Unit 9 Key Concepts

Development psychology

a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the life span

zygote

the fertilized egg; it enters a 2 week period of rapid cell divisions and develops into an embryo

embryo

the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month

fetus

the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

teratogens

“monster maker” agents, such as chemical and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

fetal alcohol syndrome

physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant womans heavy drinking. in severe cases. signs include a small, out of proportion head and abnormal facial features

rooting reflex

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Habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulaton.

Maturation

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

Cognition

all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Schema

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information

Assimilate

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

Accommodation

adapting our current understandings to incorporate new information

Sensorimotor stage

the stage during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities (0-2)

Object permanence

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

Preoperational stage

the stage during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic (2-7)

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Conservation

the principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects

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Egocentrism

the preoperational childs difficulty taking anothers point of view

Theory of mind

peoples ideas about their own and others mental states--about their feelings perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict

 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interest and repetitive behavior

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 Concrete operational stage

stage of cognitive development during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events (7-11)

Formal operational stage -

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stage of cognitive development during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts (12+)

Stranger anxiety

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fear of strangers that infants commonly display beginning by about 8 months of age

Attachment - 

emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation

Critical period - 

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optimal period early in life of an organism which exposure to certain stimuli or experiences profuce normal development

Imprinting -

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process by which certain animals form strong attachments during and early life critical period

Temperament - 

a persons characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

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Basic trust - 

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sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers

 Self-concept -

all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, “who am I”

Authoritarian - 

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parents impose rules and expect obedience

 Permissive - 

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parents submit to their childrens desires; few demands and little punishment

Authoritative - 

parents are both demanding and responsive; exert control by setting rules and enforcing them but explain reasons. they encourage open discussion which making the rules and all exceptions

Gender - 

social construction roles and characteristics by which a culture defines male and female

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Aggression - 

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any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

Gender role - 

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set of expected behaviors for males or for females

 Role -

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

Gender identity - 

our sense of being make or female

Social learning theory - 

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

Gender typing - 

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acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role

Gender schema -

framework for organizing boy-girl characteristics

Transgender - 

an umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from that associated with their birth sex

 

Adolescence - 

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transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to indeptendence

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Myelination - 

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formation and development of a myelin sheath around the axon of a neuron

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Preconventional morality - 

self-interest; obey rules to avoid punishment or gain concrete rewards

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Conventional morality - 

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uphold laws and rules to gain social approval or maintain social order

Postconventional morality - 

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actions reflect belief in basic rights and self-defined ethical principles

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Identity - 

our sense of self

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Social identity  - 

the “we'“ aspect of our self-concept

 

Intimacy  - 

ability to form close, loving relationships

Emerging adulthood - 

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a period from the late teens to mid 20s, bridging the gap between adolescent dependence and full independence and responsible adulthood

X chromosome - 

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the sex chromosome found in both men and women. females have 2 X chromosomes and men have 1

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Y chromosome - 

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sex chromosome found in only males

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Testosterone - 

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most important of the male sex hormones. both genders have it but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male ex characteristic during puburty

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Puberty - 

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period of sexual maturation, during which a person be comes capable of reproducing

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Primary sex characteristics - 

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body structures that make sexual reproduction possible

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 Secondary sex characteristics - 

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

Menarche - 

the first menstrual period

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Spermarche - 

male's first ejaculation of semen

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Sexually transmitted infection (STI) -

sexually transmitted infection

Sexually transmmitted disease (STD) - 

sexually transmitted disease

 

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) - 

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life threatening, sexually transmitted infection cause by the HIV; depletes the immune system, leaving the person vulnerable to infections

Sexual orientation -

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enduring sexual attraction toward members of either ones own sex, the other sex, or both sexes

Menopause

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

Cross sectional study  

study in which people of different ages are compared with one another

 Longitudinal study - 

research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period

Social clock

culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement