Introduction to Psychology Gateway To Mind And Behavior: Chapter 3

developmental psychology

The study of progressive changes in behavior and abilities from conception to death

Heredity (nature)

the transmission of physical and psychological characteristics from parents to offspring through genes

genetic disorders

Problems caused by defects in the genes or by inherited characteristics.

maturation

The physical growth and development of the body and nervous system

Environment (Nurture)

the sum of all external conditions that affect development l, including especially the effects of learning

Temperament

the physical core of personality, including emotional and perceptual sensitivity, energy levels, typical mood, and so forth

separation anxiety

distress displayed by infants when they are separated from their parents or principle cargivers

secure attachment

A stable and positive emotional bond.

insecure avoidant attachment

an anxious emotional bond marked by a tendency to avoid reunion with a parent or caregiver

insecure ambivalent attachment

an anxious emotional bond marked by both the desire to be with a parent or caregiver and some resistance to being reunited

Authoritarian Parents

parents who enforce rigid rules and demand strict obedience to authority

Authoritative parents

parents who supply firm and consistent guidance combined with love and affection

self esteem

Regarding oneself as a worthwhile person; a positive evaluation of oneself.

Assimilation

in piaget's theory, the application of existing mental patterns to new situations (that is, the new situation is melded with assisting mental schemes)

Accommodation

In Piaget's theory, the modification of existing mental patterns to fit new demands (that is, mental schemes are changed to adapt to new information or experience)

sensorimotor stage

First stage of cognitive development: total reliance on current sensory input, "if it's not here it doesn't exist"

object permanence

a concept, gained in infancy, in which objects continue to exist even when they are hidden from view

preoperational stage

Second stage of cognitive development - primarily influenced by physical appearance, egocentric ("it can only be the way I see it")

Egocentric thought

Thought that is self-centered and fails to consider the viewpoints of others.

concrete operational stage

Third stage of cognitive development: logical thinking about concrete objects, some abstract thinking

formal operations

Fourth and final stage of cognitive development: Full abstract and hypothetical thinking

example of sensorimotor stage of cognitive development

peek-a-boo

example of preoperational stage of cognitive development

conservation problem - volume, mass, or number is not the same if physical appearance changes

example of concrete operations stage of cognitive development

math problems

example of formal operations stage of cognitive development

the pendulum problem - is speed determined by length of string or height of release point?