Overview of Developmental Psychology Concepts

Heredity

Genetic blueprint starting at conception.

Prenatal Development

Development begins at conception, forming a zygote.

Zygote

Fertilized egg, the first human cell.

Embryo

Zygote attaches to the uterus wall.

Fetus

Developing human after 3 months gestation.

Teratogens

Toxins disrupting development via placental barrier.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

CNS issues from alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

Critical Periods

Times of heightened vulnerability to teratogens.

Brain Development

All neurons present at birth, grows rapidly.

Motor Development

Skills develop from center outward, head to tail.

Auditory Perception

Infants respond to sounds within minutes of birth.

Habituation

Decreased response to repeated stimuli.

Visual Perception

Infants are nearsighted, prefer human faces.

Depth Perception

Understanding distance; develops after crawling.

Visual Cliff

Experiment showing depth perception in infants.

Cognitive Development

Growth in knowing, thinking, and understanding.

Jean Piaget

Studied children's cognitive changes across ages.

Sensory-Motor Stage

0-2 years; ends with symbolic thought.

Object Permanence

Understanding objects exist when out of sight.

Preoperational Stage

2-7 years; symbolic and language development.

Concrete Operational Stage

7-11 years; logical reasoning and conservation.

Laws of Conservation

Quantity remains unchanged despite physical alterations.

Formal Operational Stage

Cognitive development stage for abstract reasoning.

Hypothetical Thought

Ability to think about possibilities and scenarios.

Social Development

Process of personal growth and relationships.

Harry Harlow

Studied attachment in rhesus monkeys.

Surrogate Mothers

Substitutes providing food or comfort to infants.

Contact Comfort

Preference for physical comfort over basic needs.

Mary Ainsworth

Developed the Strange Situation Paradigm.

Strange Situation Paradigm

Test for attachment styles in children.

Secure Attachment

Child seeks comfort from parents when frightened.

Insecure Ambivalent

Clingy children who reject caregiver interactions.

Insecure Avoidant

Children avoid contact with distressed attachment figures.

Puberty

Physiological changes from ages 8-18.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Reproductive organs like ovaries and testes.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Non-reproductive physical changes during puberty.

Moral Reasoning

Development of understanding right and wrong.

Lawrence Kohlberg

Identified levels of moral reasoning.

Heinz Dilemma

Moral dilemma assessing reasoning for stealing.

Premoral Stage

Obey rules to avoid punishment or gain rewards.

Conventional Morality

Conformity to societal norms and laws.

Postconventional Morality

Moral principles based on individual conscience.

Parenting Styles

Different approaches to child-rearing.

Authoritarian Parenting

Emphasizes obedience with strict rules.

Permissive Parenting

Few guidelines, allowing children freedom.

Authoritative Parenting

High responsiveness with consistent limits.

Erik Erikson

Focused on psychosocial development stages.

Trust vs Mistrust

Infant's trust develops from reliable care.

Autonomy vs shame & doubt

Ages 1-3; developing personal control and independence.

Initiative vs guilt

Ages 3-5; asserting self through play and social interaction.

Industry vs inferiority

Ages 5-11; learning skills and facing feelings of inferiority.

Identity vs role confusion

Adolescence; exploring personal values and identity.

Intimacy vs isolation

Early adulthood; forming intimate relationships.

Generativity vs stagnation

Middle adulthood; contributing to society and caring for others.

Integrity vs despair

Late adulthood; reflecting on life accomplishments.

Physical Peak

Before age 30; gradual decline in physical abilities.

Cognitive skills

Sharpened through adulthood; metacognition improves.

Crystallized intelligence

Knowledge accumulated over time; increases with age.

Liquid intelligence

Problem-solving ability; decreases with age.

Empty Nest Syndrome

Adjustment phase after children leave home.

Health in elderly

Increased susceptibility to fractures and health issues.

Dementia

Abnormal brain deterioration affecting memory and judgment.

Alzheimer's disease

Common form of dementia; memory impairment.

Dying process

Elderly often adjust well to death's prospect.

Kubler-Ross stages of grief

Five stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.

Social influences in adolescence

Parents influence major decisions; peers influence lifestyle.

Metacognition

Ability to monitor and evaluate one's own thinking.

Job satisfaction in older adults

Older individuals report greater job satisfaction.

Vocational Tests

Help predict career stability and direction.

Aging effects on recall

Recall ability declines in late adulthood.

Elderly health maintenance

Good health maintained through fitness and diet.