Studied by 3 people
Chronological development
actual amount of time a person has been alive
Lifespan development
growth and change across all stages of life, from conception to death, encompassing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of development
Stability and Change
stabilization occurs early & persists through life vs. major attributes are potentially changeable throughout life
Nature and nurture
genetic vs. environment
Continuous development
gradual changes over time without distinct phases
Discontinuous development
qualitatively different stages with rapid shifts between them
Teratogens
environmental agents such as drugs, chemicals, viruses or other factors that can produce birth defects
Fine motor coordination
involve the coordination of small muscle groups, such as those in the hands and fingers
Gross motor coordination
involve the coordination of large muscle groups, such as those in the legs and arms
Maturation
biological growth process, uninfluenced by experience
Reflexes
unlearned, involuntary responses that occur automatically in the presence of certain stimuli
Rooting reflex
automatic turn of head when cheek is touched
Visual cliff
shows ability of depth perception in infants and animals
Critical periods
are specific times during development when certain experiences are vital for normal development and can lead to permanent changes in brain function and behavior
Sensitive periods
are also times when experiences have a strong impact on the brain, but missing this timeframe doesn't make it impossible to acquire those skills or traits later
Imprinting
the irreversible formation of a strong attachment to the first moving object an animal encounters after birth
Growth spurt
period of rapid physical growth in height and weight
Puberty
period of sexual maturation, during which a person is capable of reproducing
Primary sex characteristics
body structures that make sexual reproduction possible
Secondary sex characteristics
non-reproductive sexual characteristics
Menarche
first menstrual period
Spermarche
the onset of sperm production in males
Menopause
the time of natural cessation of menstruation and marks the end of their reproductive years
Schemas
a mental framework that helps people understand and interpret new situations based on past experiences
Assimilation
interpret new information in terms of an existing schema
Accommodation
adapt their existing schema to incorporate new information
Sensorimotor stage
experience world with their 5 senses — through looking, hearing, touching, mouthing and grasping
Object permanence
now know that objects and people exist even if they are out of sight
Preoperational stage
children use symbols to represent words, images, and ideas
Mental symbols
language and symbolic thinking
Pretend play
involves children using their imagination to create scenarios, roles, and activities
Conservation
knowledge that quantity can remain the same when shape or other properties change
Reversibility
some things that have been changed can be returned to their original state
Animism
is the belief that inanimate objects are capable of actions and have lifelike qualities
Egocentrism
the inability to differentiate between one's own perspective and that of others
Theory of mind
people’s ideas about their own and other’s mental states (feelings, perceptions, thoughts, etc.) and the behaviors these might predict
Concrete operational stage
they understand the world in logical, realistic, and straightforward ways, but struggle to think systematically
Systematic thinking
a methodical and organized approach to problem-solving, where an individual analyzes information carefully, considers multiple perspectives, and follows a logical sequence of steps to reach a conclusion
Formal operational stage
characterized by abstract thinking, occurs in late childhood into adulthood
Abstract thinking
the cognitive ability to understand and reason about complex concepts that are not directly tied to concrete experiences or physical objects
Hypothetical thinking
the cognitive ability to mentally explore and reason through imaginary situations, considering potential outcomes and consequences without relying solely on concrete facts or current reality
Scaffolding
a framework that offers children temporary support as they develop higher levels of thinking
Zone of proximal development
the gap between what a child can do on their own and what a child can do with support; a level of knowledge possible to obtain through education/assistance
Crystalized intelligence
increases with age
Fluid intelligence
peaks in 20s and then declines with age
Dementia
decline in cognitive abilities, usually in old age
Note 
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