Unit 9 Developmental Colleg board term

abstract thinking

Thinking characterized by the use of general ideas or concepts rather than immediate experiences and specific objects/events.

accommodation

Adapting our current understanding (schemas) to incorporate new information.

adolescence

The period in human development that starts with puberty (10-12 years of age) and ends with physiological maturity (approximately 19 years of age).

adverse childhood experiences (ACES)

Stressful events that can occur in childhood and have long-term impacts on health, opportunity, and well-being.

animism

The belief that natural phenomena or inanimate objects are alive or possess lifelike characteristics, such as intentions, desires, and feelings.

anxious attachment

Pattern in which an infant becomes anxious before the primary caregiver leaves, extremely upset during absence, and seeks and resists contact on return.

assimilation

Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas.

attachment

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

attachment styles

Characteristic ways people relate to others in intimate relationships; includes secure and insecure (avoidant, anxious, disorganized).

authoritarian parenting style

Style of parenting in which the parent is rigid and overly strict, showing little warmth.

authoritative parenting style

Parenting style characterized by emotional warmth, high standards, explanation and consistent enforcement of rules, and inclusion of children in decision making.

autonomy and shame and doubt

Erikson's stage where a toddler learns to exercise will and to do things independently; failure results in negative outcomes.

avoidant attachment

Infants seem unresponsive to the parent when present, are not distressed when they leave, and avoid them upon return.

chronosystem

Changes and continuities occurring over time that influence development, including life transitions and cumulative effects.

contact comfort

The positive effects experienced by infants when in close proximity to soft materials.

concrete operational stage

Piaget's theory of cognitive development during which children gain the mental operations to think logically about objective events (6-11 years).

conservation

The principle that properties like mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects.

continuous vs. discontinuous development

An issue in developmental psychology concerning whether development occurs gradually or in distinct stages.

critical/sensitive period

An optimal period shortly after birth when exposure to certain stimuli produces proper development.

cross-sectional research

A study that compares people of different ages with one another.

crystallized intelligence

Accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age.

dementia

A chronic disorder of mental processes caused by brain disease or injury, marked by memory disorders and personality changes.

disorganized attachment

A child shows inconsistent coping with stress, may cry during separation but avoid the mother upon return.

ecological systems theory

A body of theory concerning the processes and conditions that govern human development in various environments.

egocentrism

In Piaget's theory, the difficulty of a preoperational child to take another's point of view.

emerging adulthood

A period from the late teens to mid-20s bridging adolescence and responsible adulthood.

exosystem

Societal structures that function independently of the individual but affect their immediate development context.

familial identity

A sense of group membership to a family and its significance to one's self-concept.

fine motor coordination

Skills requiring coordination of small muscles for precise movements (e.g., handwriting, drawing).

fluid intelligence

The ability to reason speedily and abstractly, tends to decrease during late adulthood.

formal operational stage

Piaget's theory of cognitive development during which logical thinking about abstract concepts begins (around 12 years).

gender

A social construct based on societal roles and behaviors expected from individuals based on their sex.

generativity and stagnation

Erikson's stage of social development in middle adulthood focused on creativity and social responsibilities toward the next generation.

gross motor coordination

Skills involving large muscles to move limbs and maintain balance (e.g., walking, running).

hypothetical thinking

Imagining possibilities and exploring their consequences through mental simulation.

identity moratorium

The experimental period of adolescence where individuals try out alternative roles before making commitments to an identity.

identity achievement

The status characterized by both identity exploration and commitment, related to stable self-esteem.

identity and role confusion

Erikson's stage where teenagers search for their true selves and may establish a cohesive identity.

identity diffusion

An uncertain sense of identity and confusion about wishes and goals as a possible outcome of the identity vs. confusion stage.

identity foreclosure

Premature commitment to an identity based on external influences without personal exploration.

imaginary audience

Adolescents' belief they are the focus of everyone else's attention and concern.

imprinting

The process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical early life period.

industry and inferiority

Erikson's stage between ages 6 to 11, where children learn productivity or feel incompetent.

initiative and guilt

Erikson's stage where children find independence in planning and playing, but may feel regret if criticized.

insecure attachment

Demonstrated by infants showing either clinging, anxious attachment or avoidant behaviors.

integrity and despair

In late adulthood, individuals reflect on their lives, may feel satisfaction or bitterness about life choices.

intimacy and isolation

Erikson's stage where individuals form personal relationships; failure to do so leads to feelings of isolation.

longitudinal study

A research approach that follows a group over time to observe changes in behavior.

macrosystem

The level of environmental influence affecting all other systems, including societal values and traditions.

maturation

Biological growth processes enabling orderly changes in behavior, largely uninfluenced by experience.

menarche

The first incidence of menstruation in a female, marking puberty onset.

menopause

Natural cessation of menstruation; refers to biological changes as reproductive ability declines.

mental symbols

Stage when a child can mentally represent objects that are not present.

mesosystem

Groups and institutions outside the home that influence child development and interact with the microsystem.

microsystem

The closest layer to the child containing structures with which they have direct contact.

nature and nurture

The issue over the contributions of hereditary factors (nature) versus environmental factors (nurture).

object permanence

The awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived.

occupational identity

A sense of group membership related to one's job and its significance to self-concept.

parallel play

Play that involves interacting with others for fun or sport.

permissive parenting style

A parenting style that allows freedom and does not consistently enforce rules.

personal fable

The belief in one's uniqueness and invulnerability, often seen in adolescents.

possible selves

Mental representations of what one could become, both positive and negative.

preoperational stage

Piaget's theory stage where a child learns language but does not yet understand objective logic (2 to 6-7 years).

pretend play

Make-believe play that involves an 'as-if' orientation to actions and roles.

primary sex characteristics

Body structures that make sexual reproduction possible (e.g., ovaries, testes).

puberty

Period of sexual maturation when one becomes capable of reproduction.

racial/ethnic identity

An individual's sense of being defined by membership in a racial or ethnic group.

infant reflexes

Automatic muscle reactions that disappear as a child grows older.

religious identity

A sense of group membership related to a religion and its significance to self-concept.

reversibility

In Piagetian theory, the ability to reverse a sequence of events or restore a changed state to its original condition.

rooting reflex

A baby's tendency to turn toward a touch on the cheek and search for a nipple.

scaffolding

Vygotsky's framework offering temporary support to children as they develop higher levels of thinking.

schema

Concept or framework that organizes and interprets information.

secondary sex characteristics

Nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as breasts and body hair.

secure attachment

Demonstrated by infants who explore comfortably when the caregiver is present and find comfort upon their return.

sensorimotor stage

Piaget's theory stage where infants know the world through sensory impressions and physical activities (birth to 2 years).

separation anxiety

Fear of unfamiliar people, demonstrated around 8 months of age.

sexual orientation

Enduring sexual attraction to male partners, female partners, or otherwise.

social clock

The culturally preferred timing of social events like marriage and retirement.

spermarche

A male's first ejaculation of semen.

stability and change

Concern in developmental psychology about the constancy of personal factors or their change over time.

stages of psychosocial development

According to Erikson, personality development occurs through eight conflicts influenced by social and cultural factors.

temperament

A person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

teratogen

An agent that can cause harm during prenatal development.

theory of mind

People's ideas about their own and others' mental states.

trust and mistrust

Erikson's first stage during the first year of life where infants learn to count on consistent care.

visual cliff

An apparatus used to investigate the development of depth perception in infants and animals.

zone of proximal development

The difference between what children can do with assistance and what they can do alone.