HD 1130 Prelim 1 Textbook Vocab

biological processes

Changes in an individual’s physical nature

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory

Bronfenbrenner’s environmental systems theory that focuses on five environmental systems: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem

case study

An in-depth look at a single individual

cognitive processes

Changes in an individual’s thought, intelligence, and language

cohort effects

Characteristics determined by a person’s time of birth, era, or generation rather than the person’s actual age

continuity-discontinuity issue

Debate about the extent to which development involves gradual, cumulative change (continuity) or distinct stages (discontinuity)

correlation coefficient

A number based on statistical analysis that is used to describe the degree of association between two variables

correlational research

Research that attempts to determine the strength of the relationship between two or more events or characteristics

cross-cultural studies

Comparison of one culture with one or more other cultures. These studies indicate the degree to which development is similar, or universal, across cultures, and the degree to which it is culture-specific

cross-sectional approach

A research strategy in which individuals of different ages are compared at one point in time

culture

The behavior patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a group that are passed on from generation to generation

descriptive research

Studies designed to observe and record behavior

development

The pattern of change that begins at conception and continues through the life span. Most development involves growth, although it also includes decline brought on by aging and dying

eclectic theoretical orientation

An orientation that does not follow any one theoretical approach but rather selects from each theory whatever is considered the best in it

Erikson’s theory

Includes eight stages of human development. Each stage consists of a unique developmental task that confronts individuals with a crisis that must be resolved

ethnic gloss

Using an ethnic label such as African American or Latino in a superficial way that portrays an ethnic group as being more homogeneous than it really is

ethnicity

A characteristic based on cultural heritage, nationality characteristics, race, religion, and language

ethology

Stresses that behavior is strongly influenced by biology, is tied to evolution, and is characterized by critical or sensitive periods

experiment

A carefully regulated procedure in which one or more of the factors believed to influence the behavior being studied are manipulated while all other factors are held constant

gender

A mosaic of categories related to femininity and masculinity based on social and cultural norms

hypotheses

Specific assumptions and predictions that can be tested to determine their accuracy

information-processing theory

Emphasizes that individuals manipulate information, monitor it, and strategize about it. Central to this theory are the processes of memory and thinking

laboratory

A controlled setting in which many of the complex factors of the “real world” are removed

life-span perspective

The perspective that development is lifelong, multidimensional, multidirectional, plastic, multidisciplinary, and contextual; involves growth, maintenance, and regulation; and is constructed through biological, sociocultural, and individual factors working together

longitudinal approach

A research strategy in which the same individuals are studied over a period of time, usually several years or more

naturalistic observation

Studies that involve observing behavior in real-world settings

nature-nurture issue

Debate about whether development is primarily influenced by nature or nurture. Nature refers to an organism’s biological inheritance, nurture to its environmental experiences

nonnormative life events

Unusual occurrences that have a major impact on an individual’s life

normative age-graded influences

Influences that are similar for individuals in a particular age group

normative history-graded influences

Influences that are common to people of a particular generation because of historical circumstances

Piaget’s theory

Theory stating that children actively construct their understanding of the world and go through four stages of cognitive development

psychoanalytic theories

Theories that describe development as primarily unconscious and heavily colored by emotion. Behavior is merely a surface characteristic, and the symbolic workings of the mind have to be analyzed to understand behavior. Early experiences with parents are emphasized

scientific method

An approach that can be used to obtain accurate information. It includes the following steps: (1) conceptualize the problem, (2) collect data, (3) draw conclusions, and (4) revise research conclusions and theory

social cognitive theory

The view of psychologists who emphasize behavior, environment, and cognition as the key factors in development

social policy

A national government’s course of action designed to promote the welfare of its citizens

socioeconomic status (SES)

Refers to the grouping of people with similar occupational, educational, and economic characteristics

socioemotional processes

Changes in an individual’s interpersonal relationships, emotions, and personality

stability-change issue

Debate about whether we become older renditions of our early experience (stability) or whether we develop into someone different from who we were at an earlier point in development (change)

standardized test

A test with uniform procedures for administration and scoring. Many standardized tests allow a person’s performance to be compared with the performance of other individuals

theory

An interrelated, coherent set of ideas that helps to explain phenomena and facilitate predictions

Vygotsky’s theory

A sociocultural cognitive theory that emphasizes how culture and social interaction guide cognitive development

active (niche-picking) genotype-environment correlations

Correlations that exist when children seek out environments they find compatible and stimulating

adoption study

A study in which investigators seek to discover whether, in behavior and psychological characteristics, adopted children are more like their adoptive parents, who provided a home environment, or more like their biological parents, who contributed their heredity. Another form of the adoption study compares adoptive and biological siblings

behavior genetics

The field that seeks to discover the influence of heredity and environment on individual differences in human traits and development

chromosomes

Threadlike structures that come in 23 pairs, with one member of each pair coming from each parent. Chromosomes contain the genetic substance DNA

DNA

A complex molecule that contains genetic information

Down syndrome

A form of intellectual disability that is caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21

epigenetic view

Emphasizes that development is the result of an ongoing, bidirectional interchange between heredity and environment

evocative genotype-environment correlations

Correlations that exist when the child’s genetically influenced characteristics elicit certain types of environments

evolutionary psychology

Emphasizes the importance of adaptation, reproduction, and “survival of the fittest” in shaping behavior

fertilization

A stage in reproduction when an egg and a sperm fuse to create a single cell, called a zygote

fragile X syndrome

A genetic disorder involving an abnormality in the X chromosome, which becomes constricted and often breaks

gene x environment (G x E) interaction

The interaction of a specific measured variation in the DNA and a specific measured aspect of the environment

genes

Units of hereditary information composed of DNA. Genes help cells to reproduce themselves and help manufacture the proteins that maintain life

genotype

A person’s genetic heritage; the actual genetic material

Klinefelter syndrome

A chromosomal disorder in which males have an extra X chromosome, making them XXY instead of XY

meiosis

A specialized form of cell division that occurs to form eggs and sperm (also known as gametes)

mitosis

Cellular reproduction in which the cell’s nucleus duplicates itself with two new cells being formed, each containing the same DNA as the parent cell, arranged in the same 23 pairs of chromosomes

passive genotype-environment correlations

Correlations that exist when the natural parents, who are genetically related to the child, provide a rearing environment for the child

phenotype

The way an individual’s genotype is expressed in observed and measurable characteristics

phenylketonuria (PKU)

A genetic disorder in which an individual cannot properly metabolize an amino acid called phenylalanine. PKU is now easily detected but, if left untreated, results in intellectual disability and hyperactivity

sickle-cell anemia

A genetic disorder that affects the red blood cells and occurs most often in people of African descent

Turner syndrome

A chromosome disorder in females in which either an X chromosome is missing, making the person XO instead of XX, or the second X chromosome is partially deleted

twin study

A study in which the behavioral similarity of identical twins is compared with the behavioral similarity of fraternal twins

XYY syndrome

A chromosomal disorder in which males have an extra Y chromosome

zygote

A single cell formed through fertilization

afterbirth

The third stage of birth, when the placenta, umbilical cord, and other membranes are detached and expelled

amnion

The part of the prenatal life-support system that consists of a sac containing a clear fluid in which the developing embryo floats

Apgar Scale

A widely used method of assessing the health of newborns at one and five minutes after birth. The Apgar Scale evaluates an infant’s heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, body color, and reflex irritability

bonding

The formation of a close connection, especially a physical bond, between parents and their newborn in the period shortly after birth

Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)

A measure that is used in the first month of life to assess the newborn’s neurological development, reflexes, and reactions to people and objects

breech position

The baby’s position in the uterus that causes the buttocks to be the first part to emerge from the vagina

cesarean delivery

Surgical procedure in which the baby is removed from the mother’s uterus through an incision made in her abdomen

doula

A caregiver who provides continuous physical, emotional, and educational support for the mother before, during, and after childbirth

embryonic period

The period of prenatal development that occurs two to eight weeks after conception. During the embryonic period, the rate of cell differentiation intensifies, support systems for the cells form, and organs appear

fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)

A cluster of abnormalities that appear in the offspring of some mothers who drink alcohol heavily during pregnancy

fetal period

Lasting about seven months, the period between two months after conception and birth in typical pregnancies

germinal blastocyst

The inner layer of cells that develops during the germinal period. These cells later develop into the embryo

germinal period

The period of prenatal development that takes place in the first two weeks after conception. It includes the creation of the zygote, continued cell division, and the attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall

kangaroo care

Treatment for preterm infants that involves skin-to-skin contact

low birth weight infants

Infants that weigh less than 5 pounds 8 ounces at birth

natural childbirth

This method of childbirth attempts to reduce the mother’s pain by decreasing her fear through information about childbirth and instruction in relaxation techniques designed to reduce pain during delivery

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS)

An “offspring” of the NBAS, the NNNS provides an assessment of the newborn’s behavior, neurological and stress responses, and regulatory capacities

neurons

Nerve cells that handle information processing at the cellular level in the brain

organogenesis

Organ formation that takes place during the first two months of prenatal development

placenta

A prenatal life-support system that consists of a disk-shaped group of tissues in which small blood vessels from the mother and offspring intertwine

postpartum depression

A condition experienced by women who have such strong feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair that they have trouble coping with daily tasks during the postpartum period

postpartum period

The period after childbirth when the mother adjusts, both physically and psychologically, to the effects of childbirth. This period lasts for about six weeks or until her body has completed its adjustment and returned to a near prepregnant state

prepared childbirth

Developed by French obstetrician Ferdinand Lamaze, this childbirth strategy is similar to natural childbirth but includes a special breathing technique to control pushing in the final stages of labor and a more detailed anatomy and physiology course

preterm infants

Those born before the completion of 37 weeks of gestation (the time between fertilization and birth)

small for date infants

Also called small for gestational age infants, these infants’ birth weights are below normal when the length of pregnancy is considered. Small for date infants may be preterm or full term

teratogen

Any agent that causes a birth defect. The field of study that investigates the causes of birth defects is called teratology

trophoblast

The outer layer of cells that develops in the germinal period. These cells provide nutrition and support for the embryo

umbilical cord

Part of the prenatal life-support system that contains two arteries and one vein that connect the baby to the placenta

affordances

Opportunities for interaction offered by objects that fit within our capabilities to perform functional activities

cephalocaudal pattern

Developmental sequence in which the earliest growth always occurs at the top—the head—with physical growth in size, weight, and feature differentiation gradually working from top to bottom

dishabituation

Recovery of a habituated response after a change in stimulation

dynamic systems theory

The perspective on motor development that seeks to explain how motor behaviors are assembled for perceiving and acting

ecological view

The view that perception functions to bring organisms in contact with the environment and to increase adaptation

fine motor skills

Motor skills that involve more finely tuned movements, such as finger dexterity