Life-Span (Psychology #4)

Developmental Psychology

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

Prenatal Development

Begins at conception, ends with the birth of a child (“before birth”)

Germinal Stage

When the sperm and egg unite

Zygote

A fertilized egg

Zygote (1st 2 weeks)

Period of Rapid Cell Division. Cells start to differentiate

Genes

Biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes. Direct the process of differentiation

Embryo

A developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization until the end of the 8th week. Most of the organs are formed durign this time. 

Fetus

A developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth.

Placenta

A cushion of cells in the mother by which the fetus receives oxygen and nutrition. Acts as a filter that screens out toxic substances. 

Teratogens

Substances that cross the placental barrier and prevent the fetus from developing naturally. Include: Radiation, toxic chemicals, drugs, alcohol, etc.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Children whose mother drink heavily during pregnancy may be born with this condition. Develop physical abnormalities, including a small, disproportioned head and unusual facial features. 

Reflexes

An automatic, unlearned response. Ex: sucking swallowing, grasping in babies.

Rooting Reflex

A baby’s tendency when touched on the cheek, to open the mouth and search for the nipple. 

Palmer Grasp

Squeezing the fist to hold anything placed in the palm. 

Babinski Reflex

Running a finger down the sole of the foot will result in fanning and curling of toes

Temperament

A person’s characteristic emotional excitability. Is shown in infancy, and appears to carry through a person’s life. 

Infant

1st year of age

Toddler

1st to 3rd year of age

Child

Years between toddler and teenager

Cephalocaudal Development

Learn to use upper limbs before lower limbs

Proximodistal Development

Motor skills develop from center of the body outwards

Harry Harlow and Body Contact 

Did research w/ infant monkeys on how body contact relates to attachment, found that body contact created a stronger degree of attachment over food.

Attachment

The emotional tie with another person, shown by seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation. Body contact, familiarity, and responsiveness all contribute to this. (Overproviding)

Secure Attachement

These children will explore the environment when primary caregivers are present.

Insecure Attachment

These children will appear distressed and cry when caregiver leaves. 

Anxious and Resistant (InA)

Will cling to the caretaker when they return.

Avoidant (IA)

Little interaction with caregiver

Disoriented and Disorganized (InA)

Inconsistent behavior towards caregiver

Effect of Secure Attachment

Predicts social competence

Effect of Insecure Attachment

Negative outcomes, including withdrawal, fright, inability to form normal attachments. Can be recovered through a responsive environment

Responsive Parents

Aware of what their children are doing

Unresponsive Parents

Ignore their children, help only when they need to.

Baumraud’s: 3 Main Parenting Styles

Authoritarian, Permissive, Authoritative

Authoritative Parenting

A style of parenting marked by imposing rules and expecting obedience.

Permissive Parenting

A style of parenting marked by submitting to children’s desires, making few demands, and little punishment

Authoritative Parenting

A style of parenting marked by making demands on the child, being responsive, setting and enforcing rules, and discussing the reason behind the rules. 

Familiarity

The sense of contentment with that which is already known. Infants are familiar with their parents and caregivers. 

Critical Period

The optimal period shortly after birth, when an organism’s exposure to certain experiences prod, proper development. 

Jean Piaget

A pioneer in the study of developmental psychology who introduces the stage theory of cognitive development that led to a better understanding of children’s thought processes

Cognition

All mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, and remembering. Children think differently than adults do.

Schemas

Concepts or mental frameworks that people use to organize and interpret information. A person’s “picture of the world”

Assimilation

The interpretation of a new experience in terms of existing schemas. A new experience must be similar to other previous experiences. 

Accommodation

The adaptation of current schemas to incorporate new information. The new experience must be so novel that the person’s schema must be changed in order to accommodate it. 

Sensorimotor Stage

In Piaget’s theory, is the stage from both 2 years of age, during which infants learn about the world through their sensory impressions and motor activities. When children develop object permanence.

Object Permanence

Is the awareness that things continue to exist even when you cannot see or hear them. Out of sight, out of mind.

Stranger Anxiety

The fear that infants commonly display, beginning, around 8 months of age. 

Preoperational Stage

In Piaget’s theory, is the stage from about age 2 to about 6-7, during which the child learns to use language. Child cannot yet think logically

Egocentric

In Piaget’s theory, is the inability of the preoperational child to take another person’s POV. Cognitively limited, not selfish or dumb

Concrete Operational Stage

In Piaget’s theory is the stage of cognitive development from abt. 6-11, during which children gain the mental skills that let them think logically about concrete events. Child learns conservation. 

Conservation

The principle that properties, such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of the object. Preoperational children lack this. 

Formal Operational Stage

In Piaget’s theory, is the 4th and final stage of cognitive development. Beginning around age 12, during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts and form strategies  about things they may not have experienced. Can solve “What if..?” problems. 

Piaget’s theory was incorrect b/c…

Piaget underestimated the child’s ability at various ages. Moreover, his theory doesn’t account for cultural or social differences. 

Stage-like Development

Motor Development

Continuous Development

Social (attachment) and Cognitive development

Development over time

Physical, Cognitive, and Social traits

Stable development

Temperament

Nature and nurture combine to form…

…Prenatal Development

Maturation and stimulation combine to form…

…Cognitive Development

Adolescence

The transition period from childhood to adulthood. Starts with sexual maturation and puberty, lasts until independence.

Puberty

The period of sexual maturation during which a person becomes capable of reproduction. Starts at 11 (F), and 13 (M)

Primary Sexual Characteristics

Includes the reproductive organs, including ovaries, testes, and other external genetalia

Meharche

Beginning of menstratution (period)

Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Include non-reproductive sexual characteristics, such as breasts, hip quality, facial hair, and voice. 

Lawrence Kolhberg

Created the three-stage moral development theory

Pre-conventional Moral Reasoning

Characterized by the desire of avoid punishment of gain a reward (good/bad reasoning). Typical of children under 9.

Conventional Moral Reasoning

Primary concern is to fit in, to play the role of a good citizen, anto follow the rules and laws of society. Typical of most adults. 

Post-Conventional Moral Reasoning

Characterized by references to UNIVERSAL ethical principles that represent the rights and obligations of ALL people. Not reached by most adults. 

Erik Erikson

created an 8-stage theory of social development. Each stage has its own psychosocial developmental task that should be completed.

Identity

Is a strong, consistent sense of who and what a person is.

Intimacy

In Erikson’s theory is the ability to form close, loving, open relationships. Not necessaily one’s spouse or a sexual relationship

Emerging Adulthood

Is the period from the late teens to the mid-teens (and sometimes later), bridging the gap between adolescent dependence and full independence and responsible adulthood.

Midlife Years

36-64 Years of age

Menopause

When the menstrual cycle ends, the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines

Fluid Intelligence

Is the ability to reason speedily and abstractly. Can be used to solve novel logic problems.

Crystalized Intelligence

The accumulated knowledge and verbal skills of a person, which increases with age

Journey to Death

5 stages of grief, a pattern of adjustment