ACTUAL STUDY SET FOR UNIT 1

Development

lifelong process of age related change in physical cognitive and psychosocial functioning

Quantitative change

change in amount such as height or vocabulary size

Qualitative change

change in kind or structure such as new ways of thinking

Lifespan perspective

view that development is lifelong multidimensional multidirectional plastic and shaped by multiple influences

Physical development

changes in body brain and motor skills

Cognitive development

changes in thinking memory and problem solving

Psychosocial development

changes in emotions identity and relationships

Multidimensional

development occurs in physical cognitive and psychosocial domains

Multidirectional

some abilities increase while others decrease

Plasticity

ability to change in response to experience

Age graded influences

events that happen to most people at similar ages

History graded influences

events that affect a generation

Nonnormative influences

unusual events that strongly affect one person

Resilience

ability to adapt successfully despite stress trauma or adversity

Theory

organized set of ideas that describes explains and predicts development

Organismic theories

people are active and development comes from within

Mechanistic theories

people are passive and the environment causes change

Continuous development

development occurs gradually

Discontinuous development

development occurs in stages

Nature

genetic and biological influences

Nurture

environmental and learning influences

Id

pleasure seeking part of personality

Ego

rational problem solving part

Superego

moral conscience

Fixation

being stuck in a psychosexual stage

Ego identity

coherent sense of who you are and where you are going

Behaviorism

learning through stimulus and response

Reinforcement

increases behavior

Punishment

decreases behavior

Social cognitive theory

people learn by observing others and thinking about consequences

Modeling

learning by watching others

Assimilation

fitting new information into existing ideas

Accommodation

changing ideas to fit new information

Sensorimotor stage

stage focused on sensory and motor activity

Preoperational stage

stage focused on symbolic thinking and language

Concrete operational stage

stage focused on logical thinking about real objects

Formal operational stage

stage focused on abstract and hypothetical thinking

Information processing

view of the mind as a computer that processes information

Ethology

study of biologically programmed behavior

Sensitive period

optimal time for learning certain skills

Ecological systems theory

development shaped by interacting environmental systems

Microsystem

immediate environment such as family and school

Mesosystem

connections between microsystems

Exosystem

settings that indirectly affect the person

Macrosystem

culture values laws and customs

Chronosystem

time and historical context

Naturalistic observation

observing behavior in real world settings without interference

Structured observation

observing behavior in a controlled setting

Clinical interview

open ended questioning for deep understanding

Questionnaire

standardized set of written questions

Case study

in depth study of one person or small group

Ethnography

study of a culture through immersion

Correlational design

measures the relationship between two variables

Correlation coefficient

number that shows strength and direction of relationship

Independent variable

variable that is manipulated

Dependent variable

variable that is measured

Random assignment

equal chance of being placed in any group

Longitudinal design

same participants studied over time

Cross sectional design

different age groups studied at one time

Sequential design

combination of longitudinal and cross sectional designs

Cohort effects

differences due to generation not age

Informed consent

participants agree after being informed

Debriefing

explanation of the study after participation

Gene

segment of DNA that codes for a trait

DNA

chemical that carries genetic instructions

Chromosome

structure that carries genes

Genotype

genetic makeup

Phenotype

observable traits

Allele

one version of a gene

Homozygous

two identical alleles

Heterozygous

two different alleles

Autosomes

22 pairs of non sex chromosomes

Sex chromosomes

chromosomes that determine biological sex

Heritability estimate

percentage of variation in a trait due to genes

Concordance rate

percentage of twins who share a trait

Monozygotic twins

identical twins

Dizygotic twins

fraternal twins

Gene environment interaction

genes respond differently in different environments

Passive correlation

parents provide both genes and environment

Evocative correlation

child traits elicit responses from others

Active correlation

people choose environments that fit their traits

Epigenesis

environment affects how genes are expressed

Socioeconomic status

income education and occupation

Individualism

value placed on independence and self expression

Collectivism

value placed on interdependence and group harmony

Developmental niche

culturally structured environment of childhood

Germinal period

first two weeks after conception

Embryonic period

weeks three through eight when organs form

Fetal period

weeks nine through birth when growth occurs

Zygote

fertilized egg

Blastocyst

hollow ball of cells that implants in the uterus

Placenta

organ that provides oxygen nutrients and waste removal

Umbilical cord

structure that connects fetus to placenta

Teratogen

environmental agent that can cause birth defects

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

brain and facial damage caused by alcohol exposure

Preterm infant

baby born before 38 weeks

Kangaroo care

skin to skin contact between infant and caregiver

Apgar scale

test of newborn health based on heart rate breathing reflexes muscle tone and color

Rooting reflex

turning toward a touch on the cheek

Moro reflex

startle response