Child Development Concepts and Theories

A complete vocabulary review set based on the lecture notes covering key terms, theoretical frameworks, developmental domains, and prenatal stages.

Child development

The study of change and stability from conception through adolescence.

Physical development

Changes in the body and biological systems, including growth in height and weight, brain and nervous system development, motor skills, sensory development, and sleep.

Cognitive development

Changes in thinking and mental processes, including attention, memory, problem-solving, language, categorization, and mental representation.

Emotional/Social development

Development involving emotions, relationships, social behavior, communication, and interactions with others.

Continuous Development

The view that development happens gradually (e.g., vocabulary gradually increasing).

Discontinuous Development

The view that development happens through qualitatively different stages where a new way of thinking appears.

Nature

Hereditary and biological influences received at conception, including genes, biological characteristics, and brain development.

Nurture

Environmental influences on development, including nutrition, language, school, culture, social interaction, physical environment, and parenting/caregiving.

Observation

What can actually be seen or measured in development.

Interpretation

An explanation of what a behavior is thought to mean, rather than what is directly seen or measured.

Theory

A framework that helps explain developmental patterns and guides researchers on what to investigate.

Tabula rasa

John Locke's concept that a child is born as a blank slate, shaped by experience and environment.

Maturational Theory

A theory focusing on biology, genetic inheritance, brain maturation, and natural developmental patterns.

Psychosexual theory

Sigmund Freud's stage theory focusing on internal psychological processes, unconscious motives, conflict, and early experiences.

Psychosocial theory

Erik Erikson's stage theory focusing on social and psychological development and the importance of early experiences.

Critical Period

A limited period when a particular experience must happen for normal development to occur.

Sensitive Period

A time when an organism is especially responsive to certain experiences, though learning can still occur afterward.

Behaviorism

A theoretical perspective that focuses on observable behavior, conditioning, reinforcement, punishment, and environmental stimulus-response mechanisms.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association, as associated with John B. Watson.

Operant Conditioning

Learning based on behavior and its consequences, associated with B. F. Skinner.

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior happening again.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior happening again.

Jean Piaget's Cognitive-Developmental Theory

A theory asserting that children are active constructors of knowledge who build understanding by interacting with their environment across four distinct cognitive stages.

Sensorimotor stage

Piaget's stage occurring during infancy where learning happens through actions and senses, leading to an understanding of the environment and mental representations.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Lev Vygotsky's concept representing the difference between what a child can do alone and what a child can do with help.

Scaffolding

Temporary support (such as cues, prompts, questions, or physical assistance) that helps a child complete a task and decreases as independence increases.

Information-Processing Theory

A perspective that asks what specific mental processes a child is using, focusing on attention, memory, processing speed, strategies, inhibition, and retrieval.

Developmental Neuroscience

The field of study examining the relationship between brain development and behavior.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A method used to measure electrical brain activity.

Microsystem

In Bronfenbrenner's theory, the immediate environment surrounding the child, such as family, school, and friends.

Mesosystem

In Bronfenbrenner's theory, the connections between different microsystems (e.g., family and school).

Exosystem

In Bronfenbrenner's theory, environments that affect the child indirectly, such as a parent's workplace.

Macrosystem

In Bronfenbrenner's theory, the larger culture and society, including its values, laws, and beliefs.

Chronosystem

In Bronfenbrenner's theory, environmental changes over time, including historical events and major life transitions.

Germinal Period

The first prenatal period beginning at conception, where fertilization creates the zygote, rapid cell division occurs, and the organism becomes established.

Embryonic Period

The prenatal period occurring approximately during weeks $3$ to $8$, characterized by cell differentiation, organogenesis, and the construction of major body structures.

Fetal Period

The final prenatal period characterized by growth, differentiation, organization, and functional development.

Cell Differentiation

The process during prenatal development where cells begin to become specialized for different jobs.

Organogenesis

The formation of organs, which is especially important during the embryonic period of prenatal development.

Teratogen

An environmental agent that can cause developmental abnormalities during prenatal development.

Teratology

The study of teratogens and their effects on development.