Psychology Exam 2

prenatal

before birth

infancy

0-2 yrs

toddlerhood

2-3 yrs

childhood

4-12 yrs

adolescence

12-18 yrs

emerging adulthood

18-29 yrs

early adulthood

30-40 yrs

middle adulthood

40-65 yrs

late adulthood

65+ yrs

zygote

egg fertilized by a sperm cell

genes

DNA segments that when expressed direct the development of proteins that influence our individual development (most traits influenced by many)

fetus

9 weeks after conception of an embryo

embryo

2 weeks after fertilization

teratogen

any agent such as chemicals, viruses, etc. that can reach the fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

temperament

a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

critical period

a period in life where being exposed to different stimuli or experiences is critical for development (ex: language, vision)

motor skills

develop as the nervous system and muscle matures; universal in sequence but not in timing