Lifespan Development - Key Concepts (Ch. 1-4)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts from Chapters 1–4 of Lifespan Development.

Lifespan development

The scientific study of growth, change, and stability across the entire life (from womb to tomb).

Nature vs. nurture

Debate over the influence of biology/genetics versus environment/experience on development.

Continuity vs. discontinuity

Whether development is gradual/quantitative or stage-like/qualitative.

Stability vs. change

Whether traits are enduring over time or shift as we age.

Physical domain

Study of body, brain, and health aspects of development.

Cognitive domain

Study of thought, memory, language, and learning.

Psychosocial domain

Study of emotions, personality, and relationships.

Prenatal period

Development before birth.

Infancy/Toddlerhood

Early life stage following birth, characterized by rapid growth and development.

Early Childhood

Developmental period after infancy, before school-age years.

Middle Childhood

Developmental period typically spanning elementary school years.

Adolescence

Transition from childhood to adulthood with biological, cognitive, and social changes.

Early, Middle, Late Adulthood

Sub-stages of adulthood describing progression through later life.

Freud’s psychosexual stages

Five stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) where unconscious drives shape personality.

Oral stage

First psychosexual stage focused on feeding and mouth-related gratification.

Erikson’s psychosocial stages

Eight life-span stages emphasizing social challenges across development.

Piaget’s cognitive stages

Four stages of cognitive development (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational) with active knowledge construction.

Sensorimotor stage

Piaget's first stage (birth–2 years); learning through senses and actions.

Preoperational stage

Piaget's second stage (roughly 2–7 years); language and symbolic thinking develop.

Concrete operational stage

Piaget's third stage (about 7–11 years); logical thinking about concrete events.

Formal operational stage

Piaget's fourth stage; abstract and hypothetical reasoning.

Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development

Learning is social; guidance from culture/mentors helps learners reach higher levels.

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory

Environmental layers—micro, meso, exo, macro, and chrono—that interact to influence development.

Experiments (research method)

Studies designed to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Surveys (research method)

Self-report methods to gather broad data from many participants.

Naturalistic observation

Observing behavior in real-world settings without interference.

Case studies

In-depth examination of a single individual or case.

Age-graded life events

Events tied to a specific age, such as puberty or retirement.

History-graded life events

Events tied to a historical era, such as 9/11 or COVID-19.

Non-normative life events

Unusual events not tied to age or history, like house fires or early parent loss.

Cross-sectional design

Study of different ages at one point in time; fast but may have cohort effects.

Longitudinal design

Study of the same group over time; rich data but can be costly and subject to attrition.

Cohort effect

Differences due to historical context rather than age or development.

Germinal stage

Prenatal stage (0–2 weeks); zygote formation and implantation.

Embryonic stage

Prenatal stage (3–8 weeks); organ formation and high risk of defects.

Fetal stage

Prenatal stage (9 weeks to birth); growth, brain development, movement, viability.

Teratogens

Agents that can cause birth defects; effects depend on timing and dose.

Viability

Ability of a fetus to survive outside the womb, roughly 22–26 weeks gestation.

Maternal health

Maternal nutrition, stress, illness, and substances affecting fetal outcomes.

Epigenetics

Environmental factors can turn genes on or off without changing DNA sequence.

Critical periods

Windows when certain organs/structures are especially vulnerable to development.

Prenatal screening/diagnostics

Ultrasound, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), and blood tests for fetal assessment.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

Disorders caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

Low birthweight

Birthweight below typical thresholds, associated with developmental risks.

Prematurity

Birth before the due date.

Longitudinal prenatal research

Research following individuals over time to assess prenatal influences.

Cephalocaudal growth

Developmental pattern from head to foot.

Proximodistal growth

Developmental pattern from the center outward.

Synaptic pruning

Removal of unused neural connections to increase brain efficiency.

Object permanence

Awareness that objects continue to exist when not seen or heard (8–12 months).

Motor milestones

Key physical achievements (grasping, walking) reflecting CNS development.

Babbling

Early speech vocalizations (babies making sounds).

Holophrases

One-word utterances conveying broader meanings (e.g., 'milk!').

Telegraphic speech

Two-word phrases that omit non-essential words (e.g., 'want cookie').

Joint attention

Shared focus with a caregiver that supports language and social skills.

Malnutrition effects

Possible stunted growth, lower IQ, and poorer school performance.

Fast mapping

Quickly linking a word to its meaning after limited exposure.

Receptive language

Ability to understand language.

Expressive language

Ability to produce language.

Deferred imitation

Repeating observed actions after a delay, reflecting memory skills.

Myelination

Insulation of neural pathways that speeds signal transmission; aids motor and cognitive skills.

Secure attachment

A safe, trusting bond between infant and caregiver.

Insecure attachment

Attachment styles where security is lacking (avoidant, ambivalent, disorganized).

Strange Situation

Ainsworth's laboratory procedure for assessing attachment styles.

Emotion regulation

Strategies to manage and respond to emotional experiences.

Social referencing

Seeking emotional cues from caregivers in uncertain situations.

Goodness of fit

Compatibility between a child’s temperament and parenting style.

Primary emotions

Basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear.

Self-conscious emotions

Complex emotions like guilt, pride, and shame that emerge later.

Erikson’s autonomy vs. shame/doubt

Toddler stage focusing on gaining independence while receiving supportive guidance.

Emotional coaching

Caregivers labeling, validating, and guiding a child’s emotions.

Disorganized attachment

Conflicting or disoriented attachment behavior often linked to neglect or abuse.

Responsive caregiving

Consistent, sensitive caregiving that supports secure attachment and emotional health.