Untitled Flashcards Set

I. Research Methods in Developmental Psychology

• Longitudinal Study – Research in which the same individuals are studied over a long period.

• Cross-Sectional Study – Research that compares individuals of different ages at the same point in time.

• Case Study – In-depth study of a single individual or small group.

• Naturalistic Observation – Studying behavior in its natural environment without interference.

• Experimentation Ethics – Researchers cannot expose participants to harm; they must follow ethical guidelines.

II. Prenatal Development and Teratogens

• Teratogens – Harmful agents like drugs, alcohol, or mercury that can negatively impact prenatal development.

• Critical Period – A specific time during which an organism is particularly sensitive to environmental influences.

• Effects of Teratogens – Different body parts and organs are affected at different times during prenatal development.

III. Infant Reflexes and Physical Development

• Rooting Reflex – Newborns turn their head when their cheek is touched.

• Motor Development – Follows a universal sequence, but timing varies (e.g., holding a bottle before fine motor control develops).

• Maturation – Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior.

IV. Cognitive Development (Jean Piaget)

• Assimilation – Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas.

• Accommodation – Adjusting schemas to incorporate new information.

• Object Permanence – Understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.

• Conservation – Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance.

• Egocentrism – The inability of a child to take another person’s perspective.

V. Language and Intelligence Development

• Telegraphic Speech – Early speech stage where children use two-word phrases.

• Fluid Intelligence – The ability to solve new problems quickly; declines with age.

• Crystallized Intelligence – Accumulated knowledge and skills; remains stable or improves with age.

• Language Acquisition – Best learned at a young age due to brain plasticity.

VI. Social and Emotional Development

• Theory of Mind – Understanding that others have thoughts and perspectives different from one’s own.

• Attachment Styles – Secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant, and disorganized.

• Parenting Styles:

  • Authoritative – High warmth and moderate discipline; encourages open communication.

  • Authoritarian – Strict, high expectations with little warmth.

  • Permissive – High warmth, few rules or structure.

  • Neglectful – Uninvolved in child’s life.

VII. Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

• Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy) – Learning to trust caregivers.

• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Toddlerhood) – Developing independence.

• Initiative vs. Guilt (Early Childhood) – Beginning to take control of actions.

• Industry vs. Inferiority (Middle Childhood) – Comparing abilities with peers.

• Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence) – Establishing personal identity.