AP Psychology - Unit 3.1: Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology

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

Teratogens

agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman's heavy drinking. In severe cases, symptoms include noticeable facial misproportions.

Habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.

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.

Assimilation

interpreting our new experience in terms of our existing schemas. A child calling a bicycle a car because it has wheels

Accommodation

Adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information. Realizing a bike is different from a car because it has two wheels

Sensorimotor Stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities.

Object Permanence

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived. develops in the sensorimotor state

Preoperational Stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage (from 2 to about 6 or 7 years of age) during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic.

Conservation

the principle (which Piaget believed to be a part of concrete operational reasoning) that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects.

Egocentrism

in Piaget's theory, the preoperational child's difficulty taking another's point of view.

Theory of Mind

people's ideas about their own and others' mental states—about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict.

Concrete Operational Stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 6 or 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically but not abstractly about concrete events.

Formal Operational Stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning about age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts.

Attachment

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

Critical Period

an optimal period shortly after birth when an organism's exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces proper development.

Imprinting

the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life.

Temperament

a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Self

Concept

Gender

in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female.

Role

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

Gender Identity

our sense of being male or female.

Gender Typing

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.

Social Learning Theory

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

Adolescence

the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence.

Identity

our sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescent's task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles.

Intimacy

in Erikson's theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships; a primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood.

Emerging Adulthood

for some people in modern cultures, a period from the late teens to mid

Social Clock

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

Mary Ainsworth

Researcher who developed "the strange situation" to study attachment

Secure Attachhment

When mom was in the room, explored but were wary of the stranger. When child was left alone they cried, but were soothed when the mother returned.

Nature

heredity, or the influence of inherited characteristics on personality, intellect, and development

Nurture

environment; the influence our surroundings, parenting styles, economic factors have on our personality, intellect, ad development

Scaffolding

learning by having a skilled person give you a lot of help at the start then slowly withdrawing as you improve

Zone of proximal development

the difference between what a child can do alone and with help

Erik Erikson

Developed an 8 stage theory of psychosocial development where each stage was centered on overcoming a crisis such as trust vs mistrust

Imaginary Audience

Part of Elkind's theory of Adolescent Egocentrism; teens tend to think that others are just as concerned about their thoughts and appearance as they themselves are.

Preconventional Morality

First level of Kohlberg's theory where morality is based on punishment and reward. If I didn't get caught/punished, then it was OK to do it.

Conventional Morality

Second level of Kohlberg's theory where morality is based on conforming to others and the expectations of society

Postconventional Morality

Third level of Kohlberg's theory where morality is based on principles that have been set by the person and may more may not agree with social norms.

Authoritarian parenting

parents who are very inflexible, stern and strict. More likely to use physical punishment. Children tend to grow up with low self esteem, be timid and withdrawn. Others might rebel.

Permissive/Indulgent parenting

parents who are more friends to their children and do not set any boundaries. Children tend to be selfish, immature, and dependent upon parents.

Stages of Dying

Theory created by Elisabeth Kubler Ross. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance

Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt

1-3 when children are learning to direct their own behavior and feel that they can do things for themselves. I can do it vs I can't do it!

Initiative vs. Guilt

Erikson stage ages 3-5 where children must learn to control their behavior and take responsibility for their actions. I decided to do it vs I really shouldn't have done that!

Industry vs. Inferiority

Erikson stage ages 5-12 where children learn to feel competence and self esteem as they learn new knowlesdge and skills. I can do it well vs. I am terrible at that!

Generativity vs Stagnation

Erikson middle adult stage where a person strives to stay creative, productive, and giving to the next generation

Integrity vs Despair

Erikson's final stage where are person accepts their life

Jean Piaget

Created a four stage theory of Cognitive Development

Authoritative parenting

parents who set clear expectations and boundaries but who are warm, fair, and flexible. Children tend to grow up to be well adjusted and have high self esteem.