Developmental Psychology-Prenatal and Childhood

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from a lecture on developmental psychology, ranging from research designs and prenatal development to cognitive stages, attachment, parenting styles, and temperament.

Developmental Psychology

The scientific study of physical, cognitive, and social changes across the lifespan.

Cross-Sectional Design

Research method comparing people of different ages at one point in time.

Longitudinal Design

Research method following the same group over multiple time points.

Cohort Effects

Unique influences on people of the same generation that can confound age comparisons.

Stability vs. Change

Debate over which traits persist and which evolve as we age.

Stage vs. Continuous Development

Question of whether growth occurs in distinct steps or gradual increments.

Nature vs. Nurture

Inquiry into how genetics and environment interact to shape development.

Prenatal Development

Growth from conception to birth, encompassing zygote, embryo, and fetus phases.

Zygote

Fertilized egg from conception to roughly two weeks.

Embryo

Prenatal stage from two weeks to two months when major organs form.

Fetus

Prenatal human from two months after conception to birth.

Monozygotic (Identical) Twins

Twins arising from one zygote that splits, producing genetically identical siblings.

Dizygotic (Fraternal) Twins

Twins formed from two separate fertilized eggs; genetically similar to ordinary siblings.

Teratogen

Any substance or factor that can harm the developing embryo or fetus.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Severe pattern of physical and cognitive defects in children whose mothers drank heavily during pregnancy.

Fetal Alcohol Effects

Milder difficulties resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure; part of FASD.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Umbrella term covering all outcomes of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Habituation (Fetal/Infant)

Decreased response to repeated or continuous stimulation.

Sucking Reflex

Automatic sucking movements elicited when something touches a newborn’s mouth.

Rooting Reflex

Newborn’s turning of the head toward a cheek touch, preparing to feed.

Grasping Reflex

Infant’s automatic closing of the hand when the palm is touched.

Stepping Reflex

Walking-like movements newborns make when held upright with feet on a surface.

Moro Reflex

Startle response in which babies fling out arms then pull them back in.

Synapse

Connection point between two neurons where information is transmitted.

Infantile Amnesia

Inability to recall memories from roughly the first 2–4 years of life.

Neural Pruning

Elimination of unused neurons and synapses to strengthen efficient pathways.

Enriched Environment

Setting with plentiful stimulation that promotes robust brain development.

Schema

Mental framework for organizing and interpreting information.

Assimilation

Interpreting new experiences using existing schemas.

Accommodation

Modifying or creating schemas to incorporate new information.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget’s first stage (0–2 yrs): understanding the world through senses and actions.

Object Permanence

Realization that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget’s second stage (2–7 yrs): use of language and symbols with limited logical reasoning.

Conservation

Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance.

Theory of Mind

Ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others.

Egocentrism

Difficulty seeing a situation from another’s perspective, common in young children.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget’s third stage (7–11 yrs): logical thinking about concrete events.

Reversibility

Understanding that actions can be undone to return to original state.

Transitive Reasoning

Logical deduction that if A=B and B=C, then A=C.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget’s fourth stage (11+ yrs): capacity for abstract and systematic thinking.

Violation-of-Expectation Method

Infant research technique measuring longer looking at unexpected events.

Drawbridge Method

Specific violation-of-expectation test assessing infant object permanence with a rotating screen.

Scaffolding

Vygotsky’s concept of guided support that gradually decreases as a learner gains skill.

Zone of Proximal Development

Range between what a child can do alone and what they can do with help.

Attachment

Strong emotional bond between a child and caregiver.

Strange Situation

Ainsworth’s lab procedure for assessing infant attachment style.

Secure Attachment

Infant uses caregiver as a base, is distressed by separation, soothed at return.

Insecure-Avoidant Attachment

Infant shows little distress at separation and avoids caregiver on return.

Insecure-Resistant Attachment

Infant is highly distressed by separation but ambivalent/resistant on return.

Disorganized Attachment

Infant displays confused, fluctuating behaviors upon caregiver’s return.

Stranger Anxiety

Fear of unfamiliar people emerging around eight months.

Critical Period

Optimal window when certain experiences strongly influence development.

Harry Harlow’s Monkeys

Study showing infant monkeys prefer soft contact comfort over wire food source.

Authoritarian Parenting Style

High control, low warmth; strict rules with little explanation.

Permissive Parenting Style

Low control, high warmth; few demands and minimal discipline.

Authoritative Parenting Style

Balanced control and warmth; rules explained and negotiated.

Temperament

Innate emotional reactivity and intensity shown early in life.

Easy Temperament

Consistently positive mood, adaptability, and regular routines.

Difficult Temperament

Intense, irregular, and negative reactions to new situations.

Slow-to-Warm-Up Temperament

Low activity, cautiousness, and gradual adaptation to change.

Goodness of Fit

Compatibility between a child’s temperament and parental practices.

Motor Development Sequence

Typical order of movements: rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, cruising, walking.

Screen Time Effects

Moderate use can aid learning; excessive use linked to negative developmental outcomes.

Peer Friendship Benefits

Close friendships boost self-esteem, academic success, and emotional health.