Lifespan Development Psychology Review

Flashcards covering foundational lifespan psychology concepts across developmental stages, prenatal processes, attachment theory, cognitive milestones, and early childhood language acquisition.

What term describes atypical and unpredictable life changes that can occur during development?

Non-normative

A researcher whose work strongly emphasizes objective, visible behaviors is best categorized as what type of psychologist?

A traditional behaviorist

According to Sigmund Freud, which of the three structures of the mind equates to our conscience, or the "little angel on our shoulder"?

Superego

According to Jean Piaget, why do infants from $0$ months to two years old frequently put any object they touch into their mouths?

To master the basics of physical reality

According to Erik Erikson, how many stages of Psychosocial Development do individuals navigate across the lifespan?

$$8$$

Which theorist developed the Developmental System Approach, an outlook emphasizing that many influences affect development and stressing the need to embrace various approaches?

Urie Bronfenbrenner

What is the psychological debate regarding the relative contributions of biology (genetics) compared to environment (experiences) called?

The nature-nurture issue

Which perspective in lifespan psychology emphasizes that small children learn new skills, behaviors, or language simply by listening to and observing adults?

Social Learning Theory

What field is devoted to scientifically determining the role that hereditary forces play in determining individual differences?

Behavioral Genetics

Which research method allows researchers to manipulate one or more factors to observe and record the effect on a behavior or mental process?

Experimentation

What pipelike structures serve as a conduit to the uterus, and what structures house the ova?

Fallopian tubes; ovaries

How does the pace of development during the fetal stage compare to the fast-paced embryonic stage?

It occurs more slowly

Which chromosome combination results in a boy, and which results in a girl?

XY results in a boy; XX results in a girl

What occurs during the third stage of labor and birth?

The placenta is expelled.

What puts about $30\text{ pounds}$ of pressure on the cervix to expand its shape during birth?

Contractions

Identify the prenatal development terms for: (1) the union of sperm and egg, (2) the first phase of prenatal development, and (3) the phase in which all major organs are formed.

(1) Fertilization; (2) germinal period; (3) embryonic phase

What is the main function of the placenta during prenatal development?

It "provides nutrients to the fetus."

With regard to the process of birth, what does the term "efface" mean?

To thin out.

Which symptom is a pregnant woman most likely not to experience during her first trimester of pregnancy?

Looking visibly pregnant

What physical presentation indicates that a newborn has a high Apgar score?

Having a healthy body color, kicking, and crying

What typically happens to newborn reflexes as an infant grows?

They disappear as the cortex develops

What is the term for teaching a toddler to sit at the table and say "please"?

Socialization

What is the bottom-line message regarding the impact of breastfeeding?

Breast-feeding is correlated with multiple benefits.

What is the primary difference between primary circular reactions and secondary circular reactions in Piaget's theory?

Primary circular reactions are centered only on the baby's body, whereas secondary circular reactions revolve around objects in the external world.

What would Jean Piaget say about an infant who begins throwing tantrums whenever parents take away a toy?

It shows the infant is mastering object permanence.

A $1$-year-old infant throws a spoon off a highchair tray in different directions just to see where it lands. What behavior is being demonstrated?

Little-scientist behaviors

What error occurs when an infant approaching age $1$ finds an object under one cover multiple times, but continues to look in that first hiding spot after seeing it hidden under a second cover?

The A-not-B error

Who is traditionally eligible for enrollment in Early Head Start?

Infants and toddlers from low-income backgrounds

A baby who understands that a teddy bear continues to exist even after falling behind the sofa has mastered the beginnings of what cognitive milestone?

Object permanence

What is the term for a teaching-oriented group setting that enrolls children aged $3$ to $5$?

Preschool

According to John Bowlby, during which phase of life is having a primary attachment figure vital?

Any time of life

Which hormone is directly involved in attachment?

Oxytocin

Who typically becomes a baby's primary attachment figure?

The person who spends the most time with a child

According to John Bowlby, what is the primary function of attachment behaviors in infants?

To ensure physical and emotional proximity to caregivers

What aspect of infant-caregiver relationships was Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation experiment designed to assess?

The child's attachment style

Which attachment style identified by Mary Ainsworth is marked by an infant showing distress upon separation, but displaying ambivalence or resistance upon reunion?

Insecure-ambivalent

In Harry Harlow's experiments, which surrogate mother did infant monkeys prefer when they were frightened?

The cloth mother without food

Which attachment style is characterized by infants showing little distress during separation and avoiding or ignoring the caregiver upon reunion?

Avoidant

An infant looks at their caregiver for emotional cues before deciding to explore and play with an unfamiliar toy. What behavior is this?

Social referencing

What behavior characterizes the "despair" stage in John Bowlby's research on infant separation?

Monotonous crying, inactivity, and steady withdrawal

Two children play "house" by taking on complementary roles (e.g., mother and sick baby). (1) What type of play is this, and (2) what is their probable age?

(1) Collaborative pretend play; (2) about age $5$

What is the correct developmental chronological order of language acquisition?

Cooing; babbling; holophrases; telegraphic speech

What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) according to Lev Vygotsky's theory?

The difference between a child's independent problem-solving ability and potential knowledge with guidance.

What does Mean Length of Utterance (MLU) measure in language development?

The average number of morphemes per sentence.

What is an example of overregularization in early child language development?

Using "foots" instead of "feet"

In Erik Erikson's psychosocial stage of "Initiative versus Guilt," what does "Initiative" refer to?

Testing and exploring new skills with enthusiasm.

Which type of motor skills involves large muscle movements such as running and jumping?

Gross motor skills

Which type of motor skills involves small, coordinated movements such as drawing and writing?

Fine motor skills

In Jean Piaget's Preoperational Stage, how do children perceive the amount of liquid when it is placed into different shaped containers?

They believe the amount of liquid changes with the container's shape.

What is "Animism" in Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

The belief that inanimate objects are alive.