lifespan!!

Chapter 1:

Development
The process of growth and change throughout the lifespan. It involves physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes.
Example: Development can be seen in a child's learning to speak, a teenager going through puberty, or an elderly person experiencing cognitive decline.
Emerging Adulthood
A transitional period between adolescence and full adulthood, typically from ages 18 to 25, characterized by exploration and identity formation.
Example: An 21-year-old moving out of their parents' house to go to college and figuring out their career path.
Culture
The shared beliefs, values, and customs of a group or society, influencing behavior and development.
Example: In many Asian cultures, there is a strong emphasis on family responsibility, which can shape an individual's life choices.
Age Grade
A socially defined category of people who are classified based on age and who are given specific roles and responsibilities.
Example: "Young children" may be expected to attend school, while "adults" are expected to work and take on family responsibilities.
Rite of Passage
A cultural ritual or event marking a person's transition from one stage of life to another.
Example: A bar or bat mitzvah in Jewish culture marks the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Age Norms
The societal expectations for individuals at certain ages, determining appropriate behavior or milestones for each age group.
Example: It’s generally expected that people will graduate from high school around age 18.
Social Clock
The culturally preferred timing of social events, such as marriage, having children, or retirement.
Example: In many Western societies, there’s an expectation to marry in one’s late 20s or early 30s, which can influence personal decisions.
Plasticity
The capacity for change and adaptation throughout the lifespan.
Example: Older adults who learn new technology or a new language show plasticity, demonstrating their ability to adapt.
Theory
A broad explanation or model of how something works or how people develop.
Example: Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development explains how children’s thinking evolves in stages.
Nature-Nurture Issue
The debate over the relative influence of genetic inheritance (nature) versus environmental factors (nurture) in shaping development.
Example: Whether a child’s intelligence is more influenced by their genetic background or by the quality of their education and upbringing.
Continuity–Discontinuity Issue
The question of whether development is a gradual, continuous process or whether it happens in distinct stages.
Example: Continuous development might be seen in a child’s language skills developing gradually over time, while discontinuous development might be observed in a child’s sudden leap from crawling to walking.
Universality–Context-Specificity Issue
The debate over whether developmental changes are universal across all cultures and societies, or whether they are influenced by specific cultural contexts.
Example: Universality would argue that all humans go through puberty, while context-specificity would focus on how the timing or experience of puberty can differ across cultures.
Bioecological Systems Theory
A framework for understanding how different layers of the environment influence development. It includes five systems:

Microsystem: The immediate environment and direct interactions (e.g., family, school).
Example: A child’s interactions with their parents or teachers.
Mesosystem: The connections between different microsystems (e.g., school and family interaction).
Example: Parent-teacher conferences that influence how a child performs in school.
Exosystem: The broader social systems that indirectly affect the individual (e.g., parents’ workplace).
Example: A parent’s job loss that affects the family’s economic situation, influencing the child’s well-being.
Macrosystem: The overarching cultural and societal influences (e.g., laws, cultural norms).
Example: A society’s values about gender roles impacting a child’s development.
Chronosystem: The dimension of time, how historical events or personal life transitions impact development over time.
Example: A child growing up during a time of economic recession may experience different challenges than one raised in a period of prosperity.

Naturalistic Observation
A research method where behaviors are observed in their natural context, without manipulation by the researcher.
Example: Observing how children interact on a playground without interference.
Structured Observation
A research method where researchers set up a controlled environment to observe specific behaviors.
Example: A researcher might set up a lab experiment to observe how children react to a novel toy.
Experiment
A research method where variables are manipulated to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
Example: A psychologist might conduct an experiment to test how sleep deprivation affects memory by controlling the amount of sleep participants get.
Correlational Method
A research method that examines the relationship between two variables without manipulating them, to see if they are associated.
Example: A study might examine whether there’s a correlation between hours spent watching TV and academic performance.

Chapter 2:

Conception
The moment when a sperm fertilizes an egg, marking the beginning of pregnancy and the formation of a new individual with a unique combination of genetic material.
Example: A couple conceives a child during ovulation when the sperm meets the egg in the fallopian tube.
Genotype
The genetic makeup of an individual, consisting of the specific alleles inherited from both parents.
Example: A person might have a genotype for eye color that includes the genes for blue eyes from one parent and brown eyes from the other.
Phenotype
The observable traits or characteristics of an individual, resulting from the interaction between the genotype and the environment.
Example: Someone’s phenotype might be having brown eyes, even though their genotype might include genes for both brown and blue eyes, but the brown eye gene is dominant.
Single Gene-Pair Inheritance
A pattern of inheritance where a single gene pair (one from each parent) determines a specific trait, often with one allele being dominant over the other.
Example: The gene for dimples is a classic example of single gene-pair inheritance, where having at least one dominant allele (D) results in dimples, while two recessive alleles (dd) result in no dimples.
Sex-Linked Inheritance
Inheritance of traits that are associated with genes located on the sex chromosomes (X or Y). Most sex-linked traits are linked to the X chromosome.
Example: Hemophilia is an example of sex-linked inheritance, where the gene for this disorder is located on the X chromosome, affecting males more often than females.
Polygenic Inheritance
Inheritance determined by multiple genes, each contributing to a small effect on a trait.
Example: Height in humans is an example of polygenic inheritance, as many genes contribute to how tall a person becomes.
Mutation
A change in the DNA sequence that can result in a new genetic variation. Mutations can be harmful, neutral, or beneficial.
Example: A mutation in the gene for hemoglobin can lead to sickle cell anemia, a condition where red blood cells become abnormally shaped.
Heritability
The proportion of variation in a trait within a population that can be attributed to genetic factors.
Example: Heritability of intelligence is often studied to understand how much of cognitive ability is influenced by genetics versus environmental factors.
Shared Environmental Influences
Environmental factors that are experienced similarly by individuals within a family or group, contributing to their similarities.
Example: Growing up in the same household with similar socioeconomic status, education, and family values would be shared environmental influences.
Non-Shared Environmental Influences
Environmental factors that contribute to individual differences, such as unique experiences or differences in peer groups, that are not shared with other family members.
Example: One sibling might develop a love for music through their personal experiences, while another sibling may not, despite having the same parents.
Diathesis-Stress Model
A model explaining that development of certain disorders or traits is the result of both genetic predispositions (diathesis) and environmental stressors.
Example: A person may have a genetic predisposition for depression, but it may only manifest after experiencing significant stress, such as the loss of a loved one.
Differential Susceptibility Hypothesis
The idea that individuals differ in their sensitivity to environmental influences, and some may be more affected by both positive and negative environmental factors.
Example: Some children may be more sensitive to the effects of supportive parenting, thriving in a positive environment, while others may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of harsh parenting.
Passive Gene-Environment Correlation
A situation in which a child’s environment is influenced by their parents' genetic characteristics, even though the child has no active role in the environment.
Example: If a child’s parents are both musical and expose them to music at a young age, the child’s environment is influenced by the parents' genetic interest in music.
Evocative Gene-Environment Correlation
A situation where a person’s genetic traits evoke responses from others that influence their development.
Example: A child with an easygoing temperament might evoke positive reactions from caregivers, encouraging more supportive interactions, which may positively influence the child’s development.
Active Gene-Environment Correlation
A situation where individuals actively seek out environments that match their genetic predispositions.
Example: A child who is genetically predisposed to be athletic may actively seek out sports activities, reinforcing their development in that area.

Chapter 3

Infertility
The inability to conceive a child after a year of trying, or the inability to carry a pregnancy to full term. It can result from issues with either the male or female reproductive system, or both.
Example: A couple might undergo fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) after being diagnosed with infertility due to blocked fallopian tubes or low sperm count.
Germinal Period
The first two weeks of prenatal development, starting from conception to implantation in the uterus. During this period, the zygote (fertilized egg) begins to divide and form a blastocyst.
Example: During the germinal period, the fertilized egg travels through the fallopian tube and implants into the uterine lining, where it begins to grow.
Miscarriage
The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week, also known as a spontaneous abortion. It can occur due to various reasons such as chromosomal abnormalities or health complications in the mother.
Example: A woman might experience heavy bleeding and cramping early in her pregnancy, leading to a miscarriage.
Embryonic Period
The period from the 2nd to the 8th week of prenatal development, during which the major organs and structures of the body begin to form.
Example: During the embryonic period, the heart starts beating, and the neural tube forms, which will later develop into the brain and spinal cord.
Amnion
The thin, protective membrane that surrounds the developing embryo and later the fetus. It contains amniotic fluid, which cushions and protects the fetus.
Example: The amnion and the fluid inside it provide a stable environment for the fetus, protecting it from physical shocks and maintaining a consistent temperature.
Placenta
The organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy, providing nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and removing waste products. It also secretes hormones necessary for pregnancy.
Example: The placenta is responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and removing carbon dioxide and waste through the umbilical cord.
Fetal Period
The period from the 9th week of pregnancy until birth, when the fetus undergoes rapid growth and the organs that were developed during the embryonic period continue to mature.
Example: During the fetal period, the fetus grows significantly, with the development of features like eyelashes, nails, and a recognizable face.
Age of Viability
The point at which a fetus has a high chance of surviving outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks of gestation, though this can vary.
Example: A fetus born at 24 weeks may be able to survive with medical intervention, though it is still at a high risk for complications.
Myelin
A fatty substance that forms a sheath around the nerves, enabling faster transmission of neural impulses. It begins to develop in the fetal brain and continues into childhood.
Example: The process of myelination helps a baby’s nervous system mature, allowing it to develop coordination and motor skills over time.
Fetal Programming
The idea that prenatal development can influence the long-term health and development of the child, including risks for conditions like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes later in life.
Example: Poor nutrition during pregnancy can increase the risk of the child developing metabolic issues or obesity in adulthood.
Teratogen
Any environmental factor that can cause harm to the developing fetus, especially during the critical periods of development.
Example: Alcohol is a known teratogen that can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, causing cognitive and developmental issues in the child.
Three Stages of Childbirth
The stages of labor that occur during delivery:
- First stage: Dilation of the cervix. Contractions become more frequent and intense, leading to the opening of the cervix.
- Second stage: The delivery of the baby. The baby moves through the birth canal and is born.
- Third stage: The delivery of the placenta. After the baby is born, the placenta is expelled from the uterus.
  Example: A woman in labor might experience several hours of contractions in the first stage, followed by pushing and delivery in the second stage, and the final stage involves the expulsion of the placenta.
Anoxia
A condition in which there is a lack of oxygen supply to the baby during birth, which can lead to brain damage or other health complications.
Example: Anoxia can occur if the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the baby’s neck during labor, cutting off oxygen.
Apgar Test
A quick test conducted at 1 and 5 minutes after birth to assess the newborn's health, focusing on heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflexes, and color.
Example: A baby with a high Apgar score (8-10) is typically healthy, while a lower score may indicate the need for medical intervention.
Cesarean Birth (C-Section)
A surgical procedure where the baby is delivered through an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus, typically when a vaginal birth would pose a risk to the mother or baby.
Example: A C-section may be necessary if the baby is in a breech position or if the labor is not progressing.
Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality Rates
The observed differences in the rates of infant mortality (death of infants under 1 year) between racial and ethnic groups, often due to factors like healthcare access, socioeconomic status, and systemic inequalities.
Example: In the U.S., African American infants are more likely to die in their first year compared to white infants, reflecting broader issues of healthcare inequality.
Paid Parental Leave Policy
Government or employer-provided leave that allows parents to take time off from work after the birth or adoption of a child, often with some level of pay.
Example: In many European countries, new parents are provided with several months of paid parental leave to support bonding and child care during the early stages of a child’s life.

Chapter 4

Endocrine Gland
Glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate various functions in the body, such as growth, metabolism, and mood.
Example: The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that regulates metabolism, and the adrenal glands release adrenaline in response to stress.
Neuron
A nerve cell that transmits electrical signals throughout the body, forming the basic functional unit of the brain and nervous system.
Example: Motor neurons send signals from the brain to the muscles, allowing you to move your arm.
Synapse
The small gap between two neurons where communication occurs, allowing electrical signals to pass from one neuron to another via neurotransmitters.
Example: When you touch something hot, sensory neurons send signals to the brain, and the signal jumps from one neuron to the next across the synapse.
Myelination
The process in which nerve fibers are coated with a fatty substance called myelin, which speeds up the transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system.
Example: Myelination helps children learn to walk and talk more efficiently by enhancing the speed of neural communication.
Synaptogenesis
The formation of new synapses (connections between neurons) in the brain. This occurs most rapidly during early childhood.
Example: During infancy, the brain rapidly forms new synaptic connections as babies learn to recognize faces and voices.
Synaptic Pruning
The process by which the brain eliminates excess or unused synaptic connections, which helps streamline neural networks for more efficient processing.
Example: In adolescence, the brain may prune back synapses that are not used frequently, such as those linked to skills or habits that were once learned but are no longer needed.
REM Sleep
A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement and vivid dreaming, which is thought to be important for memory consolidation and emotional regulation.
Example: After studying, you may experience REM sleep where your brain processes and consolidates the new information learned during the day.
Reflex
An automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus that is mediated by the nervous system.
Example: The knee-jerk reflex is an example of an automatic response, where tapping the knee causes the leg to kick forward.
Puberty
The period during which adolescents undergo physical changes that lead to sexual maturity, including the development of secondary sexual characteristics like breast growth in females and facial hair in males.
Example: A 12-year-old girl might begin menstruation, which marks the start of puberty and her ability to reproduce.

Obesity
A condition characterized by excessive body fat that can lead to various health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Example: A child who regularly consumes high-calorie fast food and does not engage in physical activity may become obese, increasing the risk of future health problems.
Importance of Exercise
Regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining overall health, including cardiovascular health, bone strength, mental well-being, and cognitive function.
Example: A teenager who plays sports regularly is likely to have better cardiovascular health and cognitive performance compared to a sedentary peer.
Neurogenesis
The process of generating new neurons in the brain, especially in areas like the hippocampus, which plays a role in learning and memory.
Example: Neurogenesis can occur in response to environmental factors like exercise, which is known to promote the growth of new neurons in the brain.
Hippocampus
A region of the brain involved in memory formation, spatial navigation, and learning.
Example: The hippocampus helps you remember the layout of your home and navigate to different rooms without needing a map.
Dual Process Model of Brain Development
A theory that suggests brain development involves both the maturation of cognitive processes and the regulation of emotions, often through the maturation of different brain regions.
Example: Adolescents experience a period where the emotional brain (limbic system) develops earlier than the cognitive control system (prefrontal cortex), which can lead to impulsive behavior.
Prefrontal Cortex
The part of the brain involved in decision-making, planning, problem-solving, and controlling behavior. It is one of the last brain regions to mature, often continuing into the mid-20s.
Example: The prefrontal cortex helps a young adult make long-term plans, like choosing a career path or saving money for the future.
Limbic Region
The area of the brain involved in processing emotions, motivation, and reward. It plays a significant role in emotional reactions, especially during adolescence.
Example: The limbic system might be highly activated in a teenager who experiences intense emotions during social interactions, like a feeling of euphoria after a first crush.
Menopause
The natural biological process marking the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles, typically occurring around age 50, signaling the cessation of fertility.
Example: A woman might experience symptoms like hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances as she goes through menopause due to hormonal shifts.

Chapter 5

Sensation
The process of detecting physical stimuli from the environment through sensory organs (e.g., eyes, ears, skin) and converting them into neural signals.
Example: When you touch something hot, the sensory receptors in your skin detect the heat, and your brain processes that information.
Perception
The process by which the brain organizes, interprets, and makes sense of sensory information, turning it into meaningful experiences.
Example: After feeling the heat from an object, you perceive it as a stove, prompting you to pull your hand away.
Action
The physical response or behavior that follows from the perception of sensory information. It is the outcome of sensory processing and cognitive evaluation.
Example: After perceiving that a ball is coming towards you, you may act by moving your hand to catch it.
Gross Motor Skills
Physical abilities involving large muscle groups, such as those needed for walking, running, and jumping. These skills generally develop first in infants and toddlers.
Example: A toddler learns to walk and then progresses to running, which involves the use of large muscle groups like the legs and arms.
Fine Motor Skills
Physical abilities that involve small, precise movements, especially those requiring hand-eye coordination, such as grasping objects, writing, or threading a needle.
Example: A child learning to use a pencil to write letters is developing fine motor skills.
Selective Attention
The ability to focus on one specific task or stimulus while ignoring other distractions.
Example: A student focuses on reading a book while ignoring background noise in a café.
Multitasking
The ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time, though research shows it often reduces performance quality.
Example: A person might try to talk on the phone while cooking dinner, but they may be less efficient at both tasks.
Ulnar and Pincer Grasp
Types of hand grasps that develop as infants gain more control over their fine motor skills:
- Ulnar grasp: Early grasp where the baby uses their whole hand to hold objects.
- Pincer grasp: A more advanced grasp where the baby uses the thumb and index finger to pick up small objects.
  Example: A 6-month-old baby may use an ulnar grasp to hold a toy, while an 11-month-old may use a pincer grasp to pick up a piece of cereal.
Attention
The cognitive process of focusing mental resources on specific information or tasks while filtering out irrelevant distractions.
Example: A child listening to a teacher in class while ignoring the chatter of other students is demonstrating focused attention.

Chapter 6

Scheme (or Schema)
A mental structure or framework that helps organize and interpret information. Schemes are built over time through experiences and interactions with the environment.
Example: A child has a schema for a "dog," based on experiences with various dogs, which includes the idea that dogs have four legs, fur, and bark.
Organization
The process by which individuals combine existing schemes into more complex systems or structures to make sense of the world.
Example: A child might organize their schemes for different animals (like cats and dogs) into a more complex category of "pets."
Adaptation
The process of adjusting to the environment through two complementary processes: assimilation and accommodation.
Example: A child may adapt to a new school environment by using both assimilation (applying existing knowledge) and accommodation (adjusting to new rules or behaviors).
Assimilation
The process by which a person incorporates new information into an existing scheme without changing the scheme.
Example: A child sees a new type of dog for the first time and calls it "dog," applying their existing scheme of what a dog looks like (four legs, fur, barks).
Accommodation
The process by which an individual adjusts their existing schemes to incorporate new information that doesn’t fit into the current scheme.
Example: After encountering a cat for the first time, a child may change their "dog" schema to include the idea that some animals are called "cats" and have different characteristics.
Equilibrium
A state of balance between assimilation and accommodation. When new experiences cannot be easily assimilated into existing schemes, accommodation is needed to restore balance.
Example: A child who encounters a new type of animal (e.g., a horse) may feel confused at first, but after accommodating the new animal into their existing schema, equilibrium is restored.
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
The difference between what a child can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance or collaboration with others (usually a more knowledgeable person).
Example: A child who can solve basic math problems independently but needs assistance with more complex problems is within their ZPD for learning more advanced math.
Scaffolding
The support provided by a more knowledgeable person (e.g., teacher or caregiver) to help a learner achieve a task within their ZPD. This support is gradually reduced as the learner gains competence.
Example: A teacher might initially guide a student through a science experiment step by step, but as the student gains confidence, the teacher reduces their involvement.
Object Permanence
The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible or detectable by the senses. This is a key concept that develops in infancy.
Example: A baby who watches a toy being hidden under a blanket and then searches for it demonstrates object permanence.
Primary Circular Reaction
The repetition of actions that are pleasurable or interesting to the child and involve the child’s own body, typically occurring in the first few months of life.
Example: A baby repeatedly sucks on their thumb because it feels soothing and enjoyable, even though it was initially accidental.
Secondary Circular Reaction
The repetition of actions that affect the environment and lead to interesting or pleasurable outcomes, typically occurring between 4 and 8 months of age.
Example: A baby shaking a rattle repeatedly because the noise it makes is interesting or fun.
Conservation
The understanding that certain properties of objects (such as quantity, volume, or number) remain the same even when their appearance changes.
Example: A child who understands that the amount of liquid remains the same even when poured from a short, wide glass into a tall, narrow one has mastered conservation of liquid.
Centration (and Decentration)
Centration refers to focusing on one aspect of a situation while ignoring other relevant aspects. Decentration is the ability to consider multiple aspects of a situation simultaneously.
Example: A child who focuses only on the height of a glass to determine how much liquid it holds (centration) might fail to recognize the width of the glass. Later, they might develop the ability to think about both dimensions (decentration).
Reversibility
The understanding that some changes can be reversed or undone. It’s a critical aspect of logical thinking.
Example: A child understands that if you break a cookie in half, you can combine the pieces to make a whole cookie again.
Egocentrism
The tendency to view the world from one’s own perspective, typical in early childhood (e.g., during the preoperational stage).
Example: A child who covers their eyes and believes that others can’t see them is demonstrating egocentrism.
Class Inclusion
The ability to understand that objects can belong to more than one category at the same time. This is part of logical thinking that develops in the concrete operational stage.
Example: A child realizes that while dogs are animals, they are also part of the broader category of "pets."
Seriation
The ability to arrange objects in a logical sequence, such as by size, color, or other attributes.
Example: A child who can arrange sticks from shortest to longest is demonstrating seriation.
Transitivity
The ability to understand the relationships between different objects or concepts. If A is related to B, and B is related to C, then A is related to C.
Example: If Tom is taller than Mike, and Mike is taller than Sue, a child who understands transitivity will also understand that Tom is taller than Sue.
Hypothetical-Deductive Reasoning
The ability to think logically about hypothetical situations and test hypotheses to draw conclusions. It’s a key feature of formal operational thought in adolescence.
Example: A teenager who is testing a theory in a science experiment by manipulating variables and drawing conclusions based on the results is engaging in hypothetical-deductive reasoning.
Imaginary Audience
The belief, typical in adolescence, that others are as concerned with their appearance and behavior as they are, leading to feelings of self-consciousness.
Example: A teenager might feel like everyone is noticing a pimple on their face, even though in reality, most people aren't paying attention to it.
Dialectical Thinking
A more advanced form of thinking where contradictions or opposing perspectives are seen as part of a dynamic, changing process, and can be reconciled. It’s a hallmark of mature cognitive development.
Example: An adult might recognize that there are benefits to both economic growth and environmental protection, and they may seek a solution that balances both concerns rather than seeing them as mutually exclusive.

22. Postformal Thinking
Flexible, complex thinking that recognizes multiple solutions to a problem and acknowledges that not all problems have clear answers.
Example: An adult faces a work conflict and understands that there is no single "right" solution, so they consider different perspectives before making a decision.

23. Relativistic Thinking
Understanding that truth and values are not absolute but depend on context and individual perspectives.
Example: During a debate, an adult realizes that both sides have valid points, and the "truth" can vary based on each person’s experience and values.

Chapter 16

Total Brain Death
A complete and irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including in the brainstem. It is used to legally determine when someone has died.
Example: A person in a coma with no brain function for several days is declared brain dead after tests confirm the absence of brain activity.
Euthanasia (Active and Passive)
Active Euthanasia: Deliberate actions to end a life, usually by administering a lethal substance.
Passive Euthanasia: Allowing a person to die by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment.
Example: Active euthanasia might involve a doctor administering a lethal injection to end a patient's suffering. Passive euthanasia could involve turning off a ventilator for a patient in a coma.
Assisted Suicide
Providing someone with the means or knowledge to end their own life, typically in cases of terminal illness.
Example: A doctor gives a terminally ill patient the prescription for a lethal dose of medication, which the patient takes on their own.
Bereavement
The state of having lost someone close through death.
Example: After a family member dies, the person experiences bereavement, dealing with the loss.
Grief
The emotional response to loss, particularly the loss of a loved one.
Example: A person may feel sadness, anger, or despair after the death of a close friend.
Mourning
The social and cultural expression of grief, often involving rituals or ceremonies.
Example: Attending a funeral or wearing black clothing after a loved one dies is a form of mourning.
Dual-Process Model of Bereavement
A model of grief that emphasizes the need to balance the emotional response to loss with the practical demands of life.
Example: A grieving person may oscillate between mourning the loss and managing daily tasks, like work and caring for their family.
Hospice
A type of care focused on providing comfort and support to individuals with terminal illnesses, rather than attempting to cure them.
Example: A patient with cancer who is near the end of life may be enrolled in hospice care to manage pain and provide emotional support.
Kubler-Ross Stages of Dying
A model describing five emotional stages people go through when facing terminal illness or death: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
Example: A person diagnosed with a terminal illness might first deny the diagnosis (Denial), then feel angry about the situation (Anger), and later accept the reality (Acceptance).
Personal Fable
A belief held by adolescents that they are unique, special, and invulnerable, leading them to feel that negative events won’t happen to them.
Example: A teenager may engage in risky behaviors like driving recklessly, believing that they won’t be hurt because they are somehow invincible.
Leading Causes of Death
The most common reasons for death in a population, which can vary by age, gender, and region.
Example: In many countries, heart disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases are leading causes of death among adults.
Non-functionality
The understanding that death means the cessation of all functions of the body, such as breathing, heartbeat, and consciousness.
Example: A child might initially think that death is reversible, but with understanding, they recognize that death means the person no longer functions.
Irreversibility
The understanding that once a person or organism dies, they cannot come back to life.
Example: A child who understands that a pet that has passed away will not come back, even after a long time.
Inevitability
The recognition that death is a natural part of life and will eventually happen to all living beings.
Example: An adult may accept that their own death will occur eventually, just as it happens to everyone.
Biological Causality
The understanding that death results from biological processes, such as aging or disease, rather than being caused by external factors or actions alone.
Example: An older adult may recognize that death is a biological event, due to the natural aging process, not just an accident or misfortune.