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51 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Additive Gene (p. 48)
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A gene that adds something to some aspect of the phenotype. Its contribution depends on additions from the other genes, which may come from either the same or the other parent.
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Age of Viability (p. 61)
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The age (about 22 weeks after conception) at which a fetus may survive outside the mother’s uterus if specialized medical care is available.
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Behaviorism (p. 19)
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A theory of human development that studies observable behavior. Behaviorism is also called learning theory, because it describes the laws and processes by which behavior is learned.
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Carrier (p. 49)
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A person whose genotype includes a gene that is not expressed in the phenotype. Such an unexpressed gene occurs in half the carrier’s gametes and thus is passed on to half the carrier’s children, who will most likely be carriers, too. Generally, the characteristic appears in the phenotype only when such a gene is inherited from both parents.
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Chromosome (p. 43)
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One of the 46 molecules of DNA (in 23 pairs) that each cell of the human body contains and that, together, contain all the genes. Other species have more or fewer chromosomes.
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Classical Conditioning (p. 20)
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A learning process in which a meaningful stimulus (such as the smell of food to a hungry animal) gradually comes to be connected with a neutral stimulus (such as a particular sound) that had no special meaning before the learning process began. (Also called respondent conditioning.)
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Cognitive Theory (p. 22)
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A theory of human development that focuses on changes in how people think over time. According to this theory, our thoughts shape our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
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Conditioning (p. 20)
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According to behaviorism, the processes by which responses become linked to particular stimuli and learning takes place. The word conditioning is used to emphasize the importance of repeated practice, as when an athlete conditions his or her body to perform well by training for a long time.
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Correlation (p.34)
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A number that indicates the degree of relationship between two variables, expressed in terms of the likelihood that one variable will (or will not) occur when the other variable does (or does not). A correlation indicates only that two variables are related, not that one variable causes the other to occur.
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Critical Period
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A time when a particular type of developmental growth (in body or behavior) must happen if it is ever going to happen.
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Cross-sequential Research (p. 33)
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A hybrid research design in which researchers first study several groups of people of different ages (a cross-sectional approach) and then follow those groups over the years (a longitudinal approach). (Also called cohort-sequential research or time-sequential research.)
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Dependent Variable (p. 28)
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In an experiment, the variable that may change as a result of whatever new condition or situation the experimenter adds. In other words, the dependent variable depends on the independent variable.
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Dizygotic Twins (p. 47)
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Twins who are formed when two separate ova are fertilized by two separate sperm at roughly the same time. (Also called fraternal twins.)
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DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) (p. 43)
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The molecule that contains the chemical instructions for cells to manufacture various proteins.
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Dominant-recessive Pattern (p. 48)
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The interaction of a pair of alleles in such a way that the phenotype reveals the influence of one allele (the dominant gene) more than that of the other (the recessive gene).
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Dynamic-systems Theory (p. 24)
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A view of human development as an ongoing, ever-changing interaction between the physical and emotional being and between the person and every aspect of his or her environment, including the family and society.
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Ecological-systems Theory (p. 24)
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The view that in the study of human development, the person should be considered in all the contexts and interactions that constitute a life. (Later renamed bioecological theory.)
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Embryonic Period (p. 57)
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The stage of prenatal development from approximately the third through the eighth week after conception, during which the basic forms of all body structures, including internal organs, develop.
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Epigenetic (p. 12)
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Referring to the effects of environmental forces on the expression of an individual’s, or a species’, genetic inheritance.
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Experiment (p. 28)
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A research method in which the researcher tries to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between two variables by manipulating one (called the independent variable) and then observing and recording the ensuing changes in the other (called the dependent variable).
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) (p. 73
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A cluster of birth defects, including abnormal facial characteristics, slow physical growth, and retarded mental development, that may occur in the child of a woman who drinks alcohol while pregnant.
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Fetal Period (p. 57)
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The stage of prenatal development from the ninth week after conception until birth, during which the organs grow in size and mature in functioning.
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Gamete (p. 43)
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A reproductive cell; that is, a sperm or ovum that can produce a new individual if it combines with a gamete from the other sex to form a zygote.
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Gene (p. 44)
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A section of a chromosome and the basic unit for the transmission of heredity, consisting of a string of chemicals that are instructions for the cell to manufacture certain proteins.
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Genotype (p. 44)
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An organism’s entire genetic inheritance, or genetic potential.
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Germinal Period (p. 57)
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The first two weeks of prenatal development after conception, characterized by rapid cell division and the beginning of cell differentiation.
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Heritability (p. 49)
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A statistic that indicates what percentage of the variation in a particular trait within a particular population, in a particular context and era, can be traced to genes.
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Independent Variable (p. 28)
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In an experiment, the variable that is introduced to see what effect it has on the dependent variable. (Also called experimental variable.)
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Life Span Perspective
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An approach to the study of human development that takes into account all phases of life, not just childhood or adulthood.
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Longitudinal Research (p. 32)
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A research design in which the same individuals are followed over time and their development is repeatedly assessed.
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Low Birth Weight (LBW) (p. 67)
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A body weight at birth of less than 5½ pounds (2,500 grams).
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Monozygotic Twins (p. 46)
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Twins who originate from one zygote that splits apart very early in development. (Also called identical twins.)
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Multifactorial (p. 48)
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Referring to a trait that is affected by many factors, both genetic and environmental.
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Nature
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A general term for the traits, capacities, and limitations that each individual inherits genetically from his or her parents at the moment of conception.
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Nurture
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A general term for all the environmental influences that affect development after an individual is conceived.
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Operant Conditioning (p. 21)
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The learning process in which a particular action is followed either by something desired (which makes the person or animal more likely to repeat the action) or by something unwanted (which makes the action less likely to be repeated). (Also called instrumental conditioning.)
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Parent-Infant Bond (p. 70)
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The strong, loving connection that forms as parents hold, examine, and feed their newborn.
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Phenotype (p. 44)
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The observable characteristics of a person, including appearance, personality, intelligence, and all other traits.
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Polygenic (p. 48)
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Referring to a trait that is influenced by many genes.
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Preterm Birth (p. 68)
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A birth that occurs 3 or more weeks before the full 38 weeks of the typical pregnancy have elapsed—that is, at 35 or fewer weeks after conception.
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Psychoanalytic Theory (p. 17)
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A theory of human development that holds that irrational, unconscious drives and motives, often originating in childhood, underlie human behavior.
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Regulator Gene (p. 48)
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A gene that controls the interactions of other genes, controlling their expression, duplication, and transcription.
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Reinforcement (p. 21)
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A technique for conditioning behavior in which that behavior is followed by something desired, such as food for a hungry animal or a welcoming smile for a lonely person.
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Sensitive Period
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A time when a certain type of development is most likely to happen and happens most easily, although it may still happen later with more difficulty. For example, early childhood is considered a sensitive period for language learning.
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Small for Gestational Age (SGA) (p. 68)
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Having a body weight at birth that is significantly lower than expected, given the time since conception. For example, a 5-pound (2,265-gram) newborn is considered SGA if born on time but not SGA if born two months early. (Also called small-for-dates.)
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Social Learning Theory (p. 22)
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An extension of behaviorism that emphasizes the influence that other people have over a person’s behavior. The theory’s basic principle is that even without specific reinforcement, every individual learns many things through observation and imitation of other people.
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Survey (p. 29)
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A research method in which information is collected from a large number of people by interviews, written questionnaires, or some other means.
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Teratogens (p. 73)
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Agents and conditions, including viruses, drugs, and chemicals, that can impair prenatal development and result in birth defects or even death.
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XX (p. 47)
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A 23rd chromosome pair that consists of two X-shaped chromosomes, one each from the mother and the father. XX zygotes become females.
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XY (p. 47)
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A 23rd chromosome pair that consists of an X-shaped chromosome from the mother and a Y-shaped chromosome from the father. XY zygotes become males.
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Zygote (p. 44)
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he single cell that is formed from the fusing of two gametes, a sperm and an ovum.
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