledge acquired from past experiences.

Fluid intelligence

The ability to solve new problems, use logic in new situations, and identify patterns.

Dementia

A decline in cognitive ability that interferes with daily life.

Phonemes

The smallest units of sound in a language.

Morphemes

The smallest units of meaning in a language.

Grammar

The structure and system of a language.

Syntax

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

Telegraphic speech

The two-word stage of language development.

Authoritative parenting

A parenting style characterized by high responsiveness and high demands.

Secure attachment

A strong emotional bond with a caregiver, typically involving comfort when the caregiver returns.

Erikson's stages of psychosocial development

A theory outlining eight stages through which a healthy developing individual passes.

Social learning theory

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating others.

Operant conditioning

A learning process through which behaviors are modified by rewards or punishments.

Negative reinforcement

The removal of an aversive stimulus in order to increase the frequency of a behavior.

Learned helplessness

A condition in which a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness.

Reinforcement schedules

Rules that determine how and when certain responses will be reinforced.