AP Psych Unit 3 | Developmental Milestones

prenatal development

the process of growth and development within the womb, starting from conception and continuing until birth

teratogens

harmful substances such as drugs, alcohol, or infections, that can cause developmental abnormalities or birth defects when a fetus is exposed to them during prenatal development

reflexes

automatic, instinctual responses that newborns are born with

rooting reflex

automatic response in newborns where they turn their head toward a touch on the cheek, helping them locate and latch onto the mother’s breast for feeding

maturation

the biological growth process that leads to orderly changes in behavior, guided by genetics and largely unaffected by experience

developmental milestones

key skills or behaviors that most children achieve by specific ages, such as walking, talking, and problem-solving, marking significant progress in physical, cognitive, and social development

sensitive period

a critical time in early development when the brain is especially receptive to learning specific skills, such as language or motor skills, making it easier to acquire them during this phase

fine motor coordination

the ability to control small muscle movements, enabling tasks like writing, buttoning, and using utensils with precision

gross motor coordination

the ability to control large muscle movements, enabling tasks like walking, jumping, and throwing with balance and strength

visual cliff

an experimental setup used to study depth perception in infants, featuring a clear glass surface that creates the illusion of a drop-off to test whether infants can perceive and avoid the “cliff”

puberty

the period of physical and hormonal changes during adolescence that lead to sexual maturity and the ability to reproduce

adolescent growth spurt

a rapid increase in height and weight that typically occurs during puberty, driven by hormonal changes and marking the transition from childhood to adulthood

menopause

the natural biological process marking the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles, typically occurring around age 50 and characterized by hormonal changes and the cessation of fertility