Learn: SWK 223 Exam #1

Equity

Equal opportunity for people.

Inclusion

Everyone is welcomed, included, and respected.

Life Course Perspective (LCP)

Understanding human development within social, historical, and environmental context.

Cohort

A generation of people who share a historical period or similar experiences.

Transition

A process of change that happens throughout life.

Trajectory

A stable, long-term process such as schooling or a career.

Life Event

An event that affects or changes a person's life course.

Turning Point

A major event or transition that redirects a person's life trajectory.

Period Effect

A historical event that impacts people across society, such as COVID-19.

Cohort Effect

Shared experiences that affect people because they belong to the same generation.

Timing of Lives

The idea that life events and development occur at different times for different people.

Linked Lives

People's lives are interconnected through family and social relationships.

Human Agency

A person's ability and power to make choices about their life.

Possible Selves

Ideas about who we want, expect, or fear becoming.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in your own ability or competence.

Proxy Agency

Using outside people or resources to influence outcomes.

Collective Agency

People working together to create change.

Intersectionality

How multiple identities and systems of oppression can interact.

Cumulative Advantage/Disadvantage

Advantages or disadvantages can build up over time.

Risk Factors

Conditions that increase the chance of negative developmental outcomes.

Protective Factors

Conditions that reduce risk and support positive development.

Resilience

The ability to adapt or recover despite adversity.

Sensitive/Critical Periods

Times when environmental experiences can strongly affect development.

NASW Code of Ethics

Ethical standards that guide social workers' professional behavior and decisions.

Ethical Decision-Making

Considering what is happening, who is affected, ethical standards, laws, and responsibilities.

Genotype

A person's genetic makeup.

Phenotype

Observable traits influenced by genes and environment.

Genetic Counseling

Helping people understand genetic information, risks, and testing.

Teratogens

Substances or exposures that can negatively affect fetal development.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Severe vomiting during pregnancy that may require hospitalization.

Miscarriage/Spontaneous Abortion

Pregnancy loss occurring before 20 weeks.

Quickening

When a pregnant person begins to feel fetal movement.

Fetal Viability

The point when a fetus may potentially survive outside the uterus.

Apgar Score

An assessment used to evaluate a newborn's condition after birth.

Prematurity

Birth occurring before the expected developmental period is complete.

Developmental Niche

The physical, social, and cultural environment in which a child develops.

Cephalocaudal Development

Development generally progresses from the head toward the lower body.

Proximodistal Development

Development generally progresses from the center of the body outward.

Co-Regulation

Caregivers help infants manage emotions and physiological states.

Serve and Return

Back-and-forth interactions between a child and caregiver.

Synaptogenesis

The formation of connections between neurons.

Synaptic Pruning

The brain removes less-used neural connections.

Myelination

The development of myelin around neurons, helping signals travel faster.

Brain Plasticity

The brain's ability to change based on experiences.

Object Permanence

Understanding that an object exists even when it cannot be seen.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Infants learn whether the world is dependable through consistent caregiving.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Toddlers develop independence and self-control through safe exploration.

Attachment

A strong emotional bond between a child and caregiver.

Secure Attachment

A child explores from a safe base, becomes upset by separation, and is comforted at reunion.

Insecure-Anxious Attachment

A child shows strong distress and seeks contact but is difficult to soothe.

Insecure-Avoidant Attachment

A child shows little distress and limited enthusiasm at reunion.

Disorganized Attachment

Attachment marked by inconsistent or contradictory behaviors.