AP Psych Prenatal Development and Cognitive Stages Study Set

Zygote/Germinal Stage

The initial stage of prenatal development where a fertilized egg travels to the uterus

Embryo Stage

The second stage of prenatal development where the unborn child is most susceptible to environmental influences

Fetus Stage

The final stage of prenatal development 3 months away from birth; organs become more complex

Ectopic Pregnancy

Pregnancy where the zygote forms in the fallopian tubes

Jean Piaget

Swiss Psychologist who studied the minds of children and how their thinking skills develop

Schema

A mental concept of the world formed by personal experiences

Assimilation

Process of "fitting" information into an existing schema

Equilibrium

State of "balance" when the world makes sense

Disequilibrium

State of "confusion" caused by new information that hasn't been assimilated

Accommodation

Process of changing a schema to fit new information that can't be assimilated

Neonatal Reflexes

Grasping, Rooting, sucking, swimming, and Moro (fear response) are examples of ...

Sensorimotor Stage

Stage at ages 0-2 when children learn cause-effect relationships and object permanence

Preoperational Stage

Stage at ages 2-7 where child displays egocentrism; theory of mind develops near stage's end

Concrete Operations Stage

Stage at ages 7-12 where children learn conservation and learn simple inductive logic

Formal Operations Stage

Stage at ages 12+ when hypothetical reasoning and deductive logic develop

Object permanence

The concept that objects continue to exist when hidden from view

Egocentrism

The cognitive tendency to only believe one's own perspective

Theory of Mind

The idea that people have different beliefs, perspectives, intentions, and desires

Animism

Belief that objects have living qualities

Conservation

The understanding that change in form does not mean change in quantity

Lev Vygotsky

Cognitive development theorist that proposed the zone of proximal development

Zone of proximal development

The "sweet spot" where kids can learn with guidance

Scaffolding

Vygotsky's term for the "assistance" provided by parents/teachers

In which prenatal stage are ectopic pregnancies a risk?

Risk in the zygote stage