Unit 3: Development and Learning

Vocabulary flashcards covering theories of physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development, as well as classical, operant, and cognitive learning concepts from Unit 3.

Stability vs. Change

The developmental question of whether people stay the same or change as they grow.

Nature vs. Nurture

How genes and the environment affect who we are.

Longitudinal Study

Studying the same people over a long period of time.

Cross-Sectional Study

Comparing different age groups at one time.

Critical Period

A time when something must happen for normal development to occur.

Imprinting

When an animal quickly bonds with something early in life.

Menopause

When a woman's menstrual periods permanently stop.

Sex vs. Gender

Sex refers to biological traits, whereas gender refers to social and personal identity.

Teratogens

Harmful substances, such as alcohol, that can affect a developing baby.

Rooting Reflex

A reflex where a baby turns toward something touching its cheek to find food.

Babinski Reflex

A reflex where a baby's toes spread out when the bottom of the foot is stroked.

Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics

Primary traits involve reproduction, while secondary traits develop during puberty, such as a deeper voice.

Jean Piaget

A psychologist who studied how children think and learn.

Assimilation

Fitting new information into what you already know.

Accommodation

Changing what you know to understand new information.

Conservation

Understanding that an amount stays the same even if its shape changes.

Object Permanence

Knowing something still exists even when you cannot see it.

Egocentrism

Having difficulty seeing things from another person's view.

Crystallized Intelligence

Using knowledge and skills learned through experience.

Fluid Intelligence

Solving new problems without relying on previously learned knowledge.

Ecological Systems Theory

The theory of how family, school, friends, and society affect development.

Authoritarian Parenting

Parenting characterized by clear rules and little freedom.

Authoritative Parenting

Parenting characterized by clear rules, support, and communication.

Permissive Parenting

Parenting characterized by few rules and lots of freedom.

Secure Attachment

Feeling safe and trusting a caregiver.

Insecure Attachment

Having difficulty feeling safe or trusting a caregiver.

Temperament

A person's natural way of reacting and behaving.

Harlow Monkey Study

A study demonstrating that comfort and affection are important for attachment.

Social Clock

Society's expectations for when people should reach life milestones.

Erikson's Social Development Stages

Eight stages describing social and emotional challenges throughout life.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Difficult or harmful experiences during childhood that can affect later health and development.

Identity Achievement

Exploring choices and making a decision about identity.

Identity Diffusion

Not exploring options or making a decision about identity.

Identity Foreclosure

Choosing an identity without exploring other options.

Identity Moratorium

Exploring different identities but not deciding yet.

Behaviorism

The study of how behavior is learned through the environment.

Classical Conditioning

Learning by connecting two things together.

Acquisition

The first stage of learning an association.

Unconditioned Stimulus

Something that naturally causes a response.

Unconditioned Response

A natural reaction to something.

Conditioned Stimulus

Something that causes a learned response.

Conditioned Response

A learned reaction to something.

Extinction

When a learned response weakens because the connection is no longer reinforced.

Generalization

Responding similarly to things that are alike.

Discrimination

Learning to tell the difference between similar things.

Spontaneous Recovery

When an old learned response returns after disappearing for a while.

One-Trial Conditioning

Learning an association after just one experience.

Counterconditioning

Replacing an unwanted response with a different response.

Taste Aversion

Avoiding a food after it makes you feel sick.

Habituation

Responding less to something after experiencing it repeatedly.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding something rewarding to increase a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing something unpleasant to increase a behavior.

Primary and Secondary Reinforcement

Primary reinforcers meet basic needs, like food; secondary reinforcers are learned rewards, like money.

Punishment

A consequence that makes a behavior less likely.

Positive Punishment

Adding something unpleasant to reduce a behavior.

Law of Effect

The principle that behaviors followed by satisfying results are more likely to happen again.

Negative Punishment

Taking away something enjoyable to reduce a behavior.

Shaping

Teaching a behavior by rewarding small steps toward the goal.

Learned Helplessness

Giving up trying because someone believes they cannot control what happens.

Social Learning

Learning behaviors by observing and interacting with others.

Modeling

Learning by watching and copying another person's behavior.

Observational Learning

Learning by watching other people and seeing what happens to them.

Insight Learning

Suddenly understanding how to solve a problem.

Latent Learning

Learning something without showing it until later.

Cognitive Map

A mental picture of the layout of a place.