AP Psych Unit 3 Vocab

Developmental Psychology

developmental psychology

a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development throughout the lifespan

cross-sectional study

research that compares people of different ages at the same point in time

longitudinal study

research that follows and retest the same people over time

teratogens

agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

physical and cognitive function deficits in children caused by their birth mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy. in severe cases, symptoms include a small, out-of-proportion head and distinct facial features

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. as infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner

maturation

biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience

critical period

an optimal period early in the life of an organism when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development

adolescence

the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence

puberty

the period of sexual maturation, during which a person usually becomes capable of reproducing

menopause

the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines

neurogenesis

the development of new brain cells and neural connections

(systematic) pruning

connections are made among cells and connections that are redundant are “trimmed”

plasticity

neurons are connecting and strengthening with each new experience

sex

in psychology, the biologically influenced characteristics by which people define male, female, and intersex

gender

in psychology, the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex

intersex

possessing male and female biological sexual characters at birth

aggression

any physical or verbal behavior untended to harm someone physically or emotionally

relational aggression

an act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a person’s relationship or social standing

x chromosome

the sex chromosome found in females and males. females typically have two x chromosomes; males typically have one.

an x chromosome from each parent produces a female child

y chromosome

the sex chromosome typically found only in males.

when paired with an x chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child.

testosterone

the most important male sex hormone. males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulate the growth of the male sex organs during the fetal period, and the development of male sex characteristics during puberty

estrogens

sex hormones, such as estradiol, that contribute to the female sex characteristics and are secreted in greater amounts by females than by males

primary sex characteristics

the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual reproduction possible

secondary sex characteristics

nonreproductive sexual traits, such as female breasts/hips, male voice quality, and body hair

spermarche

the first ejaculation

menarche

the first menstrual period

role

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave

gender role

a set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for women and men

sexual aggression

any physical or verbal behavior of a sexual nature that is unwanted or intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.

can be expressed as either sexual harassment or sexual assault

gender identity

our personal sense of being male, female, neither, or some combination of male and female, regardless of whether this identity matches our sex assigned at birth, and the social affiliation that may result from this identity

social learning theory

the theory that we learn behavior by observing and imitating and by rewarded or punished

gender typing

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role

androgyny

blending traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine psychological characteristics

sexuality

our thoughts, feelings, and actions related to our physical attraction to another

asexual

having no sexual attraction towards others

social script

a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations

sexual orientation

according to APA (2015), “a person’s sexual and emotional attraction to another person and the behavior and/or social affiliation that may result from this attraction”