HDFS VOCAB

Behaviorism

Studies how observable behavior is controlled by physical and social environment through conditioning

Bioecological systems theory

Emphasizes the role of context in development. Contexts are organized into systems that people have and that can interact with each other and the person to influence development.

Classical conditioning

Environmental stimulus becomes associated with stimuli that elicit a reflex response

Cognitive-developmental theory

Mature thinking involves emotional awareness, ability to integrate and regulate intense emotions, and recognition and appreciation of individual experience.

Cohort

Generation of people born at the same time, influenced by the same historical and cultural conditions

Context

Unique conditions where a person develops. Includes physical and social environment aspects. (family, neighborhood, culture, and historical time period)

Continuous development

Development unfolds slowly and gradually over time

Correlational research

Measures relationship among participants’ measured characteristics, behaviors, and development.

Cross-sectional research

Compares people of different ages at a single point in time to infer age differences.

Culture

Set of customs, knowledge, attitudes, and values shared by a group of people and learned through interactions with group members.

Discontinuous development

Development is characterized by abrupt or stage-like changes

Ethological theory

Emphasizes evolutionary basis of behavior and its adaptive value in ensuring survival of species

Evolutionary developmental theory

Applies principles of evolution and scientific knowledge about the interactive influence of genetic and environmental mechanisms to understand the adaptive value of developmental changes experienced with age 

Experimental research

Permits inferences about cause-effect by exerting control, manipulating variables, and studying the effects on measured variables.

Hypotheses

Proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested

Information processing theory

Computer analogy that describes how the mind receives information and manipulates, stores, recalls, and uses it to solve problems

Informed consent

Participant’s informed, rational, and voluntary agreement to participate in a study

Lifespan human development

Examines ways individuals grow, change, and stay the same throughout their lives from conception to death.

Longitudinal research

One group of participants is studied repeatedly to infer age changes

Naturalistic observation

Researchers view and record individual’s behavior in natural, real-world settings.

Nature-nurture issue

Is development caused by nature (genes/heredity) or nurture (physical/social environment)

Observational learning

Learning that occurs by watching and imitating models

Open-ended interview

Researchers ask participants questions using a flexible, conversational style that may vary in order of questions, probe, and ask follow-up questions based on participant’s response.

Operant conditioning

Behavior increases or decreases based on environmental consequences

Plasticity

Refers to malleability or openness to change in response to experience

Psychoanalytic theories

Development and behavior are stage-like and influenced by inner drives, memories, and conflicts that the individual is unaware and cannot control

Questionnaires

Researchers use survey or questions to collect data from a large sample of people

Reciprocal determinism

Individuals and their environment interact and influence each other

Schemas

a mental framework or blueprint that helps the brain organize, interpret, and process information

Scientific method

Process of forming and answering questions using systematic observations and gathering information

Sequential research designs

Multiple groups of participants of different ages are followed over time, combining cross-sectional and longitudinal research

Social learning theory

Emphasizes the role of modeling and observational learning over people’s behavior in addition to reinforcement and punishment

Sociocultural theory

Individuals acquire culturally relevant ways of thinking through social interactions with members of their culture

Structured interview

Each participants is asked the same set of questions in the same way

Structured observation

Individual’s behavior is viewed and recorded in a controlled environment: situation created by experimenter

Theory

Organized set of observations to describe, explain, and predict a phenomenon

Alleles

Gene variation that influences an individual's characteristics

Amniocentesis

Small sample of amniotic fluid is extracted from the mother’s uterus and subject to genetic analysis

Behavioral genetics

Study of how genetic and environmental factors influence individual differences in behavior and psychological traits

Canalization

Tendency for a trait that’s biologically programed to be restricted to only a few outcomes

Carrier

A person who’s heterozygous for a trait, where the recessive gene isn’t expressed in the phenotype but may be passed onto the carrier’s offspring

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

Conducted on cells sampled from the chorion to detect chromosomal abnormalities 

Chromosomes

One of 46 rod-like molecules that contain 23 pairs of DNA in every body cell and collectively contain all of the genes 

Crossing-over

Chromosomes pairs align, and DNA segments cross over, moving from one member of the pair to the other 

DNA

Chemical structure, shaped like a twisted ladder, that contains all of the genes 

Dominant-recessive inheritance

Form of inheritance where the phenotype reflects only the dominant allele of a heterozygous pair

Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)

A third chromosome appears at the 21 site. Associated with physical characteristics accompanied by developmental disability

Dizygotic (DZ) twins (Fraternal twins)

Two ova are released and each is fertilized by different sperm resulting in children that share 50% of their genetic material.

Epigenetic framework

Expression of genetic traits that can be influenced by toxins, injuries, crowding, diet, and parenting. Can be turned on and off.

Gametes

A reproductive cell, sperm and ovum

Genes

Composed stretches of DNA. The instructions for making proteins.

Gene-environment correlation

Individual’s traits are supported by their genes and environment: passive, reactive, and active correlations 

Gene-environment interactions

Dynamic interplay between genes and our environment in determining characteristics; behavior; physical, cognitive, and social development as well as health

Genetic counseling

Helps perspective parents determine the probability that their children will inherit genetic defects and chromosomal abnormalities

Genome

Set of instructions to construct a living organism

Genomic imprinting

Expression of a gene is determined on if its inherited from the mother or father 

Genotype

Collection of genes that contain instructions for all physical and psychological characteristics (hair, eye color, personality, health, and behavior) 

Heritability

Statistic that indicates which variation of a certain trait can be traced to genes

Heterozygous

Alleles of the pair of chromosomes are different

Homozygous

Alleles of the pair of chromosomes are alike

Incomplete dominance

Both genes are expressed in the phenotype

In vitro fertilization

Creation of zygotes through mixing sperm with surgically removed ova

Monozygotic (MZ) twins (Identical Twins)

Zygotes splits early in development which results in children that share 100% of their genes

Mutations

Sudden Permanent change in the structure of genes

Niche-picking

Active gene-environment correlation where individuals seek out experiences and environments that complement their genetic tendencies

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT)

Samples cell-free fetal DNA from the mother’s blood for chromosomal abnormalities

Phenotype

Person’s observable physical traits like eye and hair color, or height

Polygenic inheritance

Trait is a function of the interaction of many genes like height, intelligence, and temperament 

Range of reaction

Genetic trait may be expressed in a wide range of phenotypes dependent on environmental opportunities and constraints

Ultrasound

High-frequency sound waves are directed at the mother’s abdomen to give a clear image of the womb projected on a video monitor

Zygote

Fertilized ovum

Multifactorial

a physical trait, behavior, or health condition is caused by a combination of many genes working together with environmental influences

X-linked disorders

Disorders like the gene for red-green colorblindness are carried in the X chromosome. 

Age of viability

Age where the fetus can survive if born prematurely. Roughly around 22 weeks.

Anencephaly

Neural tube defects that result in the failure of all or part of the brain to develop resulting in death.

Apgar scale

Quick assessment of a baby’s immediate health at birth. Includes: appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration

Blastocyst

Fluid-filled sphere containing mass of cells where the embryo will develop. Implanted into the uterine during the germinal period

Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)

Administered to newborns after birth to assess neurological functioning, includes: strength of 20 reflexes, responsiveness to the physical/social environment, and changes in state

Cesarean section

A surgical procedure that removes the fetus from the uterus through the abdomen

Ectoderm

Upper layer of the embryonic disk that forms into skin, hair/nails, sensory organs, and the nervous system

Embryo

Prenatal organism between 2 and 8 weeks.

Embryonic disk

Mass of cells that has 3 different layers: Ectoderm, Mesoderm, and Endoderm

Endoderm

Inner layer of embryonic disk that develops into the digestive system, liver, lungs, pancreas, salivary glands, and respiratory system

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Continuum of physical, mental, and behavioral outcomes caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

Severe form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder that includes distinct pattern of facial characteristics, growth deficiencies, and deficits in intellectual development 

Fetus

Prenatal organism from 9th week of pregnancy. Period of rapid growth and maturation of body structures. 

Implantation

Blastocyst becomes attached to the uterine wall 10 days after fertilization 

Indifferent gonad

Grows into the male or female sex organs

Lanugo

A fine, down-like hair that covers the fetus’s body

Low birth weight

Infants that weigh less than 2,500 grams (5.5lbs) at birth

Mesoderm

Middle layer of the embryonic disk that develops into muscles, skeleton, and the circulatory system

Neonate

Newborn

Ovum

Female reproductive cell (egg cell)

Placenta

Organ that exchanges nutrients, oxygen, and wastes via umbilical cord between the mother and the developing organism

Preterm

Birth that occurs 35 or fewer weeks after conception

Small for date

Infant that is full term but has lower weight than expected

Spina bifida

Neural tube that results in spinal nerves growing outside the vertebrae resulting in paralysis and developmental disabilities 

Stem cells

Drive human development by developing into specialized cells that build organs and tissues

Teratogen

Environmental factor that causes damage to prenatal development

Teratology

the scientific study of how teratogens affect prenatal development