AP Psychology Unit 3 Part 2 - Development

Longitudinal Study

Study that follows the same group of people over a period of time to evaluate changes in those individuals.

Cross-Sectional Study

Type of study examining people of different ages at the same time.

Cross-Sequential Study

Individuals in a cross-sectional sample are tested more than once over time.

Prenatal Development

Begins with conception and ends at birth, typically lasting 38 weeks.

Germinal Period

The stage of development from conception until 2 weeks.

Teratogen

Agents that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.

Developmental Psychology

The scientific study of changes in people as they age, including physical, cognitive, and social development.

Nature VS. Nurture

The influence of genetic inheritance and experience on behavior.

Continuity VS. Stages

Debate on whether development is continuous or occurs in distinct stages.

Stability VS. Change

Discussion on whether personality traits persist or change throughout life.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman's heavy drinking.

Critical Period

An optimal period shortly after birth for proper development influenced by stimuli.

Reflexes

Innate behavior patterns in infants aiding survival.

Maturation

Biological growth processes enabling orderly changes in behavior.

Developmental Norms

The normal timeline for mental and physical growth and changes as one ages.

Motor Milestones

Skills that emerge as an infant's muscles and nervous system mature.

Infantile Amnesia

Difficulty or inability of adults to recall early childhood memories before age 3 or 4.

Cognitive Development

All mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Jean Piaget

Developmental psychologist known for his work on children's intelligence tests.

Schema

Concept or framework that organizes and interprets information.

Accommodation

Adapting schemas to incorporate new information.

Sensorimotor Stage

Stage from birth to age 2 where infants use senses and motor abilities to learn about the world.

Object Permanence

Understanding that objects continue to exist even when not visible.

Preoperational Stage

Stage (2 to 6/7 years) where children learn to use language but lack concrete logic.

Egocentrism

Inability of a child to see any point of view other than their own.

Theory of mind

Ability to infer the mental states of others.

Conservation

Understanding that mass, volume, and number remain unchanged despite alterations in form.

Animism

Belief that inanimate objects have feelings and thoughts like living things.

Concrete Operational Stage

Stage of cognitive development (6/7 to 11 years) when children can think logically about concrete events.

Reversibility

Recognizing that numbers or objects can be changed and returned to their original condition.

Formal Operational Stage

Stage (from about age 12) when logical thinking about abstract concepts begins.

Lev Vygotsky

Russian psychologist known for his theory of children's cognitive development through social interaction.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The range between what a child can do independently and with assistance.

Scaffolding

Process where a more skilled learner assists a less skilled learner.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Potentially traumatic events occurring in childhood.

Ecological Systems Theory

Theory stating an individual's development is influenced by interconnected systems.

Microsystem

Institutions and groups directly impacting a child's development.

Mesosystem

Interconnections between different microsystems affecting a child.

Exosystem

Links between social settings that do not involve the child.

Macrosystem

The overarching culture influencing the developing child.

Chronosystem

Pattern of environmental events and transitions over a person's life course.

John Bowlby

Psychologist who posited that children are biologically predisposed to form attachments.

Attachment Theory

The theory that infants are predisposed to attach to caregivers for survival.

Stranger Anxiety

Infants' anxiety around strangers beginning around 8 months of age.

Konrad Lorenz

Theorized attachment importance for survival in other species.

Imprinting

Process where certain animals form attachments during a critical early life period.

Harry Harlow

Psychologist known for studies on attachment using Rhesus monkeys.

Contact Comfort

Physical closeness between a caregiver and a child.

Mary Ainsworth

Psychologist who studied mother-infant interactions to explain attachment.

Basic Trust

A sense that the world is predictable and reliable.

Temperament

Innate characteristics and aspects of personality.

Diana Baumrind

Researcher who identified four parenting styles.

Case Study: Genie, The Feral Child

A child who lived isolated from human contact, affecting her development and language.

Erik Erikson

Psychologist who outlined psychosocial tasks for each life stage.

Psychosocial Task

Crisis requiring resolution to facilitate personal growth.

Trust vs. Mistrust

The task for infants to learn whether adults can be trusted.

Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt

Toddlers learn they can control their actions to affect their environment.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Preschoolers initiate activities and assert control through play.

Industry vs. Inferiority

Children compare themselves to peers and develop pride or feelings of inferiority.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Adolescents focus on developing a sense of self.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

The ability to maintain successful relationships.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Middle-aged adults contribute to society or feel disconnected.

Integrity vs. Despair

Contentment or regret experienced by older adults reflecting on their lives.

Self Concept

How someone perceives and evaluates themselves.

Gender

The sociocultural dimension of being male or female.

Gender Identity

A personal sense of one's gender.

Human Sexuality

Peoples' sexual interests and abilities to experience erotic responses.

Sexual Orientation

Enduring sexual attraction toward one's own sex, the opposite sex, or both.

Gender Roles

Societal expectations regarding how men and women should behave.

Gender Socialization

The process children learn gender roles.

Social Learning Theory

Theory emphasizing learning through observation and imitation, influencing gender role development.

Adolescence

Transition from childhood to adulthood.

Puberty

The period of sexual maturation and reproductive capability.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Reproductive organs.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Traits that develop during puberty but are not directly related to reproduction.

Frontal Lobes

Brain regions that develop during adolescence.

Adolescent Egocentrism

The belief that one's experiences are unique and misunderstood by others.

Imaginary Audience

Belief that others are as concerned about the adolescent's thoughts as they are.

Personal Fable

Adolescents' belief in their specialness and immunity to life's challenges.

Adulthood

Changes in biological and psychological domains from the end of adolescence.

Social Clock

The timing of significant life events like marriage and parenthood.

Changes in the Brain with Age

Memory retrieval depends on the type of information.

Crystallized Intelligence

Knowledge and skills that typically improve with age.

Fluid Intelligence

Abilities requiring speed that generally decline with age.

Dementia

Not a normal part of aging.

Dementia Symptoms

Include memory loss, emotional unpredictability, and confusion.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Most common type of neurocognitive disorder affecting memory and cognition.