Developmental Psychology
A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.
Zygote
The fertilized egg; it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo.
Embryo
The developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month.
Fetus
The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth.
Teratogens
Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during parental development and cause harm.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a a pregnant woman's heavy drinking. In severe cases, symptoms include noticeable facial misproportions.
Alzheimer's Disease
A progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, finally, physical functioning.
Temperament
A person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.
Maturation
Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.
Schema
A concept of framework that organizes and interprets information.
Assimilation
Interpreting one's new experience in terms of one's existing schemas.
Accommodation
Adapting one's current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information.
Sensorimotor Stage
In Piaget's theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities.
Object Permanence
The awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived.
Preoperational Stage
In Piaget's theory, the stage (from about 2 to 6 or 7 years of age) during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic.
Conservation
The principle (which Piaget believed to be a part of concrete operational reasoning) that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects.
Egocentrism
In Piaget's theory, the preoperational child's difficulty taking another's point of view.
Concrete Operational Stage
In Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 6 or 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events.
Formal Operational Stage
In Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning about age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts.
Attachment
An emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation.
Critical Period
An optimal period shortly after birth when an organism's exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces proper development.
Imprinting
The process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life.
Adolescence
The transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence.
Puberty
The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.
Menarche
The first menstrual period.
Menopause
The time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines.
Crystallized Intelligence
One's accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age.
Fluid Intelligence
One's ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood.
Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration
APGAR
Harlow
Tested on monkeys, contact comfort, if a baby is not held it will not develop an attachment
Ainsworth
"Strange situation," stranger enters/mom leaves, secure, avoidant, anxious/ambivalent
Secure
Cries without mom, can be distracted, reunion is happy, successful relationships
Avoidant
Doesn't notice mom's gone, reunion is indifferent, can't commit in relationships
Anxious/Ambivalent
Freaks out without mom, wants nothing to do with mom at the reunion, clingy in relationships
Authoritarian
Dictator, "because I said so"
Permissive
No rules, "friend," doesn't want to be the bad guy
Authoritative
Happy medium, explains punishments
Authoritarian, Permissive, Authoritative
Parenting styles
Sensorimotor
Stage 1 of cognitive development
Object Permanence
Key event of the sensorimotor stage
Preoperational
Stage 2 of cognitive development
Pretend Play, Language Development
Two key events of the preoperational stage
Concrete Operational
Stage 3 of cognitive development
Conservation, Math Transformations
Key event of concrete operational stage
Formal Operational
Stage 4 of cognitive development, final stage
Abstract Logic
Key event of formal operational stage
Kohlberg
Moral development, lifespan development, only studied men
Gilligan
Studied women, same results as Kohlberg
Preconventional
Uses rewards & punishments as reasons to do (or not to do) something
Conventional
Uses other people's expectations as a reason to do (or not to do) something
Postconventional
Uses their own ethics and bases responses on human rights
Marcia
Came up with the idea of identity states
Identity Achievement
Has gone through an identity crisis and came out with a well-defined sense of self
Identity Achievement
Committed to a set of personal values and goals, well-prepared to make meaningful lives for themselves
Identity Diffusion
No clear idea of their own identity and they are not trying to find a new one
Identity Diffusion
Struggled with their identity and has now stopped trying
Identity Diffusion
Lack of self identity and no commitment to values or goals
Identity Foreclosure
Accept the identity and values that were given in childhood
Identity Foreclosure
Not given a chance to explore other alternatives
Moratorium
Trying to achieve identity through experimentation and trial-and-error
Denial (Illness)
Looking for a second opinion, ignorance, "I'll get through this, there's no way this is true"
Denial (Grievance)
Making themselves busy, leaving child's room as it is
Anger (Illness)
Blaming themselves, god, illness, objects
Anger (Grievance)
Blaming those diagnosed, others, god
Bargaining (Illness)
Asking doctors, god for a second chance, "just let me see my child one more time and I can die happy"
Bargaining (Grievance)
"Take me instead," "if I only had one more day..."
Depression
Doesn't want to do anything
Acceptance (Illness)
Bucket list, able to talk about illness, satisfaction
Acceptance (Grievance)
"They're in a better place," packing child's things away
Trust vs. Mistrust
If needs are dependably met, infants develop a sense of basic trust
Trust vs. Mistrust
Infancy-1 year
Erik Erickson
Social development
8
Stages of social development
Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
Toddlers learn to exercise will and do things for themselves, or they will doubt their abilities
Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
Toddlerhood (1-2 years)
Initiative vs. Guilt
Preschoolers learn to start tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about efforts to be independent
Initiative vs. Guilt
Preschooler (3-5 years)
Competence vs. Inferiority
Children learn the pleasure of applying themselves to tasks, or they feel inadequate
Competence vs. Inferiority
Elementary school (6-Puberty)
Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
"Mom, I can do it!" Dusting, vacuuming, etc.
Initiative vs. Guilt
"I don't want to mess anything up," not trusting anyone else to do it correctly, etc.
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Adolescence (Teen-20s)
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Teenagers work at refining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are.
Identity vs. Role Confusion
State we are presently in
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Young Adulthood (20s-early 40s)
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Young adults struggle to form close relationships and to gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially alone.
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Mid-life crisis
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Middle adulthood (40s-60s)
Generativity vs. Stagnation
The middle-aged discover a sense of contributing to the world in two ways: through their job, or through their family; or they may feel a lack of purpose.
Integrity vs. Despair
Late adulthood
Integrity vs. Despair
When reflecting on his or her life, the older adult may feel a sense of accomplishment or regret.
Sensorimotor, Trust vs. Mistrust, Preconventional
When a baby is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?
Preoperational, Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt, Preoconventional
When a toddler is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?
Preoperational, Initiative vs. Guilt, Preconventional
When a preschooler is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?
Concrete Operational, Competence vs. Inferiority, Conventional
When an elementary schooler is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?
Formal Operational, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Conventional
When a middle schooler/high schooler is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?
Formal Operational, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Postconventional
When a [young] adult is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?
Formal Operational, Generativity vs. Stagnation, Postconventional
When a middle-aged adult is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?
Formal Operational, Integrity vs. Despair, Postconventional
When an elderly person is used as an example, what stage/phase/state might they be in?