AP Psych Units III and IV development and stage theories

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA that contain the genes

DNA

complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

Genes

biochemical units of hereditary that make up the chromosomes

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism

behavior genetics

study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

environment

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

temperament

excessive emotionalism or irritability and excitability

heritability

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes

interaction

the dependence of the effect of one factor on another factor

molecular genetics

the branch of genetics concerned with the structure and activity of genetic material at the molecular level

prenatal environment

embryos receive different levels of nutrition and exposure to teratogens

culture

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to another

meme

self replicating ideas, fashions, and innovations passed from person to person

norm

an understood role for accepted and expected behaviors

personal space

the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies

evolutionary psychology

goal of an organism is to spread genes and keep the species alive

x chromosome

the sex chromosome that is present in both sexes: singly in males and doubly in females

y chromosome

the sex chromosome that is carried by men

testosterone

a potent androgenic hormone produced chiefly by the testes; responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics

gender role

a set of expected behaviors for males and females

gender identity

one's sense of being male or female

gender typing

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role

social learning theory

theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished

gender schema theory

theory that children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male and female and that they adjust their behavior accordingly

zygote

the fertilized egg; enters a 2 week period of rapid cell division, develops into an embryo

embryo

the developing human organism from 2 weeks through the second month

fetus

the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

teratogen

agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development

fetal alcohol syndrome

a congenital medical condition in which body deformation occurs or facial development or mental ability is impaired because the mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy

rooting reflex

reflex consisting of head-turning and sucking movements elicited in a normal infant by gently stroking the side of the mouth or cheek

sucking reflex

suck on something in mouth

grasping reflex

infant closes hand and fingers over object

moro/startle reflex

loud noise- arch back, flings arms and legs out

babinski reflex

stroke feet, spreads toes

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation; babies get bored

maturation

biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior

schema

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information

assimilation

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

accommodation

adapting one's current understandings (schema) to incorporate new information

cognition

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

stage theory

describes a developmental period in which characteristic patterns of behavior are exhibited and certain capacities become established

object permanence

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

conservation

the principal that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects

egocentrism

the inability of the preoperational child to take another's point of view

theory of mind

people's ideas about their own and others' mental states

sensorimotor stage

0-2 years; experiences the world through senses and actions; develop stranger anxiety and object permanence

preoperational stage

2-7 years; representing things with words and images but lacking logical reasoning; pretend play and development of language

concrete operational stage

7-11 years; thinking logically about concrete events, grasping concrete analogies and performing arithmetical operations; conservation, mathematical transformations

formal operational/operational stage

11+ years; abstract reasoning and potential for moral reasoning

attachment

an emotional tie with another person

critical period

an optimal period shortly after birth when an organism's exposure to certain stimuli or experiences proper development

imprinting

the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life

secure attachment

explores environment when parents are present, distressed when they leave, come to parents when they return

avoidant attachment

resists being held by parents, explores, do not go to parents when they return

anxious/ambivalent attachment

may show stress when parents leave, but resist being comforted when they return

authoritarian

parents impose rules and expect obedience without explanation

authoritative

both demanding and responsive

permissive

submit to children's desires, make few demands with little punishment

basic trust

a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy

self concept

a sense of one's identity and personal worth

menarche

the first occurrence of menstruation in a woman

preconventional stage

birth to 10 years; morality of self interest: to avoid punishment or gain concrete rewards

conventional stage

11-20 years; morality of law and social rules: to gain approval or avoid disapproval

postconventional stage

21+ years; morality of abstract principals: to affirm agreed upon rights and personal ethical principals

crystallized intelligence

one's accumulated knowledge and verbal skills

fluid intelligence

one's ability to reason speedily and abstractly

social clock

culturally preferred thing of social events, ie: marriage, parenthood, retirement