psych 1-7

Development

The pattern of change that begins at conception and continues through the human lifespan.

Lifespan Perspective

A view that helps understand human development over the entire lifespan, focusing on contextual influences.

Normative age-graded influences

Events or experiences that are expected to occur in an individual's life.

Normative history-graded influences

Historical events that affect a large portion of people in their lives.

Nonnormative life events

Random events in life that affect individuals uniquely.

Biological Processes

Changes in an individual's physical nature, such as genetic traits and physical growth.

Cognitive Processes

Changes in thought, intelligence, and language across the lifespan.

Socioemotional Processes

Changes in relationships, emotions, and personalities.

Periods of Development

Timeframes in a person’s life characterized by specific features.

Successful aging

Positive physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development maintained longer into adulthood.

Chronological age

The number of years that have elapsed since birth.

Biological age

A person's age in terms of biological health and functional capacities.

Psychological age

An individual’s adaptive capacities compared to others of the same chronological age.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate about the extent to which development is influenced by biology (nature) and environment (nurture).

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors influence gene expression.

Continuity and Discontinuity

The degree to which development involves gradual change (continuity) or distinct stages (discontinuity).

The Scientific Method

A systematic approach to research involving theory development, hypothesis testing, data collection, and conclusion drawing.

Psychoanalytical Theories

Theories focusing on unconscious development influenced by emotions, notably Freud's psychosexual stages.

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

A theory proposing that children go through four stages of cognitive development as they construct understanding of the world.

Behaviorism

The approach that studies observable behavior and the environmental influences on behavior.

Ethological Theory

The theory suggesting that behavior is heavily influenced by biology and evolution.

Eclectic Theoretical Orientation

The use of multiple theoretical approaches to understand human development.

Case Study

An in-depth examination of a single individual to gather comprehensive insights.

Prenatal Diagnostic Tests

Procedures to assess and diagnose potential genetic disorders in a fetus.

Infertility

The inability to conceive a child after 12 months of regular intercourse without contraception.

Adoption

The process of establishing a legal parent-child relationship between people who are not biologically related.

Heredity-Environment Interaction

The relationship between genetic predispositions and environmental influences on development.

Teratogen

An agent that can cause birth defects or alter cognitive and behavior outcomes.

Attachment

A strong emotional bond between a caregiver and infant, crucial for development.

The Apgar Scale

A measure that evaluates a newborn's heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, body color, and reflex irritability.

Cognitive Development

The development of thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Language Development

The process by which infants and children learn to communicate verbally and understand language.

Temperament

The individual differences in behavioral styles, emotions, and characteristic ways of responding.

Scaffolding

Supportive interactions provided by caregivers to help children accomplish tasks they cannot achieve independently.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

Teaching practices that are based on the typical development patterns of children.