All Flashcards
What is Developmental Psychology?
The study of how humans change over their lifespan, including physical, mental, and social changes.
What is a Zygote?
A fertilized egg.
What is an Embryo?
A developing baby from 2 weeks to 8 weeks.
What is a Fetus?
A developing baby from 9 weeks to birth.
What are Teratogens?
Harmful substances (like alcohol, drugs) that can affect prenatal development.
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?
A condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, leading to physical and cognitive issues.
What is Maturation?
Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior.
What is Pruning?
The process of eliminating unused neural connections.
What is Infantile Amnesia?
The inability of adults to remember episodic memories from early childhood.
What is a Critical Period?
A specific time when certain skills or attachments must develop.
What are Schemas?
Mental frameworks for understanding the world.
What is Assimilation?
Fitting new info into existing schemas.
What is Accommodation?
Changing schemas to fit new info.
What is Object Permanence?
Knowing that objects exist even when they're out of sight.
What is Conservation?
Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape.
What is Egocentrism?
Difficulty seeing things from another person's perspective.
What is Theory of Mind?
The ability to understand others' mental states, beliefs, and intentions.
What is Adolescence?
The transition from childhood to adulthood.
What are Primary Sex Characteristics?
Reproductive organs.
What are Secondary Sex Characteristics?
Non-reproductive traits (like body hair and voice changes).
What is the Nature vs. Nurture debate?
The debate about whether we are shaped by our genes (nature) or our experiences (nurture).
What is the Continuity vs. Stages debate?
The debate about whether development is a smooth, continuous process, or if it happens in distinct stages.
What is Imprinting?
A form of early attachment, like ducklings following their mother.
What is Secure Attachment?
Attachment style where the child is comfortable with closeness, distressed when separated but easily comforted upon return.
What is Insecure Attachment?
Avoidant, ambivalent, or disorganized attachment patterns.
What is Authoritarian Parenting?
Strict, demanding, and controlling parenting style.
What is Authoritative Parenting?
Firm but fair parenting style, with open communication.
What is Permissive Parenting?
Lenient parenting style, with few rules or expectations.
What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?
The range of tasks a child can do with help.
What is a More Knowledgeable Other (MKO)?
Someone who provides guidance and support in learning.
What is Scaffolding?
Providing temporary support to help a child learn.
What is the Social Clock?
The culturally preferred timing of social events (like marriage and retirement).
Compare Authoritative and Authoritarian parenting styles.
Authoritative: Warm, responsive, clear expectations. Authoritarian: Strict rules, high expectations, little warmth.
Compare Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional studies.
Longitudinal: Follows same people over time. Cross-Sectional: Compares different age groups at one time.
Compare Assimilation and Accommodation in Piaget's theory.
Assimilation: Fitting new info into existing schemas. Accommodation: Changing schemas to fit new info.