NCE

Prenatal Development

The stage of development from conception to birth, including germinal, embryonic, and fetal periods.

Germinal Stage

First 2 weeks after conception; zygote forms and implants in uterus.

Embryonic Stage

Weeks 3–8; major organs and body systems begin to develop.

Fetal Stage

Week 9 to birth; growth and maturation of systems.

Teratogens

Harmful substances (e.g., drugs, alcohol) that can negatively impact prenatal development.

Erikson Trust vs Mistrust

Birth–1 year; infants learn whether caregivers are reliable.

Erikson Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

Ages 1–3; focus on independence and control.

Erikson Initiative vs Guilt

Ages 3–6; children assert power through play and social interaction.

Erikson Industry vs Inferiority

Ages 6–12; competence and skill development.

Erikson Identity vs Role Confusion

Adolescence; formation of personal identity.

Piaget Sensorimotor Stage

Birth–2 years; learning through senses and actions.

Object Permanence

Understanding that objects exist even when not seen.

Piaget Preoperational Stage

Ages 2–7; symbolic thinking but limited logic.

Egocentrism

Inability to see perspectives other than one’s own.

Piaget Concrete Operational Stage

Ages 7–11; logical thinking about concrete events.

Conservation

Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape.

Piaget Formal Operational Stage

Age 12+; abstract and hypothetical thinking develops.

Vygotsky Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Difference between what a learner can do alone vs with help.

Scaffolding

Support provided to help a learner achieve a task within their ZPD.

Attachment Theory

Emotional bond between child and caregiver influencing future relationships.

Secure Attachment

Child feels safe and explores environment with caregiver as base.

Insecure Attachment

Includes avoidant, ambivalent, or disorganized attachment patterns.

Temperament

Inborn personality traits influencing behavior and emotional responses.

Nature vs Nurture

Debate over genetic vs environmental influences on development.

Critical Period

Specific time when certain skills or abilities are most easily developed.

Plasticity

Brain’s ability to change and adapt based on experience.

Puberty

Biological changes leading to sexual maturity.

Adolescence

Transitional stage between childhood and adulthood involving identity development.

Emerging Adulthood

Ages ~18–25; exploration of identity and independence.

Midlife Crisis

Period of self-reflection and potential life reevaluation in middle adulthood.

Integrity vs Despair

Final Erikson stage; reflection on life satisfaction.

Cephalocaudal Development

Growth pattern from head to toe.

Proximodistal Development

Growth pattern from center of body outward.

Synaptic Pruning

Elimination of unused neural connections to improve efficiency.

Myelination

Process of coating neural fibers to improve signal transmission.

Ainsworth Strange Situation

Assessment used to measure attachment styles in infants.

Secure Attachment Behavior

Child is distressed when caregiver leaves but easily soothed upon return.

Avoidant Attachment

Child avoids caregiver and shows little emotion when they leave or return.

Ambivalent (Resistant) Attachment

Child is clingy but resists comfort upon caregiver’s return.

Disorganized Attachment

Lack of clear attachment behavior; often linked to trauma or neglect.

Baumrind Parenting Styles

Authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful parenting types.

Authoritative Parenting

High warmth, high control; best developmental outcomes.

Authoritarian Parenting

Low warmth, high control; strict and obedience-focused.

Permissive Parenting

High warmth, low control; few rules or boundaries.

Neglectful Parenting

Low warmth, low control; minimal involvement.

Kohlberg Preconventional Morality

Behavior driven by punishment and reward.

Kohlberg Conventional Morality

Behavior guided by social rules and approval.

Kohlberg Postconventional Morality

Morality based on internal principles and ethics.

Gilligan Moral Development

Emphasizes care, relationships, and responsibility over justice.

Information Processing Theory

Compares human thinking to computer processing (input, storage, output).

Assimilation

Incorporating new information into existing schemas.

Accommodation

Changing schemas to fit new information.

Schema

Mental framework used to organize information.

Social Learning Theory

Learning through observation and imitation (Bandura).

Modeling

Learning behavior by watching others.

Reinforcement

Strengthening behavior through rewards.

Punishment

Decreasing behavior through negative consequences.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one’s ability to succeed (Bandura).

Temperament Types

Easy, difficult, and slow-to-warm-up children.

Goodness of Fit

Compatibility between child’s temperament and environment.

Latency Stage (Freud)

Ages 6–12; sexual impulses are repressed.

Genital Stage (Freud)

Adolescence; mature sexual interests develop.

Oral Stage (Freud)

Birth–1 year; focus on oral stimulation.

Anal Stage (Freud)

Ages 1–3; focus on control and elimination.

Phallic Stage (Freud)

Ages 3–6; Oedipus/Electra complex.

Oedipus Complex

Child’s unconscious desire for opposite-sex parent.

Electra Complex

Female version of Oedipus complex.

Identity Achievement

Explored options and committed to identity.

Identity Moratorium

Actively exploring identity but not yet committed.

Identity Foreclosure

Commitment without exploration.

Identity Diffusion

No exploration or commitment.

Menarche

First menstrual cycle in females.

Spermarche

First ejaculation in males.

Primary Aging

Biological aging process that is inevitable.

Secondary Aging

Aging due to lifestyle or environmental factors.

Fluid Intelligence

Ability to solve new problems; declines with age.

Crystallized Intelligence

Knowledge from experience; increases with age.

Andropause

Gradual decline in testosterone in males.

Menopause

End of menstrual cycles in females.

Empty Nest Syndrome

Feelings of loss when children leave home.

Sandwich Generation

Adults caring for both children and aging parents.

Death Anxiety

Fear or apprehension about death.

Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

Bereavement

Period of mourning after loss.

Complicated Grief

Prolonged, intense grief that disrupts functioning.

Resilience

Ability to adapt and recover from adversity.

Risk Factors

Conditions increasing likelihood of negative outcomes.

Protective Factors

Conditions that reduce risk and promote resilience.

Longitudinal Study

Research following same individuals over time.

Cross-Sectional Study

Research comparing different age groups at one time.

Cohort Effect

Differences due to shared experiences of a group.

Normative Life Events

Expected events (e.g., puberty, retirement).

Non-Normative Life Events

Unexpected events (e.g., trauma, accidents).

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

Older adults prioritize meaningful relationships.

Selective Optimization with Compensation

Adjusting to aging by focusing on strengths.

Life Review

Reflecting on life experiences in older adulthood.

Successful Aging

Maintaining physical health, cognition, and engagement.