Childhood & Adolescence Exam 2

Cephalocaudal

Development that proceeds from the head down to the feet.

Proximodistal

Development that starts at the central part of the body and progresses outward.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons.

Axon

Long projection that carries electrical impulses away from the neuron’s cell body.

Myelin Sheath

Fatty layer covering the axon, increasing the speed of neural signal transmission.

Perception

The process by which infants begin to process sensory information.

Plasticity

The brain’s capacity to adapt and reorganize, particularly strong during infancy.

Pruning

The elimination of unnecessary neurons and synaptic connections.

Rooting Reflex

An infant’s response to having their cheek stroked, aiding in feeding.

Moro Reflex

Infants throw out arms and legs in response to loud noises or sudden movements.

Visual Cliff (Gibson and Walk)

An experiment to test infants’ depth perception.

Fine Motor Skills

Small, precise movements, such as grasping or manipulating objects.

Gross Motor Skills

Large movements like crawling, standing, and walking.

Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

A theoretical mechanism proposed by Chomsky for learning language.

Cooing

Producing vowel-like sounds around 2 months of age.

Babbling

Repetition of consonant-vowel sounds, typically around 6 months.

First Words

Simple, meaningful words typically spoken around 12 months.

Two-Word Phrases

Short, telegraphic sentences used around 18-24 months.

Object Permanence

Understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.

A-not-B Error

When an infant searches for an object in a familiar location instead of a new one.

Schemas

Frameworks for organizing information.

Assimilation and Accommodation

Processes used to integrate new information into existing schemas or alter schemas.

Habituation and Dishabituation

Decreased response to repeated stimuli and renewed interest in a new stimulus.

Basic Emotions

Emotions like joy, anger, and sadness that infants are born with.

Attachment Theory

Proposed attachment as an evolutionary survival mechanism.

Secure Attachment

Infants use caregivers as a secure base and are easily comforted upon return.

Avoidant Attachment

Infants show little interest in caregiver’s presence or return.

Resistant (Ambivalent) Attachment

Infants exhibit anxiety and difficulty being comforted upon caregiver’s return.

Disorganized Attachment

Lack of clear attachment behavior, often due to inconsistent caregiving.

Oral Stage

Freud’s stage from birth to ~1 year focusing on the mouth for gratification.

Temperament Types

Easy, difficult, and slow-to-warm-up temperament classifications.

Goodness of Fit

The compatibility of a child’s temperament with their environment.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson's stage where infants rely on consistent caregiving to develop trust.

Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt

Erikson's stage where toddlers develop autonomy or face criticism and doubt.

Motor Skills Milestones

Developmental milestones related to gross and fine motor skills.

Cycle-of-Violence Hypothesis

The theory that children exposed to violence may develop aggressive tendencies.

Child Safety

Methods to ensure safety for children, including supervision and environmental safety.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The difference between what a child can do independently and with guidance.

Scaffolding

Temporary support to help children within their ZPD.

Private Speech

Children’s self-directed speech aiding cognitive development.

Egocentrism

Difficulty in seeing perspectives other than one's own, as per Piaget.

Conservation

Understanding that certain properties remain the same despite changes in form.

Animistic Thinking

Attributing lifelike qualities to inanimate objects.

Transductive Reasoning

Making causal connections based on proximity rather than logic in preschoolers.

Grammar

The understanding of syntax to form complex sentences.

Pragmatics

Learning social rules of language, such as turn-taking.

Fast Mapping

Quickly learning new words by associating them with known concepts.

Telegraphic Speech

Using essential words to convey meaning in early language.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Preschoolers' attempts at taking initiative can lead to a sense of purpose or guilt.

Gender Identity and Stereotypes

Children's awareness of gender roles influenced by socialization.

Authoritative Parenting

High warmth and control associated with positive outcomes.

Authoritarian Parenting

High control and low warmth, associated with obedience.

Permissive Parenting

High warmth and low control, which may lead to impulsivity.

Uninvolved Parenting

Low warmth and control, associated with developmental issues.

Parallel Play

Children playing near each other without direct interaction.

Onlooker Play

Watching other children play to assist social learning.

Pretend Play

Role-playing activities that foster imagination.

Associative Play

Playing alongside others and sharing materials without coordinated goals.

Constructive Play

Building or creating something, contributing to fine motor skills development.