ap psych 3.1-3.3

developmental psychology

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

looks into: nature vs nurture, continuity vs stages, stability vs change

teratogen

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

fetal alcohol syndrome

physical and cognitive function deficits in children caused by their birth mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy

severe cases 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 menstration

also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduces declines

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 characteristics at birth

aggression

any physical or verbal behavior intended 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

testosterone

the most important androgen (male sex hormone)

males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates 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 female sex characteristics and are secreted in greater amounts by females than by males

primary sex characteristics

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

secondary sex characteristics

nonreproductive sexual traits (female breats and hips, male voice quality, body hair)

spermarche

the first ejaculation

menarche

the first menstrual period

Klinefelter syndrome

genetic male with an extra X → sterile + small testes

Turner syndrome

genetic female with only one X → no periods or breasts, difficult to get pregnant

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 men and women

sexual aggression

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

gender identity

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

social learning theory

the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being 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 modelled guide for how to act in various situations

sexual orientation

a person’s sexual and emotional attraction to another person and the behavior and/or social affilitation that may result from this attraction