AP PSYCH UNIT 3 FLASHCARDS

Developmental Psychology

The study of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes across the lifespan.

Chronological Order

Studying development in sequence based on life stages (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood).

Thematic Issues

Studying development based on recurring themes rather than specific age stages.

Stability and Change

Examining which traits remain constant and which change over time.

Nature vs. Nurture

Debate over whether genetics (nature) or environment (nurture) has a greater influence on development.

Continuous Development

The idea that development is a gradual, cumuluative process.

Discontinuous Development

The idea that development occurs in distinct stages or steps.

Longitudinal Study

A research method that follows the same individuals over a long period to observe changes over time.

Cross-Sectional Study

A research method that compares different age groups at a single point in time.

Cohort

A group of Individuals who share common characteristics, typically based on birth year or generation.

Cohort Effect

Differences in research findings due to generational experiences rather than age differences.

Attrition

The loss of participants over time in a longitudinal study.

Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study

A longitudinal study tracking personality stability and change over time.

Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart

A longitudinal study showing the influence of genetics by studying identical twins raised separately.

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory

A theory emphasizing the role of social interaction and culture in continuous development.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Stages

A theory outlining psychological and social development across eight stages of life.

Prenatal Development

The process of development that occurs from conception to birth.

Teratogens

Substances (ex: alcohol, tobacco, drugs, environmental toxins) that can cause birth defects or developmental issues in a fetus.

Maternal Illness

Diseases or infections that the mother experiences during pregnancy, which can negatively affect fetal development.

Genetic Mutations

Alterations in DNA that can lead to genetic disorders; can be inherited or occur spontaneously.

Down Syndrome

A genetic disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, leading to developmental delays and intellectual disabilities.

Turner Syndrome

A condition that occurs when a female is missing for has an incomplete X chromosome, leading to developmental and physical issues.

Hormones

Chemical messengers that regular bodily functions and behaviors, including aspects of fetal development, brain growth, and emotional regulation.

Environmental Factors

External elements like pollution, radiation, or maternal stress that can influence prenatal development.

Infant Reflexes

Involuntary, instinctual movements seen in newborns that aid in survival, often tested to assess neurological development.

Palmar Grasp

A reflex where an infant grasps a finger placed in their palm, indicating neurological health.

Plantar Grasp

A reflex where an infant curls their toes when a finger is placed under their foot.

Babinski Reflex

A reflex where the baby’s big toe moves upward and the other toes fan out when the sole of the foot is stroked.

Rooting Reflex

A reflex in which an infant turns their head toward a touch near their mouth, preparing to feed.

Gross Motor Skills

Larger movements of the body, such as crawling and walking, that allow a childhood to navigate their environment.

Fine Motor Skills

Smaller, more precise movements, such as holding a spoon or drawing.

Visual Cliff Experiment

A study used to assess depth perception in infants by creating the illusion of a drop-off on a glass surface.

Critical Period

A specific window of time when a particular skill or behavior must be developed for proper development; missing this window can significantly hinder future development.

Sensitive Period

A period when the brain is particularly receptive to learning certain skills, but it is possible to acquire these skills later with more difficulty.

Puberty

The stage in adolescence when an individual reaches sexual maturity and becomes capable of reproduction.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Features directly related to reproduction, such as the movement of reproductive organs and the ability to menstruate or ejaculate.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Traits not directly related to reproduction but related to sexual maturity, such as body hair and changes in voice or body structure.

Adolescent Growth Spurt

A rapid increase in height and weight during puberty as a result of hormonal changes.

Menopause

The cessation of menstruation and the end of a woman’s reproductive capability, typically ocurring in middle adulthood.

Testosterone Decline

The gradual decrease in testosterone levels in men as they age, affecting muscle mass and energy levels.

Sex

The biological differences between males and females, including primary and secondary sex characteristics.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Traits directly related to reproduction, such as genitalia.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Traits indirectly related to reproduction, such as broader shoulders in men and less facial hair in women.

Gender

The social, physical, and behavioral traits that a society considers appropriate for men or women, which are learned and influenced by cultural norms.

Gender Schema Theory

The theory that children create mental categories for masculinity and femininity, helping them understand their gender roles and gravitate towards gender-typical activities.

Stereotypes

Oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a group of people, often based on gender or other characteristics.

Socialization

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the values, norms, and behaviors appropriate to their society.

Family Influence

The role of family in establishing gender roles at an early age, often through indirect lessons and observations (ex: chores, rewards, punishments).

Peer Group Influence

The impact of peers and classmates on the development of gender roles, including how boys and girls are treated differently in school environments.

Media Influence

The role of various forms of media, including traditional print, television, and social media, in shaping perceptions of gender roles and self-image.

Sexual Orientation

An individual’s sexual attraction to members of the same sex, opposite sex, or both sexes.

Homosexual

A person who is attracted to members of the same sex.

Heterosexual

A person who is attracted to members of the opposite sex.

Bisexual

A person who is attracted to both sexes.

Asexual

A person who is not attracted to either sex.

Psychological View of Sexual Orientation

The understanding that sexual orientation is not a choice and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Cognitive Development

The process of how thinking, problem-solving, and learning change over time.

Schema

A mental framework used to organize and interpret information.

Assimilation

Incorporating new information into an existing schemas without changing it.

Accomodation

Modifying a schema when new information does not fit.

Sensorimotor Stage

(PTCD 1: birth-2 years) Learning occurs through sensory experiences and physical actions. Major milestone: Object permanence.

Preoperational Stage

(PTCD 2: 2-7 years) Development of symbolic thinking and pretend play. Thinking is still egocentric, meaning children struggle to see perspective outside their own.

Concrete Operational Stage

(PTCD 3: 7-11 years) Thinking becomes more logical and organized. Children understand conservation and reversibility.

Formal Operational Stage

(PTCD 4: 11+ years) Individuals develop abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and logic. Not everyone fully reaches this stage.

Object Permanence

(PTCD 1) Understanding that object exist even when they are out of sight.

Symbolic Thinking

(PTCD 2) The ability to represent objects and experiences with words or images.

Egocentrism

(PTCD 2) Difficulty seeing the world from another person’s perspective.

Animism

(PTCD 2) Belief that non-living objects have human-like characteristics (thoughts, feelings).

Conservation

(PTCD 2/3) Understanding that quantity remains the same even if shape or appearance changes.

Reversibility

(PTCD 2/3) Ability to mentally reverse an action (ex: understanding subtraction is the opposite of addition).

Classification

(PTCD 3) The ability to group objects based on common characteristics.

Seriation

(PTCD 3) The ability to arrange items in an ordered sequences (ex: smallest to largest).

Deductive Reasoning / Logic

(PTCD 4) Applying general principles to specific situations.

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development

Vygotsky emphasized that social interaction and environment play key roles in cognitive development.

Zone of Proximal Development

The range between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance. (outside to middle: learner can’t do w/guidance —> learner can do w/guidance —> learner can do w/o guidance)

Scaffolding

Proving structured support to help a learner master a concept, gradually reducing assistance over time.

Crystallized Intelligence

Knowledge and skills acquired over time, which generally remain stable or improve withe age.

Fluid Intelligence

The ability to think quickly, solve problems, and adapt to new situations, which declines with age.

Dementia

A broad term for cognitive disorders that impair memory, reasoning, and thinking abilities.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia.

Phoneme

The smallest unit of sound in a language (ex: “b” in bat).

Morpheme

The smallest unit of meaning in a language (ex: dog, -ed in walked).

Semantics

The study of meaning in language, including words and sentences.

Grammar

The set of rules that govern how words are used in a language.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to form proper sentences.

Generativity

The ability of language to create an infinite number of sentences.

Surface Structure

The literal meaning of a sentence.

Deep Structure

The underlying meaning of a sentence.

Critical Period (language)

A specific time in development when language learning is most effective.

Nonverbal Communication

Communicating without words, using gestures, facial expressions, etc.

Overgeneralization

The application of grammar rules too broadly (ex: mouses instead of mice).

Cooing Stage

(Language Development Stage (LDS) 1; 2-3 months) The stage where infants make repetitive vowel sounds (ex: ooh, ah).

Babbling Stage

(LDS 2; 4-6 months) The stage where infants begin combining consonants and vowels (ex: baba, gaga).

One-Word Stage

(LDS 3; 12-18 months) The stage where children start using single words to express full ideas (ex: milk for I want milk).

Two-Word Stage / Telegraphic Speech

(LDS 4; 18-24 months) The stage where children combine two to three words into simple phrases (ex: want cookie).

Holophrase

A single word used to express an entire idea (ex: ball could mean I want the ball or I see a ball).

Social-Emotional Development

Involves recognizing and regulating emotions, building relationships, and managing conflict.

Ecological Systems Theory

Explores how different environments influence individual development.

Microsystem

Direct interactions with family, friends, classmates, and others that affect an individual’s attitudes and behavior.

Mesosystem

The connections between different microsystems, such as parent-friend relationships.