Stages of Human Development Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on Human Development, covering prenatal periods, genetic/teratogenic factors, cognitive/psychosocial theories (Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg), attachment theories, and developmental milestones.

Embryonic period

The prenatal development stage from week $2$ to week $8$, characterized by rapid organ formation and the highest vulnerability to congenital malformations.

Fetal period

The prenatal development stage from week $9$ to birth, characterized by overall growth, maturation, and functional development of organ systems.

Synaptic pruning

The elimination of unnecessary neural connections via apoptosis, resulting in a more efficient neural network and less gray matter.

Excitotoxicity

An excess of excitatory neurotransmitters involved in the etiology of schizophrenia, with maximum brain vulnerability occurring before $32\text{ weeks}$ of gestation affecting white matter.

Fetal alcohol syndrome

A condition caused by maternal alcohol consumption characterized by growth restriction, facial dysmorphism, cardiac and neurodevelopmental defects, and developmental delay.

Premature infant

An infant born at less than $34\text{ weeks}$ gestational age weighing less than $2.5\text{ kg}$, who faces an increased risk for neuropsychiatric and developmental problems.

Postmature infant

An infant born at $42\text{ weeks}$ gestational age (born $\text{x} \rightleftharpoons \text{y}$ or $\text{x} \rightarrow \text{y}$ at least $2\text{ weeks}$ beyond expected DOB), characterized by long nails, less lanugo, and increased alertness.

Object permanence

The cognitive understanding developed during Piaget's sensorimotor stage (birth to $2\text{ years}$) that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible.

Easy temperament

A temperament pattern described by Chess & Thomas occurring in $40\text{\%}$ of infants, characterized by regular, flexible behavior, minimal distress during change, and being easily comforted.

Intermediate temperament

A temperament pattern described by Chess & Thomas occurring in $50\text{\%}$ of infants (slow to warm up), characterized by a mixture of easy and difficult temperament traits.

Difficult temperament

A temperament pattern described by Chess & Thomas occurring in $10\text{\%}$ of infants, characterized by overreacting to stimuli, crying easily, poor sleep, unpredictable eating, and being difficult to comfort.

Contact comfort (Harlow)

The attachment concept demonstrated by Harlow showing that Rhesus monkeys preferred surrogate mothers wrapped in cloth over wire surrogate mothers providing food.

Secure base effect

A concept in Ainsworth's attachment theory where a child's secure attachment to a caregiver provides a safe foundation that enables the child to explore the environment.

Transitional object

A concept introduced by Winnicott referring to an object used by an infant to provide comfort in a secure environment fostered by a "good-enough mother".

Separation-individuation

Mahler's developmental process in which a child gradually develops an individual identity, autonomy, and independence through exploration and repeated reassurance from a caregiver.

Goodness of fit

The interaction between a child's temperament and their caregiver's parenting style, where a good match fosters healthy development and a poor match creates emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Negativism

A behavior vital to toddler development (1st to 3rd year) marked by simple defiance and using "no" as a favorite word while establishing independence and autonomy.

Preoperational stage

Piaget's stage of cognitive development ($3$ to $6\text{ years}$) characterized by egocentrism, animism, centration, irreversibility, lack of hierarchy, and transductive reasoning.

Concrete operational stage

Piaget's stage of cognitive development ($6$ to $12\text{ years}$) marked by logical thinking, conservation, hierarchy, reversibility, decentration, spatial operations, horizontal decalage, and transitive inference.

Formal operational stage

Piaget's stage of cognitive development in adolescence characterized by hypothetical-deductive reasoning, abstract thinking, propositional thinking, imaginary audience, and personal fable.

Identity vs. role confusion

Erikson's psychosocial stage occurring around $18\text{ years}$ of age, focused on formulating an individual's sense of self, beliefs, and values while navigating identity crisis, diffusion, or confusion.

Preconventional morality

Kohlberg's level of moral development ($0$ to $9\text{ years}$) focused on obedience and punishment (Stage 1) and individualism and change (Stage 2).

Conventional morality

Kohlberg's level of moral development (early adolescence to adulthood) where decisions are driven by maintaining good interpersonal relationships (Stage 3) and maintaining social order (Stage 4).

Postconventional morality

Kohlberg's level of moral development achieved by some adults, characterized by voluntary compliance with rules based on social contract/individual rights (Stage 5) and universal ethical principles (Stage 6).

Endogenous smiling

Spontaneous smiling seen in newborns that is unrelated to external stimulation.

Exogenous smiling

Social smiling appearing at $16\text{ weeks}$ ($4\text{ months}$) that is stimulated directly by the mother.

Stranger anxiety

An emotional milestone emerging at $6\text{ months}$ and peaking at $8\text{ months}$ ($26\text{--}32\text{ weeks}$), occurring more commonly in infants with a single caregiver.

Separation anxiety

An emotional reaction occurring between $10$ and $18\text{ months}$ of age when an infant is separated from their primary caregiver.

Parallel play

A form of play appearing at $30\text{ months}$ ($2.5$ to $3\text{ years}$) where children play alongside one another without direct interaction.

Cooperative play

A stage of social play emerging at $4\text{ years}$ of age where children actively collaborate and play together.