Human Growth and Development unit vocabulary

Growth

measurable physical changes that occur throughout a person;s life

(height, weight, body shape, teeth)

Development

changes in intellectual, mental, emotional, social, and functional skills that occur over time.

Physical development

Body growth

Mental development

Development of the mind 

(solving problems, making judgements, dealing with situations)

Emotional development

Feelings

Social development

interactions and relationships with others

Assimilation

process by which a person’s mind takes in information from the environment. 

Puberty

development of sexual organs and secondary sexual characteristics

Suicide

one of the leading causes of death in adolescents.

Permanent solution to a temporary problem. 

Alzheimer’s Disease

Can lead to irreversible loss of memory, deterioration of intellectual functions, speech and gait disturbances, and disorientation.

Arteriosclerosis

a thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries, can also decrease the blood supply to the brain and cause a decrease in mental abilities.

Terminal illness

a disease that cannot be cured and will result in death, the patient may react in different ways.

fear and anxiety

Stages of death and dying:

Denial

Person cannot accept the reality of death or when the person feels loved ones cannot accept the truth.

Death and dying:

Anger

when patient is no longer able to deny death. May strike out at anyone who comes in contact with them and become hostile and bitter. 

Death and Dying:

Bargaining

Patients accept death but want more time to live

Death and Dying:

Depression

patient realize that death will come soon and they will no longer be with

Death and Dying:

Acceptance

The final stage. Patients understand and accept the fact that they are going to die.

Hospice

Can play an important role in meeting the needs of the dying patient. Offers palliative care

Needs

lack of something that is required or desired

Physciological needs

Lowest level of pyramid: needs required by every human being to sustain life

(death will occur if these needs go unmet)

Safety needs

Needs to be free from anxiety and fear, and the need to feel secure in the environment.

Order and routine. Illness is a major threat.

Self-actualization (self-realization)

final need. People have obtained their full potentials.

Defense Mechanisms 

unconscious acts that help a person deal with an unpleasant situation or socially unacceptable behavior 

Rationalization (defense mechanisms)

reasonable excuse/acceptable explanation.

Fear of getting lab work done-too busy, can’t go

Projection (defense mechanisms)

Blame own actions on someone else-teacher doesn’t like.

“Teacher doesn’t like me so she gave me an F”

Displacement (defense mechanisms)

Transfer feelings about one person to someone else.

Frustration from boss on to family.

Compensation (defense mechanisms)

Substitution of one goal for another goal to succeed. 

“I can’t be a doctor to I’ll be a PA instead.”

Daydreaming (defense mechanisms)

Dreamlike thought process-occurs when awake.

Repression (defense mechanisms)

Not aware: pushing feelings down.

Abuse as kid→ can’t commit to relationships→ unsure why.

Rep-need therapy

Suppression (defense mechanisms)

Aware of feelings and refuses to deal with them by choice.

Supper-swallow. Eat too many sweats→ comes out on wrong person

Regression (defense mechanisms)

Going back to development level providing more safety.

10 year old sucking thumb.

Denial (defense mechanisms)

Disbelief of an event or ideas that is too frightening or shocking for a person to cope with (often unaware)

Withdrawal (defense mechanisms)

Cease to communicate or remove themselves physically from a situation →Suicide