Psych 8.5

Longitudinal period

A research design in which one participant or group of participants is studied over a long period of time

Cross-Sectional design

A research design in which several age groups of participants are studied at one particular point in time

Cross Sequential design

A research design in which participants are first studied by means of a cross-sectional design but are also followed and assessed for a period of no more than 6 years

Nature

the influence of our inherited characteristics on our personality, physical growth, intellectual growth, and social interactions

Nurture

the influence of the environment on personality, physical growth, intellectual growth, and social interactions

Behavioral Genetics

The focus and study of the interaction between nature and nurture

Genetics

Science of studying inherited traits

Dominant Gene

A gene that actively controls the expression of a trait.

Recessive Gene

A gene that only influences the expression of a trait when paired with an identical gene.

Chromosome

A tightly wound strand of genetic material or DNA is known as a

Fertilization

A union of the ovum and sperm

Conception

When a woman becomes pregnant

Ovum

Female sex cell

Zygote

The cell resulting from the uniting of the ovum and sperm, which divides into many cells, eventually forming the baby

monozygotic twins

IDENTICAL TWINS are formed when one zygote splits into two separate masses of cells, each of which develops into a separate embryo

dizygotic twins

fraternal twins, occurring when two eggs each get fertilized by two different sperm, resulting in two zygotes in the uterus at the same time and having the same birth date.

Germinal period

first two weeks after fertilization, during which the zygote moves down to the uterus and begins to implant in the lining

embryo

The name for the developing organism from 2 to 8 weeks after fertilization until birth.

Fetal period

The name of the developing organism from 8 weeks after fertilization until birth.

Teratogen

Anything that can cause a birth defect

Critical periods

Timed during which certain environmental influences can have an impact on the development of the infant are called

Reflexes

What infants are born with such as sucking, Moro, Babinski, and rooting that help them survive.

Cognitive development

The development of thinking, problem solving, and memory schemes. A mental concept formed through experiences with objects and events

Sensorimotor stage

Piaget's first stage of cognitive development in which the infants uses its senses and motor abilities to interact with objects in the environment.

Object Permeance

The knowledge that an object exists even when it is not in sight.

preoperational stage

Piaget's second stage of cognitive development in which the preschool child learns to use language as a means of exploring the world.

Egocentrism

the inability to see the world through anyone else's eyes

Conservation

The idea in Piaget's theory, that the ability to understand that simply changing the appearance of an object does not change the object's nature.

Concrete operations stage

Piaget's third stage of cognitive development in which the school-age child becomes capable of logical thought processes but is not yet capable of abstract thinking

Formal operations stage

Piaget's fourth stage of cognitive development and indicates that the adolescent is now capable of abstract thinking

scaffolding

the process in which a more skilled learner gives help to a less skilled learner, reducing the amount of help as the less skilled learner becomes more capable.

ZPD

Vygotsky's concept of the difference between what a child can do alone and what that child can do with the help of a teacher

Temperament

the behavioral characteristics that are fairly well established at birth

Attachment

the emotional bond between an infant and the primary caregiver

Trust vs. Mistrust

According to Erikson, the first stage of personality development in which the infant's basic sense of trust or mistrust develops as a result of consistent or inconsistent care is called

Gender

the behavior associated with being male or female

Puberty

The stage of physical changed that occur in the body as sexual development reaches its peak.

Personal fable

type of thought common to adolescents in which young people believe themselves to be unique and protected from harm

Kohlberg

Individual who hypothesized how moral development occurs

Integrity

According to Erikson, the sense of wholeness that comes from having lived a full life and the ability to let go of regrets and is the final completion of the ego

Activity theory

The theory of adjustment to aging that assumes older people are happier if they remain active in some way, such as volunteering or developing a hobby is known as