Lifespan Development

Physical Development

Refers to the growth and changes in children's bodies from ages 6 to 12.

Growth during Middle Childhood

Children grow at a steady rate of 2-3 inches and gain 5-7 pounds per year.

Nearsightedness (myopia)

A vision condition where distant objects appear blurry; prevalence increases during middle childhood.

Gross Motor Development

Refers to advancements in large muscle skills such as balance, coordination, and strength.

Fine Motor Development

Refinement of small muscle skills, including writing, which becomes smaller and neater.

Obesity

Condition defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 21; highest rates are seen in affluent regions.

Piaget’s Concrete Operations

Stage where children use mental operations to organize and manipulate information.

Metamemory

Awareness and understanding of one's memory processes.

Wechsler Scales

A set of intelligence tests designed to measure individual differences in cognitive ability.

Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner's theory identifying distinct forms of intelligence beyond traditional IQ.

Bilingualism

Proficiency in two languages, which enhances cognitive abilities.

Selective Attention

Increased ability to focus on specific stimuli while ignoring others.

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, characterized by inattention and hyperactivity.

Dyslexia

A learning disability marked by difficulties in reading and spelling.

Self-esteem

An individual's overall sense of worth; can decline during middle childhood due to social comparisons.

Bullying

Aggressive behavior involving an imbalance of power, often repeated over time.

Social Status

The level of acceptance children receive from their peers, which can affect emotional well-being.

Cognitive Skills in Schooling

Development of skills necessary for reading and math, with varied approaches across cultures.

Emotional Self-Regulation

The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences appropriately.

Family Relations

Shifts in parenting styles towards co-regulation, allowing more independence for children.

Gender Roles

Socially defined expectations for behavior and activities based on a person's sex.

Puberty

A period of rapid biological growth and hormonal changes that occurs in early adolescence.

HPA axis

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, involved in stress response and hormonal changes during puberty.

Primary sex characteristics

Changes directly related to reproduction, such as growth of the uterus and penis.

Secondary sex characteristics

Bodily changes not directly related to reproduction, such as breast development and voice changes.

Menarche

The onset of the first menstrual period in females.

Spermarche

The onset of first ejaculation in males.

Anorexia

An eating disorder characterized by intentional self-starvation and fear of weight gain.

Bulimia

An eating disorder involving binge eating followed by purging to prevent weight gain.

Substance use

Increasing use of substances like marijuana and alcohol during adolescence.

Imaginary audience

The belief that others are as concerned about the adolescent's appearance and behavior as they are.

Kohlberg’s theory of moral development

A theory proposed by Kohlberg that outlines the stages of moral reasoning.

Gender intensification hypothesis

The idea that gender differences in behavior and self-descriptions become more pronounced during adolescence.

Adolescent egocentrism

A developmental stage in which adolescents have difficulty distinguishing between their own thoughts and those of others.

Resilience

The ability to achieve good outcomes despite threats to development and adaptation.

Protective factors

Characteristics that can help individuals cope with stress and adversity, leading to positive outcomes.

Self-understanding

The complexity of self-conceptions that adolescents develop, including actual self, ideal self, and feared self.

Cognitive development

Improvements in abstract thinking and reasoning abilities during adolescence.

Social cognition

The ability to understand and manage social interactions during adolescence, including peer relationships.

Puberty rituals

Cultural practices that mark the transition into adulthood during puberty.

Emerging Adulthood

A developmental stage characterized by exploration of identity, instability, self-focus, feeling in-between, and a sense of possibilities.

Age of Identity Explorations

A period where individuals explore various possibilities related to work and love.

Self-Focused

A phase in emerging adulthood where individuals concentrate on becoming self-sufficient before making commitments.

Peak Physical Functioning

The period during emerging adulthood when physical capabilities, such as reaction time and strength, are at their highest.

Sleep Debt

The cumulative effect of not getting sufficient sleep on a regular basis, often experienced by college students.

Substance Abuse

The misuse of drugs or alcohol, which peaks in early adulthood and declines as individuals transition into more structured life stages.

Tertiary Education

Higher education typically associated with advanced academic degrees, which has become a normative experience for emerging adults.

Identity Development

The process of developing a clear sense of self, involving exploration and commitment, as described in Erik Erikson’s and James Marcia's theories.

Ethnic Identity

The sense of belonging to a particular ethnic group, which can create an internal conflict between differing cultural belief systems.

Cohabitation

Living together in a romantic relationship without being married, common among emerging adults in certain cultures.