Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology

The study of how people grow and change physically, cognitively, and socially throughout their lives.

Nature and Nurture

The debate on how human development is influenced by genetics (nature) versus experiences (nurture).

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, developing around 8 months of age.

Schemas

Concepts or frameworks that organize and interpret information; they are developed from experiences.

Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

A theory outlining four stages of cognitive development: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational.

Secure Attachment

A strong emotional bond formed between a child and caregiver, characterized by comfort and trust.

Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

Eight stages that outline key conflicts individuals must resolve at various points in their lives.

Temperament

A person's genetic predisposition to react in a certain way; can be reactive, fidgety, or calm.

Gender Identity

A person's internal sense of being male, female, or another gender.

Fluid Intelligence

The ability to reason and solve novel problems, that tends to decline with age.

Crystallized Intelligence

The accumulated knowledge and verbal skills that generally remain stable or improve with age.

Infantile Amnesia

The inability to remember events from early childhood, typically before the age of 3½.

Critical Period

A specific time frame during an organism's development when it is particularly sensitive to certain environmental stimuli.

Imprinting

A form of rapid learning that occurs in a critical period, often seen in animals following their parent.

Stranger Anxiety

A developmental phase around 8 months where infants show fear or distress when encountering unfamiliar people.

Authoritarian Parenting

A parenting style characterized by high demands and low responsiveness; parents enforce rules without explanation.

Authoritative Parenting

A parenting style characterized by high demands and high responsiveness; parents set rules but are open to discussion.

Permissive Parenting

A parenting style characterized by low demands and high responsiveness; parents allow children considerable freedom.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs or values.

Conservation

The principle that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or arrangement, developed in the concrete operational stage.

Preconventional Morality

A stage in Kohlberg's moral development focused on self-interest and avoiding punishment.

Conventional Morality

A stage in Kohlberg's moral development based on obeying rules to gain approval or maintain social order.

Postconventional Morality

A stage in Kohlberg's moral development where actions are guided by internal ethical principles.

Emerging Adulthood

A developmental stage approximately between ages 18 to mid-20s, characterized by exploration and instability.

Mid-life Crisis

A supposed period of emotional turmoil in middle age, often involving self-reflection and existential questioning.

Social Clock

The societal expectation of the timing for major life events, such as marriage or having children.

Dementia

A progressive loss of cognitive function due to damage to the brain, often impacting memory and reasoning.

Alzheimer's Disease

A neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and changes in behavior, often associated with aging.