Developmental Psychology: Key Concepts and Theories for Students

Developmental Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the lifespan.

Cross-Sectional Studies

Research that compares people of different ages at the same point in time.

Longitudinal Studies

Research that follows and retests the same people over time

Nature

Genes related characteristics.

Nurture

Environment related characteristics influencing behavior and development.

Stability

The enduring consistency of personality traits, behaviors, and characteristics over a person's lifespan.

Change

The variation in personality traits, behaviors, and characteristics throughout a person's life.

Identity

Our sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescent's task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles.

Social Identity

The 'we' aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to 'Who am I?' that comes from our group memberships.

Intimacy

In Erikson's theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships; a primary developmental task in young adulthood.

Selection Effects

As adolescents seek out peers with similar attitudes, interests, and traits.

Emerging Adulthood

A period from about age 18 to the mid-twenties, when many persons in Western cultures are no longer adolescents but have not yet achieved full independence as adults.

Possible Selves

The versions of themselves they imagine becoming in the future.

Social Clock

The culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement.

Generativity

Being productive and supporting future generations.

Zygotes

Fertilized eggs.

Germinal Stage

Completes as the zygote attaches to the mother's uterine wall, beginning approximately 37 weeks of the closest human relationship.

Teratogens

Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

1/30 chance in USA, disabilities, future behavior problems, and lower intelligence.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Physical and cognitive function deficits in children caused by their birth mother's heavy drinking during pregnancy.

Epigenetic Effect

It leaves chemical marks on DNA that switch genes abnormally on or off.

4 Reflexes of a Baby

Suck, root, startle, grasp.

Habituation

Decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation.

Maturation

Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Such as severe deprivation or abuse, can slow development.

Critical Period/Sensitive Period

An optimal period early in the life of an organism when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development.

Neuroplasticity

Our neural tissue is ever changing and reorganizing in response to new experiences.

Fine Motor

Involving the small muscles of the body.

Gross Motor

Involving large muscles and whole-body movement.

Infantile Amnesia

Inability to have clear memories from ages before 3-4.

Sex

In psychology, the biologically influenced characteristics by which people define male, female, and intersex.

Gender

In psychology, the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person's biological sex.

Intersex

Possessing male and female biological sexual characteristics at birth.

Aggression

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.

Relational Aggression

An act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a person's relationship or social standing.

Male Answer Syndrome

Men are more likely than women to hazard answers than to admit they don't know.

Genetically Differences in Gender

We have differing sex chromosomes.

Physiologically Differences in Gender

We have differing concentrations of sex hormones, which trigger other anatomical differences.

X Chromosome

The sex chromosome found in females and males.

Y Chromosome

The sex chromosome typically found only in males.

Testosterone (Androgen)

The most important male sex hormone.

Estrogens

Sex hormones that contribute to female sex characteristics.

Puberty

A flood of hormones triggers another period of dramatic physical change during adolescence.

Primary Sex Characteristics

The body structures that make sexual reproduction possible.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Nonreproductive sexual traits.

Spermarche

The first ejaculation.

Menarche

The first menstrual period.

Klinefelter Syndrome

A genetic male may be born with two or more X chromosomes as well as a Y chromosome.

Turner Syndrome

Genetic females born with only one normal X chromosome.

Roles

A set of expectations about a social position.

Gender Roles

A set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for men and for women.

Sexual Aggression

Any physical or verbal behavior of a sexual nature that is unwanted.

Gender Identity

Our personal sense of being male, female, neither, or some combination of male and female.

Non-binary

Neither male or female, or a combo of male and female.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating.

Gender Typing

The acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.

Androgyny

Displaying traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine psychological characteristics (blend of both).

Gender Schemas

Organize our experiences of male-female characteristics (new addition to belief).

Gender Expression

Drops hints not only in their language but also in their clothing, interests, and possessions.

Sexual Orientation

The direction of one's sexual attraction.

Sexuality

Our thoughts, feelings, and actions related to our physical attraction to another.

Asexual

Having no sexual attraction toward others.

Social Factors related to Risk Taking

Lack of Communication, Impulsivity, Alcohol use, Mass Media.

Social Scripts

A culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.

Erotic Plasticity

More often prefer to alternate periods of high sexual activity with periods of almost none.

Diffusion Stage

Without a clear commitment to a particular identity and perhaps with little sense of who they are.

Foreclosure

A premature commitment to an identity with little exploration

Moratorium Stage

Teens more actively seek a meaningful identity.

Identity Achievement

A committed sense of self, and a desire to accomplish something personally meaningful that contributes to the world beyond oneself.

Integrity

A feeling that one’s life has been meaningful and worthwhile.