Unit 3 - Development and Learning

A collection of flashcards covering key terms and definitions from psychology, focusing on conditioning, development stages, types of learning, and parenting styles.

Acquisition Period

The initial learning phase in classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Associative Learning

A form of learning that involves connecting certain stimuli or events that occur together.

Acquisition Period

The initial learning phase in classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Associative Learning

A form of learning that involves connecting certain stimuli or events that occur together.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has been conditioned.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A stimulus that elicits a response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Continuous Reinforcement

A schedule of reinforcement where a behavior is rewarded every time it occurs.

Extinction

The decrease in response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the conditioned stimulus.

Fixed Interval Reinforcement Schedule

A reinforcement schedule where a behavior is rewarded after a specific amount of time.

Fixed Ratio Reinforcement Schedule

A schedule in which a set number of responses must occur before a reward is given.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A type of conditioning where a conditioned stimulus is used to condition a new neutral stimulus.

Instinct

Unlearned knowledge or behavior, often more prevalent in lower animals than in humans.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without reinforcement and is not immediately reflected in behavior.

Law of Effect

The principle that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are likely to be repeated.

Model

A person whose behavior serves as an example in observational learning.

Negative Punishment

The removal of a pleasant stimulus to reduce a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that does not initially elicit a response.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs by watching and imitating others.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning where behaviors are modified by their consequences.

Partial Reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule where behavior is rewarded only some of the time.

Positive Punishment

The addition of an undesirable stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior.

Primary Reinforcer

A reinforcer that has innate reinforcing qualities, such as food or water.

Punishment

The implementation of a consequence to decrease a behavior.

Radical Behaviorism

A strong form of behaviorism that posits that all behavior is a result of conditioning.

Reinforcement

The implementation of a consequence to increase a behavior.

Secondary Reinforcer

A reinforcer that has no inherent value but gains reinforcing qualities when linked with a primary reinforcer.

Shaping

The process of rewarding successive approximations toward a target behavior.

Spontaneous Recovery

The return of a previously extinguished conditioned response.

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to respond differently to similar stimuli.

Stimulus Generalization

The demonstration of the conditioned response to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

A natural, unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that elicits a reflexive response.

Variable Interval Reinforcement Schedule

A reinforcement schedule in which rewards are given after unpredictable time intervals.

Variable Ratio Reinforcement Schedule

A reinforcement schedule in which the number of responses needed for a reward varies.

Vicarious Punishment

When an observer sees a model punished, leading to decreased likelihood of imitating that behavior.

Vicarious Reinforcement

When an observer sees a model rewarded, leading to increased likelihood of imitating that behavior.

Accommodation

The adjustment of a schema to incorporate new information.

Adolescence

The developmental period that begins at puberty and ends at early adulthood.

Adrenarche

The maturation of the adrenal glands.

Advance Directive

A legal document detailing specific medical interventions a person desires.

Assimilation

The adjustment of a schema by adding information that is similar to what is already known.

Attachment

A long-standing emotional bond or connection with others.

Authoritarian Parenting Style

A parenting style characterized by high demands, little warmth, and strict obedience.

Authoritative Parenting Style

A parenting style that combines reasonable demands, warmth, and interest in the child's opinions.

Avoidant Attachment

Characterized by a child's unresponsiveness to the parent and lack of secure base behavior.

Cognitive Development

The domain of lifespan development that examines learning, memory, and reasoning.

Cognitive Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

Conception

The process when a sperm fertilizes an egg, forming a zygote.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's third stage of cognitive development from ages 7 to 11, where logical thinking about concrete events occurs.

Conservation

The understanding that an object's quantity remains the same despite changes in its appearance.

Continuous Development

The view that development is a cumulative process that gradually improves existing skills.

Critical Period

A specific time during fetal growth when certain parts or organs develop.

Developmental Milestone

The approximate ages at which children reach specific normative events.

Discontinuous Development

The view that development occurs in unique stages happening at specific ages.

Disorganized Attachment

Characterized by odd behaviors when a child is faced with a parent.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

A legal document indicating that resuscitation efforts should not be made.

Egocentrism

A preoperational child's difficulty in taking the perspective of others.

Embryo

A multi-cellular organism in its early stages of development.

Emerging Adulthood

A newly defined period of development from ages 18 to mid-20s.

Fine Motor Skills

The use of small muscle groups for precise movements.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's final stage of cognitive development starting from age 11, involving abstract and hypothetical thinking.

Gonadarche

The maturation of the sex glands.

Gross Motor Skills

The use of large muscle groups for big bodily movements.

Health Care Proxy

A legal document appointing someone to make medical decisions for a patient.

Hospice

A service providing comfort and pain management for terminally ill patients.

Living Will

A legal document detailing interventions a person wishes for medical care.

Menarche

The onset of menstruation occurring around ages 12 to 13.

Mitosis

The process of cell division.

Motor Skills

The ability to move the body and manipulate objects.

Nature

The genetic and biological influences on development.

Newborn Reflexes

Automatic responses present at birth in healthy babies.

Normative Approach

The study of development using average ages when children reach milestones.

Nurture

Environmental and cultural influences on development.

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when not observed.

Permissive Parenting Style

A parenting style with few demands and little punishment.

Physical Development

The domain examining growth and changes in body and brain.

Placenta

The structure that provides nourishment and oxygen to the developing baby.

Prenatal Care

Medical care during pregnancy to monitor health.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's second stage of cognitive development from ages 2 to 7, focusing on symbols and language.

Primary Sexual Characteristics

Organs specifically necessary for reproduction.

Psychosexual Development

Freud's theory of how pleasure-seeking urges focus on different zones of the body.

Psychosocial Development

The domain examining emotions, personality, and social relationships.

Resistant Attachment

Characterized by clingy behavior and rejection of parent interaction.

Reversibility

The principle that objects can return to their original form after being changed.

Schema

A mental concept used to categorize and interpret information.

Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Physical manifestations of sexual maturation not directly related to sex organs.

Secure Attachment

Characterized by using the parent as a secure base for exploration.

Secure Base

The presence of a caregiver providing safety for exploration.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's first stage of cognitive development from birth to age 2, focusing on sensory and motor abilities.

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

The concept that social circles may dwindle but remain close in quality.

Spermarche

The first ejaculation in males.

Stage of Moral Reasoning

Kohlberg's theory of moral development involving three stages.

Temperament

Innate traits that affect behavior and reactions to the environment.

Teratogen

An environmental agent that can cause harm during fetal development.

Uninvolved Parenting Style

A style where parents are neglectful and indifferent to the child's needs.

Zygote

The fertilized egg that begins dividing to form an embryo.