Introduction & Methods of Human Development

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and definitions from the lecture on Human Development.

Human Development

The study of how people change and stay the same across the lifespan—physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally.

Continuous Development

The view that development happens gradually and smoothly.

Discontinuous Development

The view that development occurs in distinct stages with qualitative changes.

Nature vs. Nurture

A debate on the influence of biology/genetics versus environment and experience on human development.

Principles of Development

Key concepts that include lifelong, multidimensional, multidirectional, plastic, and shaped by historical and cultural factors.

Strengths Perspective

An approach focusing on resilience, abilities, and potential rather than deficits.

Intersectionality

The idea that multiple identities overlap and shape lived experiences and access to resources.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Experiences linked to long-term health issues and outcomes due to early adversity.

Resilience

The ability to adapt well despite adversity.

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Development is driven by unconscious conflicts, emphasizing early childhood.

Erikson's Psychosocial Stages

Each stage involves a crisis that shapes personality throughout the lifespan.

Behaviorism

A focus on observable behaviors and the processes behind them.

Social-Cognitive Perspective

Theory where behavior, person, and environment influence each other.

Correlational Research

Shows relationships between variables but does not imply causation.

Experimental Research

Involves manipulation and random assignment to infer causation.

Genotype vs. Phenotype

Genotype is the genetic makeup; phenotype is the observable traits.

Epigenetics

The study of environmental factors that influence gene expression without changing DNA.

Teratology

The study of environmental factors that cause birth defects.

Brain Plasticity

The brain's ability to change with experience, critical for learning and recovery.

Serve and Return

Back-and-forth interactions between caregiver and child that build brain architecture.

Dynamic Systems Theory

A theory that motor development emerges from the interaction of brain, body, and environment.