AP psychology Physical development

developmental psychology

study of physical, intellectual, social, and moral changes across life span from conception to death.

nature nurture controversy

deals with the extent to which heredity and the environment each influence behavior.

continuity discontinuity controversy

deals with the issue of whether development is a gradual, continuous process or a sequence of separate stages

stability change controversy

deals with the issue of whether or not personality traits present during infancy endure throughout the life span

cross sectional

different age groups are tested at the same time.

longitudinal

same participants are tested multiple times with the same or similar tests

cohort sequential

combines cross-sectional and longitudinal to correct for cohort effect.

cohort effect

observed group differences based on the era when people were born and grew up, exposing them to to particular experiences that may affect results of cross-sectional studies.

critical period

a time interval during which specific stimuli have a major effect on development that the stimuli do not produce at other times

prenatal development

period of development that begins with fertilization, or conception, and ends with birth

zygote

a fertilized ovum with the genetic instructions for a new individual, normally contained in 46 chromosomes.

embryo

the developmental prenatal stage(from about two weeks through two months after fertilization) when most organ development begins.

fetus

the developing human organism from about 9 weeks after conception to birth when organ systems begin to interact; sex organs and sense organs become refined

teratogen

harmful substance (drugs or viruses) during the prenatal period that can cause birth defects.

fetal alcohol syndrom (FAS)

a cluster of abnormalities that occurs in babies of mothers who drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, which indicates low intelligence, small head with flat face, misshapen eyes, flat nose, and thin upper lip, as well as some degree of intellectual impairment.

neonate

newborn baby from birth to one month old; shows reflexive behavior

rooting reflex

the newborns tendency to move its head when stroked on the cheek, turn toward the stimulus as if searching for a nipple, and open its mouth.

sucking

the automatic response of drawing in anything at the mouth

swallowing

automatic contraction of throat muscles that enables food to pass into the esophagus without choking.

grasping reflex

infant closes his or her fingers tightly around an object put in hand

moro reflex

when exposed to a loud noise or sudden drop, the neonate automatically arches his or her back, flings hit or her limbs out, and quickly retracts them.

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated presentation of the same stimulus

puberty

the early adolescent period, marked by accelerated growth and onset of the ability to reproduce.

primary sex characteristics

the reproductive organs ovaries, uterus, testes, penis

secondary sex characteristics

non reproductive sexual characteristics including widening of the hips, facial hair, deeper voice

menarche

first menstrual period at about age 12.5 marks female fertility. male fertility is marked by ejaculation of seaman with viable sperm at about age 14. Adolescent brain changes include selective pruning of dendrites and development of emotional limbic system and frontal lobes

menopause

the cessation of the ability to reproduce accompanied by a decrease in production of female sex hormones; occurs at about age 50

schema

framework of basic ideas and preconceptions about people, objects, and events based on past experience in long-term memory.

assimilation

process by which we incorporate new information into our existing cognitive structures or schemas

accommodation

process by which we modify our schemas to fit new information

Piaget

theory of cognitive development 4 stages

sensorimotor stage

Piaget's first stage 0-2 years, during which the infant experiences the world through senses and action patterns; progresses from reflexes to object permanence and symbolic thinking

object permanence

awareness that objects still exist when out of sight

preoperational stage

Piagets second stage of cognitive development 2-7 years during which the child represents and manipulates objects with symbols(language) and is ecocentric

egocentrism

seeing the world from one's own perspective; the inability to see reality from the perspective of another person, characteristic of the pre operational child

animism

belief of a pre operational child that all things are living

artificialism

the belief of the pre operational child that all objects are made by people.

concrete operational

Piagets third stage of CD 7-12 years, during which the child develops simple logic and masters conservation concepts

conservation concepts

changes in the form of an object do not alter physical properties of mass, volume, and number

formal operational stage

Piagets fourth stage of cognitive development 12+ years, during which the child begins to think logically about abstract concepts and engages in hypothetical thinking

socialcultural theory

Lev Vygotsky, theory of cognitive development emphasized the role of the environment(nurture) and gradual growth (continuity) in intellectual functioning.

internalization

the process of absorbing info from a specified social environmental context

zone of proximal development

the range between the level at which a child can solve a problem working alone with difficulty, and the level at which a child can solve a problem with the assistance of adults or more skilled children

Alzheimer's disease

a fatal degenerative disease in which brain neurons progressively die, causing loss of memory, reasoning, emotion, control of bodily functions, and then death

moral development

growth in the ability to tell right from wrong, control impulses, and act ethically

moral development theory

Lawrence Kohlberg

preconventional level

when at the pre operational stage of cognitive development individuals to the right thing to;

stage 1- avoid punishment, obey authority

stage 2- further self-interests, gain rewards

conventional level

when at the concrete operational stage of cognitive development or formal operational stage for most people:

stage 3- conform, live up to expectations of others

stage 4- maintain law and order, do your duty

postconventional level

reached by only some people in the formal operational stage.

stage 5- social contract, to promote society's welfare

stage 6- to promote justice

culture

behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions transmitted from one generation to the next within a group of people who share a common language and environment.

bonding

creation of close emotional relationship between mother(or parents) and baby shortly after birth

attachment

a close emotional bond or relationship between the infant and the caregiver.

Harry Harlow

found monkeys separated from their mothers sought comfort from a soft cloth-covered substitute (surrogate) rather than a bare wire substitute with a feeding bottle, showing attachment isn't based on feeding.

Mary Ainsworth

"strange situation" research categorized a type of attachment based on how a baby reacted to, and after, temporary absence of mother.

secure attachment or insecure attachment

temperament

an infant's natural disposition to show a particular mood at a particular intensity for a specific period.

self awareness

consciousness of oneself as a person

social referencing

observing the behavior of others in social situations to obtain information or guidance.

Diana Baumrind

identified 4 parenting styles that affect emotional growth of children.

Authoritarian

sets up absolute and restrictive rules accompanied by punishment for disobedience

authoritative

focuses on flexible rules for which reasons are generally given. parents ares warm and nurture independence with guidelines

permissive

sets no firm guidelines for behavior and tends to give in to demands of the child

uninvolved

makes few demands, shows low responsiveness and little communication

Erik Erikson

theory of psychosocial development, looks at development across the lifespan in a social contact in 8 stages during which we are faced with a crisis that we must resolve.

first year

trust vs. mistrust

second year

autonomy vs. shame/doubt

3-5 years

initiative vs. guilt

6 years to puberty

industry vs. inferiority

adolescents

identity vs. role confusion

young adulthood

intimacy vs. isolation

middle adulthood

generativity vs. stagnation

late adulthood

integrity vs. despair