Unit 3 AP Psychology (copy)

  1. Stability and Change - The exploration of how individuals remain consistent or change over time in their behaviors, traits, and personality.

  2. Nature and Nurture - The debate regarding the influence of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) on human development.

  3. Continuous and Discontinuous Stages - Continuous development involves gradual changes, while discontinuous stages involve distinct and separate stages of growth.

  4. Cross-sectional Design Method - A research method that compares different age groups at one point in time to understand age-related changes.

  5. Longitudinal Design Method - A research method that studies the same group of individuals over a prolonged period.

  6. Teratogens - Substances or environmental factors that can cause harm to a developing fetus during pregnancy.

  7. Rooting Reflex - An infant's automatic turning of the head toward a stimulus that touches the cheek, often to seek a nipple.

  8. Visual Cliff - A test used to study depth perception in infants and young animals.

  9. Imprinting - A rapid form of learning in which a young animal forms an attachment to the first moving object it sees, often a parent.

  10. Primary Sex Characteristics - Body structures directly involved in reproduction, such as ovaries and testes.

  11. Secondary Sex Characteristics - Physical features that distinguish the sexes but are not directly involved in reproduction, such as facial hair and breasts.

  12. Menarche - A female's first menstrual period, marking the onset of reproductive capability.

  13. Spermarche - A male's first ejaculation, marking the onset of reproductive capability.

  14. Menopause - The end of menstrual cycles and reproductive ability in females, usually occurring in middle age.

  15. Sex - The biological distinction between male and female based on anatomy and physiology.

  16. Gender - The roles, behaviors, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women.

  17. Piaget - A developmental psychologist known for his theory of cognitive development in children.

  18. Assimilation - The process of incorporating new experiences into existing schemas.

  19. Accommodation - The process of modifying existing schemas to incorporate new information.

  20. Sensorimotor Stage - Piaget's first stage (birth to 2 years) where infants explore the world through their senses and actions.

  21. Object Permanence - Understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.

  22. Preoperational Stage - Piaget's second stage (2-7 years) characterized by symbolic thinking but lacking logical reasoning.

  23. Conservation - Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance.

  24. Animism - Attributing life-like qualities to inanimate objects, common in young children.

  25. Egocentrism - Difficulty in seeing the world from others' perspectives, typical in the preoperational stage.

  26. Theory of Mind - The ability to understand others' thoughts, feelings, and intentions.

  27. Concrete Operational Stage - Piaget's third stage (7-11 years) where children develop logical thinking about concrete events.

  28. Formal Operational Stage - Piaget's final stage (12+ years) involving abstract and hypothetical thinking.

  29. Vygotsky - A psychologist emphasizing the role of social interaction in cognitive development.

  30. Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) - The range between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance.

  31. Crystallized Intelligence - Knowledge and skills accumulated over time, often improving with age.

  32. Fluid Intelligence - The ability to think abstractly and solve new problems, typically declining with age.

  33. Dementia - A decline in cognitive functioning that interferes with daily life, often associated with aging.

  34. Language - A system of communication using sounds, symbols, and grammar.

  35. Phonemes - The smallest units of sound in language.

  36. Morphemes - The smallest units of meaning in a language.

  37. Semantics - The meaning of words and sentences in a language.

  38. Syntax - The set of rules for arranging words into sentences.

  39. Grammar - The overall system of rules governing language structure.

  40. Cooing - Early vowel-like sounds made by infants.

  41. Babbling - Repetition of consonant-vowel sounds by infants.

  42. One-word Stage - A developmental stage where children use single words to communicate.

  43. Telegraphic Speech - Early speech stage where children use short, simple phrases like "want cookie."

  44. Overgeneralization - Applying a language rule too broadly, such as saying "goed" instead of "went."

  45. Ecological Systems - Bronfenbrenner's framework for understanding environmental influences on development:

    • a. Microsystem - Immediate environment (family, school).

    • b. Mesosystem - Interactions between microsystems (parent-teacher conferences).

    • c. Exosystem - External environments affecting the individual indirectly (parent's workplace).

    • d. Macrosystem - Cultural and societal norms and values.

    • e. Chronosystem - Changes over time affecting development (historical events).

  46. Parenting Styles:

    • a. Authoritarian - Strict rules and expectations with little warmth.

    • b. Authoritative - Balanced approach with rules and warmth.

    • c. Permissive - High warmth with few rules or expectations.

  47. Secure Attachment - A strong, healthy bond between child and caregiver, fostering confidence.

  48. Insecure Attachment - Poor attachment styles, including avoidant, anxious, and disorganized.

  49. Temperament - An individual's innate behavioral style and emotional reactivity.

  50. Separation Anxiety - Distress experienced when separated from a primary caregiver.

  51. Harlow’s Monkey Study - Research demonstrating the importance of comfort and care in attachment.

  52. Imaginary Audience and Personal Fable - Adolescents' belief that they are the focus of others' attention and their experiences are unique.

  53. Social Clock - Societal norms for timing of life events (e.g., marriage, career).

  54. Emerging Adulthood - A transitional period (18-25 years) marked by exploration of identity and independence.

  55. Erik Erikson’s Stages - A psychosocial development theory with eight stages:

    • a. Trust vs. Mistrust

    • b. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

    • c. Initiative vs. Guilt

    • d. Industry vs. Inferiority

    • e. Identity vs. Role Confusion

    • f. Intimacy vs. Isolation

    • g. Generativity vs. Stagnation

    • h. Integrity vs. Despair

  56. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - Traumatic experiences in childhood affecting long-term health and well-being.

  57. Sense of Identity - Developed through achievement, diffusion, foreclosure, and moratorium.

  58. Identities:

    • a. Racial/Ethnic

    • b. Gender

    • c. Sexual Orientation

    • d. Religious

    • e. Occupational

    • f. Familial

  59. Behavioral Perspective - Focuses on observable behavior and its relationship with environmental stimuli.