AP Psych Development (infancy)

Heredity and environment in development

Heredity provides genetic traits; environment shapes experiences and influences how traits develop.

Maturation

Biological growth processes that unfold naturally over time, largely independent of experience.

Critical period

A specific time when an organism must experience certain stimuli for normal development.

Developmental stages

Distinct and separate periods of development characterized by qualitative differences.

Continuous development

Development that occurs gradually and steadily without distinct stages.

Physical growth

Increases in size, strength, and bodily changes across infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

Physical development in infancy

Rapid growth, reflexes, motor development, and sensory improvements.

Physical development in childhood

Slower, steady growth and refinement of motor and coordination skills.

Infant reflexes

Automatic, innate responses (e.g., rooting, sucking) critical for survival.

Rooting reflex

When a baby turns its head toward a touch on the cheek to find food.

Gross motor development

Development of large muscle movements (crawling, walking).

Fine motor development

Development of small muscle movements (grasping, drawing).

Perceptual development

The growth of sensory abilities and interpretation (vision, hearing, depth perception).

Attachment

An emotional bond between an infant and caregiver.

Why are comfort and contact important?

Physical touch promotes attachment and emotional security.

Imprinting

Rapid, early learning that forms strong attachments (mostly animals).

Secure and insecure attachment

Secure: confident caregiver will return. (baby crying is good because it misses its parent )

Insecure: anxiety, avoidance, or ambivalence. (baby not crying is bad because they’re supposed to cry)

Autism

A developmental disorder affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior.

Uninvolved parenting style

Low warmth, low control; parents are disengaged.

Permissive parenting style

High warmth, low control; few rules or expectations.

Authoritative parenting style

High warmth, high control; consistent rules with support.

Authoritarian parenting style

Low warmth, high control; strict parenting with rigid rules.

Abuse and neglect

Abuse: intentional harm. Neglect: failure to provide basic needs.

Self-esteem

One’s sense of self-worth and personal value.

Piaget’s stages of cognitive development

Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational.

Sensorimotor stage

Stage (0–2) where infants learn through senses and actions.

Object permanence

Understanding that objects continue to exist even when unseen.

Preoperational stage

Symbolic thinking but lack of logic; ages 2–7.

Egocentrism

Difficulty seeing the world from another's perspective.

Artificialism

Belief that natural events are created by humans or supernatural forces.

Animism

Belief that inanimate objects have feelings or consciousness.

Concrete operational stage

Logical thinking about concrete events (ages 7–11).

Formal operational stage

Abstract and hypothetical reasoning (ages 12+).

Kohlberg’s three levels of moral reasoning

Preconventional, Conventional, Postconventional.

Preconventional morality

Morality based on avoiding punishment and seeking rewards.

Conventional morality

Morality based on social rules and gaining approval.

Postconventional morality

Morality based on personal ethics and universal principles.