Developmental Psychology & Personality Theories: Key Concepts and Stages

Stress impact on fetus

Premature birth, low birth weight, developmental problems

Drug impact on fetus

Birth defects, brain damage, addiction, FAS (alcohol)

Separation anxiety

Distress when caregiver leaves

Separation anxiety timing

Appears 6-8 months, peaks 12-18 months, fades 2-3 years

Secure attachment

Explores freely, upset when parent leaves, happy when returns

Anxious-ambivalent attachment

Clingy, very distressed, not easily comforted

Avoidant attachment

Ignores parent, little reaction to leaving/returning

Object permanence

Understanding objects exist when unseen

Conservation

Quantity stays same despite shape change

Vygotsky's theory

Learning through social interaction, culture, scaffolding, ZPD

Erikson's theory

Psychosocial crises across lifespan

Erikson (ages 4-6)

Initiative vs Guilt

Erikson (adolescence)

Identity vs Role Confusion

Erikson early adulthood success

Intimacy (relationships)

Erikson late adulthood success

Integrity (accepting life)

Kohlberg stages

3 levels, 6 stages

Preconventional

Morality based on rewards/punishment

Conventional

Morality based on rules and approval

Postconventional

Morality based on abstract principles

Primary sex characteristics

Reproductive organs

Secondary sex characteristics

Puberty changes (voice, hair)

Emerging adulthood

Ages 18-25, identity exploration

Marriage and children

More children = lower marital satisfaction

Dementia

General cognitive decline

Alzheimer's disease

Specific disease causing dementia

Denial

Refusal to accept reality

Anger

Frustration, blame

Bargaining

"What if" thinking

Depression

Sadness, withdrawal

Acceptance

Peace with situation

Personality

Consistent, distinctive patterns of behavior

Trait

Stable personality characteristic

Big Five

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism

Conscientiousness

Predicts career success

Id

Pleasure principle, impulsive

Ego

Reality principle, decision maker

Superego

Morality, conscience

Defense mechanisms

Unconscious ways to reduce anxiety

Collective unconscious

Shared human memories/archetypes

Observational learning

Learning by watching others

Self-efficacy

Belief in one's ability

Maslow's hierarchy

Needs from basic to self-actualization

Eysenck theory

Personality is biological/genetic

Extraversion-introversion

Social vs reserved traits

Narcissism

Excessive self-focus

Grandiose narcissism

Arrogant, dominant

Vulnerable narcissism

Insecure, sensitive

Terror management theory

Self-esteem reduces fear of death

American culture personality

Individualism, independence

Social psychology

Study of how people interact and influence each other

Person perception

Judging others based on appearance/behavior

Stereotypes

Generalized beliefs about groups

Illusory correlation

False association between variables

Ingroup

"Us" group

Outgroup

"Them" group

Attribution

Explaining behavior

Internal attribution

Behavior due to personality

External attribution

Behavior due to situation

Fundamental attribution error

Overestimate internal causes in others

Self-serving bias

Credit success to self, blame failures on situation

Individualism

Focus on self

Collectivism

Focus on group

Matching hypothesis

People pair with similar attractiveness

Opposites attract

False

Passionate love

Intense, short-term

Companionate love

Deep, long-term

Attitude

Evaluation of something

Cognitive component

Beliefs

Affective component

Feelings

Behavioral component

Actions

Explicit attitudes

Conscious beliefs

Implicit attitudes

Unconscious biases

IAT

Measures implicit bias

Persuasion factors

Source, message, channel, audience

Cognitive dissonance

Discomfort from conflicting beliefs

Conformity

Changing behavior to fit group

Obedience

Following authority

Bystander effect

Less likely to help in groups

Social loafing

Less effort in group work

Groupthink

Prioritizing harmony over good decisions