PSYC 4176 Midterm Study Guide for Developmental Psychology

Lifespan Approach

Study of development across entire life.

Multidimensional

Development involves multiple interacting dimensions.

Multidirectional

Development can progress in various directions.

Contextual

Development influenced by environmental contexts.

Multidisciplinary

Involves multiple academic disciplines.

Lifelong

Development occurs throughout an individual's life.

Plasticity

Capacity for change in response to experiences.

Cohort Effects

Influence of shared experiences within a group.

Nature/Nurture

Debate on genetic vs. environmental influences.

Epigenetics

Study of how environment affects gene expression.

Continuous Development

Gradual, cumulative changes over time.

Discontinuous Development

Development occurs in distinct stages.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Focus on unconscious influences on behavior.

Behavioral Theory

Learning through interactions with the environment.

Cognitive Theory

Focus on mental processes in development.

Bioecological Theory

Development influenced by multiple environmental systems.

Evolutionary Theory

Behavior shaped by evolutionary processes.

Learning Theories

Focus on how learning occurs.

Genetic Disorders

Diseases caused by mutations or missing genes.

Fertilization

Union of sperm and egg to form zygote.

Twinning

Formation of two embryos from one fertilized egg.

Assistive Reproductive Technologies

Methods to aid conception, e.g., IVF.

Teratogens

Harmful substances causing birth defects.

Prenatal Development Stages

Germinal, embryonic, and fetal periods.

Stages of Delivery

Phases during the childbirth process.

Expected Birth Weight

Average weight at birth, typically 5.5-8.8 lbs.

Low Birth Weight Risk

Increased health complications for newborns.

Patterns of Growth

Trends in physical and cognitive development.

Serve and Return Interaction

Responsive interactions crucial for infant development.

Language Development Progression

Stages of language acquisition in children.

Goodness of Fit

Compatibility between child's temperament and environment.

Parenting Styles

Baumrind's model categorizes parenting approaches.

Cognitive Theory in Classroom

Application of cognitive principles in education.

Sex Differentiation

Process determining male or female characteristics.

Scientific Method

Systematic approach to research and inquiry.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association, as demonstrated by Pavlov.

Operant Conditioning

Behavior shaped by consequences, as per Skinner.

Social Cognitive Theory

Learning through observation, proposed by Bandura.

Ethology

Study of behavior influenced by biology.

Ecological Theory

Development shaped by environmental interactions.

Maslow's Humanistic Theory

Motivation driven by fulfilling basic needs.

Stage 1

Contractions and cervix dilation, longest birth stage.

Stage 2

Baby moves through birth canal, lasts 10-40 minutes.

Stage 3

Delivery of placenta after baby is born.

Apgar Scale

Evaluates newborn's health through various criteria.

NBAS

Measures newborn behavior and neurological development.

NNNS

Assesses newborn neurological and behavioral functioning.

Involution

Uterus returns to normal size postpartum.

Postpartum Blues

Mild, temporary mood swings after childbirth.

Postpartum Depression

Severe, long-lasting depression post childbirth.

Physical Growth

Children grow 2-3 inches, gain 5-7 pounds annually.

Body Proportions

Head and waist circumference decrease relative to height.

Bone Ossification

Bones become more flexible, aiding physical activity.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's stage for ages 7-11, logical operations develop.

Seriation

Ordering stimuli based on a characteristic.

Transitivity

Understanding relationships between different objects.

Information Processing

Improved attention, memory, and executive functions in children.

Motor Skills Development

Skills become smoother; girls excel in fine motor skills.

Myelination

Increased myelination enhances fine motor skills.

Physical Activity Benefits

Regular exercise lowers metabolic disease risks.

Accidents

Leading cause of severe injury in middle childhood.

Overweight Risks

Increased risk of diabetes and hypertension in children.

Leukemia

Second leading cause of death in children 5-14.

Special Education Services

14.4% of U.S. children receive these services.

Learning Disabilities

Includes dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.

ADHD

Characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.

Individualized Education Plans

Tailored educational support for students with disabilities.

Least Restrictive Environment

Promotes inclusion of disabled children in classrooms.

Inclusion Practices

Integrates special needs children into regular classrooms.

Critics of Piaget

Argue cognitive development is influenced by culture.

Neo-Piagetians

Emphasize information processing in cognitive development.

Elaboration

Strategy enhancing memory retention through detailed processing.

Mental Imagery

Visualizing concepts to improve understanding and recall.

Metacognition

Awareness and regulation of one's own thinking processes.

Creative Thinking

Generating unique solutions to problems creatively.

Critical Thinking

Evaluating evidence and reasoning for informed conclusions.

Divergent Thinking

Producing multiple answers to foster creativity.

Convergent Thinking

Seeking a single correct answer, typical in tests.

Scientific Thinking

Asking fundamental questions to promote inquiry-based learning.

Intelligence

Ability to solve problems and adapt to situations.

Cognitive Abilities

Skills including reasoning, problem-solving, and understanding.

Individual Differences

Stable ways people differ in cognitive abilities.

Binet Tests

Early intelligence tests introducing mental age concept.

Mental Age (MA)

Level of mental development compared to peers.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

Calculated by (Mental Age/Chronological Age) x 100.

Normal Distribution of IQ

Scores cluster around average with fewer extremes.

Wechsler Scales

Provide overall IQ and various composite indexes.

Verbal Comprehension Index

Measures verbal reasoning and understanding skills.

Working Memory Index

Assesses ability to hold and manipulate information.

Processing Speed Index

Evaluates speed of cognitive processing tasks.

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Posits analytical, creative, and practical intelligence types.

Analytical Intelligence

Skills in problem-solving and critical thinking.

Creative Intelligence

Ability to generate innovative ideas in novel situations.

Practical Intelligence

Skills for adapting to everyday life challenges.

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences

Proposes eight distinct types of intelligence.

Verbal Intelligence

Language skills and verbal reasoning capabilities.

Mathematical Intelligence

Logical reasoning and problem-solving in mathematics.

Spatial Intelligence

Ability to visualize and manipulate spatial objects.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

Physical coordination and skill in movement.

Musical Intelligence

Sensitivity to rhythm, pitch, and melody.