HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

EXAM 1

What is multidimensional Development?

Development has biological, cognitive, and socioemotional dimensions that interact.

What is multidirectional development?

Some areas improve while others decline. Like vocabulary increasing while the speed of processing decreases with age.

What is plasticity?

The capability for change in response to positive or negative life experiences.

What is context in development?

Setting in which development occurs, influenced by historical, economic, social ,and cultural factors.

What are the five systems of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory?

Microsystem, Mesosystem, Macrosystem, Ecosystem. Chronosystem

What is the main difference between Freud’s and Erikson’s psychoanalytic theories?

Freud emphasized psychosexual stages and unconscious drives; Erikson emphasized psychosocial stages a social interaction across the lifespan. 

What is the main research method that can establish cause and effect?

Experimental method.

What are chromosomes?

Threadlike structures of DNA containing genetic information.

What is Meiosis?

Specialized cell division that produces gametes (sperm and egg) each with half the genetic material.

What is the Mitosis?

Cell division in which one cell duplicates and divides into two identical cells.

What are dominant vs. recessive genes?

Dominant genes expressed traits when present; recessive genes require two copies to be expressed.

What is Zygote?

Single cell formed through fertilization, containing 23 pairs of chromosomes.

What is polygenic inheritance?

Many genes intact to produce traits like intelligence and height.

What are twin and adoption studies used for?

To estimate the influence of heredity vs. environment.

What happens in the germinal period?

Cell division, zygote formation, attachment to uterine wall.

What happened in the embroyonic period?

Organogenesis; support system (placenta, umbilical cord, amnion from).

What happens in the fetal period?

Growth and development of organs; viability at about 24 weeks.

What are the critical factors influencing teratogen impact?

Dose, genetic susceptibility, time of exposure (sensitive period).

What is natural childbirth?

Birth with no drugs using breathing and relaxation techniques.

What is prepared childbirth?

A technique using coach and breathing strategies to reduce pain.

What are postpartum depression syndrome?

Sadness, anxiety, despair, difficulty bonding with bay.

What is lateralization?

Specialization of brain functions in the left and right hemishperes.

What is myelination?

Formation of the fatty sheath around axons to improve neural transmission.

What is shaken baby syndrome (SBS)

Brain swelling and hemorrhaging due to violent shaking.

What are reflexes and give two examples:

Automatic reaction to stimuli.

Rooted reflex: Turing of head towards touch 

Moro reflex: Startle response

What is the proximodistal growth pattern?

Growth from the center of the body outward.

What is the cephalocaudal growth pattern?

Growth from head to tail direction (head develops first).

What is the difference between fine and gross motor milestones?

Fin motor skills: pincer grasp, stacking blocks.

Gross: crawling, standing, walking

What is the object permanence, and when does it develop?

Awareness that objects continue to exist when not seen; develops around 8- 12 months.

What is habituation?

Decreased responsiveness to repeated stimulus.

What is dishabituation?

Recovery of a response after a new stimulus is introduced.

What is deffered imitation?

Reproducing behavior after a time delay (evidence of memory).

What is receptive vs. spoken vocabulary?

Receptive= words infant understands; spoken= words they can say.

What is vocabulary spurt, and when does it occur?

Rapid increase in word learning around 18 months.

What is Tomasello’s interactionist view of language?

Children learn language in social contexts, especially joint attention with caregivers.

What are recasting, expanding, and labeling in language development?

Recasting: rephrasing what child says into correct grammar.

Expanding: adding info to what child says.

Labeling: naming objects of interest to the child.

What are the three main types of cries?

Basic cry, Angry cry, and pain cry

What is a reflexive smile vs. social smile?

Reflexive smile: not tied to external stimulus (newborns)

Social Smile: response to external stimuli

What is stranger anxiety, and when does it typically appear?

Infant’s fear of strangers, appearing around 6 months and peaking around 1 year.

What is separation protest?

Infant’s distressed crying when caregiver leaves.

What is emotion regulation, and how do caregivers influence it?

Ability to control emotional responses; caregivers help by soothing, redirecting, and modeling calm responses.

What is Erikson’s autonomy vs. shame/doubt stage?

Toddlers build independence through exploring; overcontrol leads to shame and doubt.

What is Erikson’s trust vs, Mistrust stage?

Infant’s develops trust if cared for consistently and lovingly; mistrust if neglected.

What are the four phases of attachment (Bowlby)?

1. Birth - 2 months: attachment to human figures.

2. 2-7 months: focus on one figure

3. 7-25: specific attachments, seek regular caregivers.

4. 24+ months: awareness of others’ feeling and goals.

What caregiving styles are linked to insecure attachments?

Avoidant= rejecting/ unavailable caregivers

Resistant= inconsistent caregivers

Disorganized= neglectful/abusive caregivers.

Gross motor skills

Large muscle activities such as moving arms, legs, or the whole body. Like crawling, walking, or jumping.

Fine Motor Skills

Finely tuned movements that require finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Like grasping a spoon.

Primary emotions

Present in human early in life which does not require self-awareness and sense of “me.” Like joy, anger, dear, sadness, fear, surprise, interest, disgust.

Self-consciousness emotions

emerge later that require self-awareness and sense of “me.” Examples: Jealousy, empathy, embarrassment, pride, shame, guilt.

What are Thomas and Chess’s Temperament types:

Easy Child: positive, quickly adapts, regular routines. Parenting: Maintain consistency and provide support.

Difficult child: Stay Patient, structured and supportive.

Slow-to-warm up child: Allow gradual adjustment and give gentle encouragement.

What is the function of Broca’s area

Left frontal lobe of the brain and has the role of speech production.

What is the Wernicke’s area?

Left hemisphere, usually in the temporal lobe with the role of language comprehension.

Aphasia: Loss or impairment of language processing, often due to damage in Broca or Wernicke’s areas.