chptr3 Developing Through the Life Span – Practice Flashcards

Question-and-Answer flashcards covering key terms, theories, stages, and findings from the lecture on human development across the life span.

What are the three major issues studied by developmental psychologists?

Nature and nurture; continuity and stages; stability and change.

What is the difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies?

Cross-sectional research compares people of different ages at one time; longitudinal research follows and retests the same people over time.

What are chromosomes?

Threadlike structures of DNA that contain the genes.

Define DNA.

Deoxyribonucleic acid—the molecule that carries genetic information inside chromosomes.

What is a gene?

A segment of DNA that can be expressed to produce specific proteins influencing development.

What is the human genome?

The complete set of genetic instructions for making a human organism.

How does epigenetics influence development?

Environmental factors add or remove molecular tags on DNA, switching genes on or off without changing the sequence.

What event marks conception?

A sperm cell penetrates and fuses with an ovum, forming a zygote.

Name the three prenatal stages in order.

Zygote (conception-2 weeks), embryo (2-8 weeks), fetus (9 weeks-birth).

What are teratogens?

Agents such as viruses, alcohol, or drugs that can reach the embryo/fetus and cause harm.

What is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?

Physical and mental abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking.

Which newborn reflex helps ensure feeding?

The rooting reflex—turning toward a touch on the cheek and seeking a nipple.

How is temperament defined?

A genetically influenced, characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

What is the main finding from twin studies about heredity and environment?

Identical twins are more alike than fraternal twins on many traits, showing strong genetic Influence, but environment also matters.

What is maturation?

Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively unaffected by experience.

What is a critical period?

A limited time early in life when exposure to certain stimuli is necessary for proper development (e.g., language, vision).

According to Piaget, what are schemas?

Concepts or mental frameworks that organize and interpret information.

Differentiate assimilation from accommodation.

Assimilation interprets new information using existing schemas; accommodation adjusts schemas to fit new information.

List Piaget’s four cognitive stages in order.

Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational.

At what stage does object permanence emerge?

Sensorimotor stage—typically around 8 months but unfolds gradually.

Which Piagetian stage is marked by egocentrism and pretend play?

Preoperational stage (about ages 2–7).

Define conservation.

Understanding that properties such as mass and volume remain the same despite changes in the form of objects.

When can children perform mental operations like reversing arithmetic?

During the concrete operational stage (about ages 7–11).

What thinking ability characterizes formal operations?

Abstract, systematic reasoning (if–then logic).

According to Vygotsky, what is a scaffold?

Temporary support from mentors that helps children reach higher levels of thinking.

What is theory of mind?

Ability to infer one’s own and others’ mental states—thoughts, feelings, intentions.

How is autism spectrum disorder (ASD) related to theory of mind?

Individuals with ASD have impaired theory-of-mind skills, making social understanding difficult.

What did Harlow’s monkey studies show about attachment?

Attachment is based on comfort and secure base, not just nourishment.

Describe secure attachment in Ainsworth’s Strange Situation.

Children play comfortably with caregiver present, become upset when she leaves, and seek contact upon return.

Name the two main forms of insecure attachment.

Anxious (ambivalent) and avoidant attachment.

What sense of the world develops from secure attachment, according to Erikson?

Basic trust—a belief that the world is predictable and reliable.

List Baumrind’s four parenting styles.

Authoritarian, permissive, negligent, authoritative.

Which parenting style combines high responsiveness and high demands?

Authoritative parenting—linked with high self-esteem and social competence.

What physical event starts adolescence?

Puberty—the onset of sexual maturation.

Why do teens often engage in risky behaviors?

The limbic system develops before the frontal lobes, so reward seeking outpaces impulse control.

What are Kohlberg’s three levels of moral reasoning?

Preconventional (self-interest), conventional (rules/social approval), postconventional (ethical principles).

According to Erikson, what is the psychosocial task of adolescence?

Forming an identity versus role confusion.

What is emerging adulthood?

A transitional period (roughly ages 18–mid-20s) between adolescence and full independence.

Define menopause.

The natural end of menstruation and fertility in women, usually around age 50.

How do recall and recognition memory differ with age?

Recall declines more than recognition in older adults.

What lifestyle factor consistently slows cognitive and physical aging?

Regular aerobic exercise.

According to Erikson, what two basic commitments dominate adulthood?

Intimacy (love) and generativity (work/parenting).

What is the social clock?

Cultural timetable for major life events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement.

How does well-being typically change in later life?

Positive emotions increase, negative emotions decline; life satisfaction remains stable or rises.

What is terminal decline?

Accelerated cognitive and emotional deterioration that occurs in the last 3–4 years of life.

Do people pass through predictable stages of grief?

No—grief reactions vary; there is no universal sequence.

Which prenatal structure transfers nutrients and screens many harmful substances?

The placenta.

What is object permanence?

Understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight.

Why are identical twins valuable for studying nature vs. nurture?

They share 100% of their genes, so differences reflect environmental factors.

What does the startle reflex demonstrate in newborns?

Inborn automatic responses that may have aided survival (arms fling out, then retract).

How does maturation affect toilet training?

Neuromuscular maturation must be sufficient; training won’t succeed before the child’s body is ready.

What parenting factor can increase an infant’s secure attachment even with a difficult temperament?

Parental sensitivity and responsive caregiving.

What are anxious and avoidant attachment styles associated with in adult relationships?

Anxious style—craving acceptance but fearing rejection; avoidant style—discomfort with closeness and commitment.

What concept explains why adolescents worry that others are endlessly watching them?

Imaginary audience—a facet of teen egocentrism.

Define personal fable in adolescence.

Belief that one’s experiences are unique and invulnerable (“It won’t happen to me”).

Which lobe of the brain shows the greatest growth from ages 3–6?

Frontal lobes—important for planning and attention control.

How does stranger anxiety relate to cognitive development?

After object permanence develops (~8 months), infants recognize unfamiliar faces and may become distressed.

What is the main criticism of Kohlberg’s highest stage of moral reasoning?

It reflects individualist, Western values and may not appear in collectivist cultures.

What is self-disclosure, and why is it important in love relationships?

Sharing intimate details about oneself; fosters closeness and enduring bonds.

How do grief outcomes compare between those who seek therapy and those who do not?

Most people adjust similarly over time; time, social support, and helping others aid healing regardless of therapy.

What is generativity, according to Erikson?

A sense of contributing to the world, often through family and work, versus stagnation.