3.1-3.6 Physical and Emotional Development

teratogens

agents (chemicals and viruses) that can reach an embryo during prenatal development and can cause harm

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

physical and cognitive defects in children, caused by birth mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation (as infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a stimulus, interest decreases and they look away sooner)

maturation

biological growth processes that enable appropriate changes in behavior

critical period

an optimal period in early life when exposure to a stimulus or experience produces normal development

cognition

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

schemas

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets infromation

assimilation

interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas

accomodation

adapting current schemas to incorporate new information

sensorimotor stage

(from birth to almost 2) where infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions

object permanence

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

preoperational stage

(2 to 6 or 7) when a child learns to use language but doesn’t understand the mental operations of concrete logic

conservation

properties (mass, volume, and # of objects) remain the same despite changes in the form of objects

egocentric

child has difficulty taking another’s point of view

concrete operational stage

(7-11) cognitive development where children can perform the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete (actual, physical) events

formal operational

the stage of cognitive development which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts

language

agreed systems of spoken, written, or signed communication

phonemes

the smallest sound unit

morphemes

smallest unit that carries meaning

grammar

set of rules for a language that allows us to effectively communicate with and understand others

universal grammar (ug)

humans’ innate predisposition to understand the principles and rules that govern grammar in all languages

babbling stage

(4 months) infant spontaneously utters various sounds that are not related to household language

one-word stage

(1 to 2 years) when child speaks in mostly single words

2 word stage

(2 years) child speaks mostly in 2 word statements

aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage

Broca’s area

speaking language

Wernicke’s area

understanding language

linguistic determinism

hypothesis that language determines the way we think

linguistic relativism

idea that language influences the way we think

ecological systems theory

a theory of the social environment’s influence on human development, using 5 systems

what are the 5 systems in the ecological systems theory?

(individual), microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, chronosystem

stranger anxiety

(8 months) infant’s fear of strangers

attachment

an emotional tie with others'; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to caregivers and distress when separated

imprinting

process where certain animals form strong attachments during early life (does not happen to humans, only animals)

strange situation

procedure for studying child- caregiver attachment; child placed in unfamiliar environment while caregiver leaves, when they return, child’s reactions observed

secure attachment

comfortably explore environments with caregivers, only temporary distress when caregiver leaves, and find comfort when caregiver returns

insecure attachment

display either a clinging, anxious attachment, or an avoidant attachment that resists closeness

temperament

a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

basic trust

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

anxious attachment

constantly crave acceptance but remain alert to possible signs of rejection

avoidant attachment

experience discomfort when getting close to others and use avoidant strategies when getting close to each other to maintain distance

self- concept

all thoughts and feelings about self - “who am I"?”

the individual

age, sex, health, name

microsystem

friends, family, immediate environment

mesosystem

interactions in microsystem, ex. parent talks to sibling

exosystem

indirect influences- neighbors, community

macrosystem

social and cultural values, geography, socioeconomic status, ideology

chronosystem

developments over time- life changes, historical events

rooting reflex

natural, unlearned response of a newborn (born with this)

maturation

naturally occuring, time-related changes

developmental milestones

any physical, cognitive, social, or emotional change

fine motor coordination

coordination of specific muscles for small tasks (ex. writing, drawing, cutting)

gross motor coordination

coordination of whole body to complete a task

Some People Can Fly

Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational

sociocultural theory

children observe their environment, culture, and language and make it part of themselves

internalization

assimilating parts of culture (belief, feeling, attitude) into self

zone of proximal development

difference in a child’s attainment level when working alone versus working with an older, more experienced partner, such as an adult

syntax

a set of rules in language that explains how someone should arrange words or phrases into sentences

semantics

component of language that deals with the meaning of words or phrases

telegraphic speech

a component of the two word stage with only nouns and verbs

disruption of attachment

moving from one caretaker to another

personal fable

adolescent belief about their uniqueness and invulnerability

imaginary audience

adolescent belief that others are constantly watching their appearance and behavior with a critical eye

diffusion

emerging from adolescence with an unsure view of oneself

achievement

identity exploration and eventual commitment

foreclosure

committing to an identity before one is ready because individual accepts the expectations of them

moratorium

when attempting to understand self, adolescent separates from family and tries on different roles