Developmental Psychology Flashcards - Unit 7 Terms & Definitions

fetal alcohol syndrome

physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman's heavy drinking

Teratogens

fetus

fetus

the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

embryo

the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month

zygote

fertilized egg

developmental psychology

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

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

the internally programmed growth of a child

Cognition

the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Schema

a conceptual framework a person uses to make sense of the world

Assimilation

interpreting one's new experience in terms of one's existing schemas

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

Preoperational Stage

in Piaget's theory, the stage (from about 2 to 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 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

Scaffold

a framework that offers children temporary support as they develop higher levels of thinking

Autism Spectrum Disorder

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors

Stranger Anxiety

the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning by about 8 months of age

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

Strange Situation

a behavioral test developed by Mary Ainsworth that is used to determine a child's attachment style

Secure Attachment

a relationship in which an infant obtains both comfort and confidence from the presence of his or her caregiver

Insecure Attachment

attachments marked by anxiety or ambivalence

Gender Typing

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role

Androgyny

displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics

Transgender

an umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from that associated with their birth sex

Puberty

the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing

Temperament

a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

Basic Trust

according to Erik Erikson, a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers

Self-Concept

all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, "Who am I?"

Sex

the biological distinction between females and males

Gender

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

Aggression

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

Relational Aggression

an act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a person's relationship or social standing

Role

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

Gender Role

a set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for males or for females

Gender Identity

our sense of being male or female

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

Puberty

the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing

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

Social Identity

the "we" aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to "Who am I?" that comes from our group memberships

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-twenties, bridging the gap between adolescent dependence and full independence and responsible adulthood

X Chromosome

The sex chromosome found in both men and women. Females have two X chromosomes; males have one. An X chromosome from each parent produces a female child.

Y Chromosome

the sex chromosome found only in males. When paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child.

Testosterone

Male sex hormone

Primary Sex Characteristics

the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual reproduction possible

Secondary Sex Characteristics

nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair

Spermarche

first ejaculation

Intersex

possessing biological sexual characteristics of both sexes

Sexual Orientation

an enduring sexual attraction toward members of either one's own sex (homosexual orientation) or the other sex (heterosexual orientation)

AIDS

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Menopause

the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines

Cross-Sectional Study

a study in which people of different ages are compared with one another

Longitudinal Study

research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period

Neurocognitive Disorders

acquired (not lifelong) disorders marked by cognitive deficits; often related to Alzheimer's disease, brain injury or disease, or substance abuse. In older adults neurocognitive disorders were formerly called dementia

Alzheimer's Disease

a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks

Social Clock

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