Psychology in Everyday Life Chapter 3 (copy)

teratogen

Substance that can produce developmental malformations (birth defects) during the prenatal period

temperament

a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

critical period

a specific time in development when certain skills or abilities are most easily learned

language acquisition device

Noam Chomsky's concept of an innate, prewired mechanism in the brain that allows children to acquire language naturally

schema

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets 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

a child's realization that an object exists even when he or she cannot see or touch it

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

theory of mind

people's ideas about their own and others' mental states -- about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts and the behavior these might predict

autism

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by deficient communication, social interaction, and understanding of others' states of mind

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.

stranger anxiety

the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning by about 8 months of age

attachment

An emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation

Harry Harlow

experimented with baby rhesus monkeys and presented them with cloth or wire "mothers;" showed that the monkeys became attached to the cloth mothers because of contact comfort

Mary Ainsworth

used the "Strange Situation" test to determine attachment styles between mothers and infants

secure attachment

Infants use the mother as a home base from which to explore when all is well, but seek physical comfort and consolation from her if frightened or threatened

insecure attachment

Infants are wary of exploring the environment and resist or avoid the mother when she attempts to offer comfort or consolation

Authoritarian parenting

A parenting style in which the parents are demanding, expect unquestioned obedience, are not responsive to their children's desires, and communicate poorly with their children.

Tend to have less social skills and low self esteem

Permissive parenting

style of parenting marked by submitting to children's desires, making few demands, and using little punishment

Tend to be more aggressive and immature

Authoritative parenting

parenting style characterized by emotional warmth, high standards for behavior, explanation and consistent enforcement of rules, and inclusion of children in decision making

Tend to have high self esteem, self reliance and social competence

Lawrence Kohlberg

moral development; presented boys moral dilemmas and studied their responses and reasoning processes in making moral decisions.

preconventional morality

Kohlberg's stage of moral development in which rewards and punishments dominate moral thinking

conventional morality

second level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development in which the child's behavior is governed by conforming to society's norms of behavior

postconventional morality

Highest stage of moral development in which decisions about morality depend on abstract principles such as justice and equality

Erik Erikson

developed eight psychosocial stages of development: theory shows how people evolve through the life span. Each stage is marked by a psychological crisis.

trust vs. mistrust

Erikson's first stage, in which a totally dependent infant will develop an optimistic, trusting attitude toward the world depending on whether his biological needs are adequately met by his caregivers and sound attachments formed

autonomy vs. shame and doubt

Erikson's second stage, in which a child aged 2 - 3 years must begin to regulate some behavior, taking some personal responsibility for feeding, dressing and bathing. The child will develop a sense of self-sufficiency or a sense of personal shame and self-doubt depending on whether his efforts are met with approval or dissatisfaction.

initiative vs. guilt

Erikson's third stage, in which a child aged 3 - 5 years begin to take initiative that conflicts with parental wishes. Over-controlling parents may instill feelings of guilt and damage self-esteem. Supportive parents encourage emerging independence while providing appropriate controls.

industry vs. inferiority

Erikson's fourth stage, in which a child from age 7 through puberty extends social functioning beyond the family. The child must learn that productivity is valued in this sphere to achieve a sense of competence or he will develop a sense of inferiority.

identity vs. role confusion

Erikson's fifth stage, in which adolescents make decisions regarding who they are, what they want, and who they hope to make of themselves.

generativity vs. stagnation

Erikson's seventh stage. From age 40 - 60, adults need to express their caring about future generations by guiding/mentoring others or producing creative work that enriches the lives of others. Failing this, people become stagnant and preoccupied with their own needs.

integrity vs. despair

Erikson's eighth and last stage. From age 60 to death, people who look back on their lives with satisfaction develop a sense of wholeness and integrity. Those in despair look back with regret and disappointment in the lives they have led.

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

assimilation

absorbing new information into existing cognitive schemas; fitting new information into the present system of knowledge

accommodation

modifying existing cognitive schemas in response to experiences and new information; changing your present system of knowledge

gender identity

One's sense of being male or female.

gender typing

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role

empathy

identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives

delayed gratification

voluntarily postponing an immediate reward in order to complete a task before enjoying a reward

social clock

the culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement

intimacy vs. isolation

The sixth of Erickson's stages of development. Adults seek someone with whom to share their lives in an enduring and self-sacrificing commitment. Without intimacy adults suffer from loneliness and isolation

What are the 3 major issues studies by developmental psychologists?

Nature and nurture, Continuity and stages, and Stability and change.

How does conception occur, and what are chromosomes, DNA, genes, and the genome? How do genes and the environment interact?

Woman's ovaries release an egg, a man's sperm approaches the egg, releasing an enzyme that eat away at the egg's protective coating. Once this occurs the egg blocks out the other sperm. The egg nucleus and the sperm fuse together.

-Chromosome: Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes. -DNA: A molecule containing the genetic information that makes up chromosomes -Genes: The biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes, segment of DNA -Genome: The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all genetic material in that organism's chromosomes. Heredity and environment interact to influence development.

Developmental Psychology

Examines our physical, cognitive and social development throughout the life span

Chromosomes

Threadlike structures made up of DNA molecules that contain genes

DNA

A molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

Genes

Biochemical units of heredity that makes up the chromosomes; segment of DNA

Heredity

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Genome

Complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes.

Environment

Every external influence from prenatal nutrition to social support in later life

Interaction

The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor.

Epigenetics

Study of environmental influences on gene expression that occurs without a DNA change

Also means "in addition to" or above and beyond genetics

Zygote

The fertilized egg. Enters a 2 week of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo

Embryo

The developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through through the 2nd month

Identical Twins

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating 2 genetically identical siblings.

Fraternal Twins

Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than non-twin brothers and sisters but they shared a prenatal development

Fetus

The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

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

Reflex

Automatic response to a sensory stimulus.

Prenatal Development

Zygote- Conception to 2 weeks Embryo- 2 weeks thru 8 weeks Fetus- 9 weeks to birth

Maturation

The orderly sequence of biological growth, independent from experience

How do the brain and motor skills develop during infancy and childhood?

Cognition

Mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering and communicating.

Assimilation

Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas.

Accommodation

Adapting our current understandings to incorporate new information

Pretend Play

A child who can perform mental operations and can think in symbols

Basic Trust

A sense that the world is predictable and reliable. Formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers.

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.

Identity

Sense of self

Social Identity

The "we" aspect of our self concept. The part of our answers to "Who am I?" that comes from our group memberships.

Intimacy

Ability to form close, loving relationships.

Emerging Adulthood

The time from 18 to the mid twenties in an increasingly not yet settled phase of life

Menopause

The end of menstrual cycle

Negligent parenting

academic and social outcomes of these children are poor