Life Span Developmental Psychology Ch 1-4

Front 1

case study

Back 1

An in-depth analysis of one individual.

Front 2

classical conditioning

Back 2

A type of learning in which an organism responds in a particular way to a neutral stimulus that normally does not bring about that type of response.

Front 3

code of ethics

Back 3

A set of moral principles formed by a group or organization and used to provide guidelines of moral behavior.

Front 4

cognitive theory

Back 4

Focuses on the processes that allow people to think, know, and understand the world.

Front 5

cohort

Back 5

An inclusive term that refers to a group of people who share the same age and experience the same historical events.

Front 6

continuous change

Back 6

Changes that do not occur in set stages and cover the entire life span.

Front 7

control group

Back 7

In research, the group not given the specific intervention or treatment given to the experimental group. This group, however, is similar to the experimental group in relevant ways (e.g., similar age or occupation).

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correlation

Back 8

Identification of association between two factors.

Front 9

cross-sectional study

Back 9

Research in which people of different ages are compared at the same point in time.

Front 10

cross-sequential research

Back 10

Research that consists of a number of different age groups that are examined over several points in time.

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culture

Back 11

The beliefs, customs, behaviors, rules, and rituals a group uses to define their life together and transmit from one generation to the next.

Front 12

dependent variable

Back 12

In experimental research, the area that may change after the introduction of, or changes in , the independent variable.

Front 13

developmental theory

Back 13

Systematic statement of principles meant to provide a coherent framework from understanding how people change as they grow older.

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discontinuous change

Back 14

Development that occurs in distinct stages.

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dynamic systems

Back 15

Continual change within individuals and social groups and the systematic connection of each change to other developments in individuals and society.

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ecological perspective

Back 16

Considered "emergent theories" in that they use multicultural, multidisciplinary, and multi-method analysis. These perspectives argue for the inclusion and the analysis of all systems that impact the developing person.

Front 17

ecological systems approach

Back 17

This approach considers the relationship between the individual and the environment and considers all contexts and systems that affect development.

Front 18

ethnicity

Back 18

People who share traditions, customs, and rituals that generally include ancestral heritage and often religion, national origin, and language.

Front 19

ethological perspective

Back 19

The analysis of animal behavior patterns particularly as they relate to evolutionary origins and species survival.

Front 20

experiment

Back 20

Research method designed to determine cause and effect relationships. One variable (independent variable) is manipulated in order to observe and record changes in the other variable (dependent variable).

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experimental group

Back 21

In research, the group or participants given a specific intervention or treatment.

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human development

Back 22

The analysis of how people change and do not change over time.

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humanistic theory

Back 23

Contends that people have a natural capacity to make decisions about their lives and to control their behaviors

Front 24

hypothesis

Back 24

A prediction stated in such a way that it can be tested.

Front 25

independent variable

Back 25

In experimental research, the variable that is introduced in order to see its effect on the dependent variable.

Front 26

life span perspective

Back 26

Identification of attributes that both unite people as human beings and distinguish people as unique entities. It considers all human experiences from conception to death.

Front 27

longitudinal research

Back 27

Research in which the behavior of one or more subjects in a study is measured as they age.

Front 28

maturation

Back 28

Pre-determined unfolding of genetic information.

Front 29

nature

Back 29

Traits, abilities, and capacities inherited from one's parents.

Front 30

nurture

Back 30

Environmental influences that shape behavior.

Front 31

operant conditioning

Back 31

A form of learning in which an voluntary response is strengthened or weakened by its association with positive or negative consequences.

Front 32

psychodynamic theory

Back 32

Analyzes the development of a person's inner drives and how they impact every aspect of a person's life.

Front 33

race

Back 33

The use of biological traits (e.g., skin color) to differentiate people.

Front 34

replication

Back 34

The use of the same research design on a different group; the results of which verify or refute the original study's conclusions.

Front 35

scientific method

Back 35

A five-step research process that formulates a question, develops a hypothesis, tests the hypothesis, draws conclusions, and makes the findings available.

Front 36

social construction

Back 36

Shared perspectives of social order based on a belief of how things "should be" rather than reality.

Front 37

social cognitive theory

Back 37

Analyzes how learning occurs by observing the behavior of another person, called a model.

Front 38

socioeconomic status (SES)

Back 38

A measure that reflects a combination of a person's income, educational level, occupation, and residence.

Front 39

survey

Back 39

A research design where a large group of people chosen to represent an even larger population are asked questions about their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors.

Front 40

additive gene

Back 40

A gene that codes with other genes to affect a specific trait (e.g., skin color).

Front 41

amnion

Back 41

A structure that supports the amniotic fluid in the uterine cavity and produces the amniotic fluid.

Front 42

behavior genetics

Back 42

The study of the effects of heredity on behavior.

Front 43

chromosomes

Back 43

Rod shaped portions of DNA. They are the carrier of genes and one of the 46 molecules of DNA (in 23 pairs) that each cell of the body contains and that, together, contain all human genes.

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conception

Back 44

The union of an ovum and a sperm to create the single-celled zygote.

Front 45

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Back 45

The molecular basis of heredity. It determines the nature of every cell in the body and how it will function. It consists of a double helix with parallel strands.

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dominant gene

Back 46

A trait that is expressed when two competing traits are present.

Front 47

embryonic stage

Back 47

The period from 2-8 weeks following conception. During this stage significant growth occurs in the major organs and body systems.

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fetal stage

Back 48

This stage begins at 8 weeks after conception and continues until birth.

Front 49

fetus

Back 49

A developing child from 8 weeks after conception until birth.

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gamete

Back 50

The sex cells of the mother and father that form a new cell at conception.

Front 51

genes

Back 51

Basic unit for the transmission of genetic information.

Front 52

genome

Back 52

The full set of chromosomes and all of the genes they contain. This makes up the genetic material of an organism.

Front 53

genotype

Back 53

The underlying combination of genetic material that is present but not outwardly visible in an organism. It is an organism's entire genetic inheritance or genetic potential.

Front 54

germinal stage

Back 54

The first and shortest stage of prenatal development. It takes place during the first 2 weeks following conception.

Front 55

phenotype

Back 55

A trait that can be seen. The person's actual appearance and behavior that are the result of both genetic and environmental influences.

Front 56

placenta

Back 56

A conduit between the mother and the fetus that provides nourishment and oxygen via the umbilical cord.

Front 57

polygenic traits

Back 57

Inherited trait that is influenced by many genes rather than a single gene.

Front 58

recessive gene

Back 58

A trait that is within an organism but is not expressed

Front 59

teratogen

Back 59

Factors including agents, conditions, drugs, chemicals, and malnutrition that can negatively impact prenatal development and lead to birth defects and even death.

Front 60

umbilical cord

Back 60

The structure composed of two arteries and one vein that connect the placenta to the fetus.

Front 61

zygote

Back 61

The new cell formed at the time of fertilization.

Front 62

attachment

Back 62

Refers to the positive emotional bond that develops between a child and a particular individual.

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axon

Back 63

A nerve fiber that extends from a neuron and transmits electrical impulses from that neuron to the dendrite of another neuron.

Front 64

binocular vision

Back 64

The ability to focus two eyes in a coordinated manner in order to see one object.

Front 65

cephalocaudal principle

Back 65

The principle that growth follows a pattern that begins with the head and upper body parts and then proceeds down to the rest of the body.

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cortex

Back 66

The crinkled outer layer of the brain and the location of most thinking, feeling, and sensing.

Front 67

cross-modal transference

Back 67

The ability to identify a stimulus that was previously experienced through one sense by using another sense.

Front 68

dendrite

Back 68

A nerve fiber that extends from a neuron and receives electrical impulses transmitted from other neurons via their axon.

Front 69

fine motor skills

Back 69

Small body movements, usually of the fingers.

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gross motor skills

Back 70

Abilities that require large body movements, such as walking running, and jumping.

Front 71

habituation

Back 71

The process of getting use to an object or event after repeated exposure to it. It reflects both a psychological and physiologic response.

Front 72

head-sparing

Back 72

The biological protection of the brain when malnutrition temporarily effects body growth.

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kwashiorkor

Back 73

A protein deficiency that causes the child's face, legs, and abdomen to bloat, or swell with water.

Front 74

language

Back 74

Refers to the systematic, meaningful arrangement of symbols which provides the basis for communication.

Front 75

marasmus

Back 75

A disease of severe protein-calorie malnutrition during early infancy.

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neuron

Back 76

The basic cell of the nervous system.

Front 77

norm

Back 77

A standard or average calculated from many individuals within a specific type of group (e.g. healthy newborns).

Front 78

percentile

Back 78

A measure of how a child compares to others the same age. It refers to any point on a scale from 1 to 99.

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principle of hierarchical integration

Back 79

The principle that simple skills typically develop separately and independently but are later integrated into more complex skills.

Front 80

principle of the independence of systems

Back 80

The principle that different body systems grow at different rates.

Front 81

protein-calorie malnutrition

Back 81

Occurs when a child does not consume sufficient food of any kind.

Front 82

proximodistal principle

Back 82

The principle that development proceeds from the center of the body outward.

Front 83

reflexes

Back 83

Involuntary and unlearned responses that occur spontaneously in the presence of certain stimuli.

Front 84

rhythms

Back 84

Repetitive cycles of behaviors that help babies manage their new world.

Front 85

state

Back 85

The degree of awareness an infant displays to both internal and external stimulation.

Front 86

synapses

Back 86

Gaps at the connections between neurons through which neurons chemically communicate with each other.

Front 87

temperament

Back 87

Patterns of arousal and emotionality that are consistent and enduring characteristics of an individual.

Front 88

transient exuberance

Back 88

An estimated five-fold increase in the number of dendrites in the infant's brain. This results in upwards of 15,000 new connections per neuron.

Front 89

apprentice in thinking

Back 89

Vygotsky's term for young people whose intellectual growith is stimulated by older and more skilled members of society.

Front 90

centration

Back 90

A chid focuses on one aspect of a situation to the exclusion of all others.

Front 91

collectivistic orientation

Back 91

A social philosophy that promotes the notion of interdependence.

Front 92

corpus callosum (ka-lo'sum)

Back 92

A long, narrow strip of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain. As the result of growth in this area the two hemispheres of the brain become increasiongly more efficient in communicating with each other.

Front 93

emergent literacy

Back 93

An acquisition of language skills critical for learning.

Front 94

focus on appearance

Back 94

A child focuses on how a person looks excludes all other attributes.

Front 95

gender identification

Back 95

The process in which children attempt to be similar to their same sex parent and incorporate the parent's attitudes and values.

Front 96

gender identity

Back 96

A person's perception and acceptance of the roles and behaviors that society associates with the biological category of male and female.

Front 97

guided participation

Back 97

A young child's ability to learn by having social experiences, exploring their universe, and learning from mentors.

Front 98

individualistic orientation

Back 98

Societal philosophy that emphasizes personal identiey and the uniueness of the individual is highly valued.

Front 99

initiative-versus-guilt stage

Back 99

According to Erikson the period during which children, ages 3 to 6 experience conflict between independence of action and the sometimes negative results of that action.

Front 100

irreversibility

Back 100

The inability of the child to see that reversing a process can sometimes restore whatever existed before the transformation.

Front 101

lateralization

Back 101

Refers to the differentiation of the two sides of the brain.

Front 102

myelination

Back 102

A process through which the axons and dendrites become insulated with a coating of myelin-a fatty substance that speeds transmission of nerve impulses from one neuron to another.

Front 103

perseveration

Back 103

Refers to the tendency to stick to one thought or action even when it has become useless or inappropriate.

Front 104

prefrontal cortex

Back 104

Sometimes called the frontal cortex or frontal lobe, this is the last part of the human brain to reach maturity. It is at the front of the brain's cortex and specializes in "executive functions,' i.e. planning, selecting, and coordinating thoughts.

Front 105

preoperational stage

Back 105

A stage in Piaget's cognitive theory which lasts from the age of 2 until around 7 years of age. In this stage, children's use of symbolic thinking grows, mental reasoning emerges, and the use of concepts increases.

Front 106

primary prevention

Back 106

Actions that change conditions to prevent some unwanted event from occurring.

Front 107

private speech

Back 107

Vygotsky's term for the internal dialogue that occurs when people talk to temselves and through which new ideas are developed and reinforced.

Front 108

psychosocial development

Back 108

According to Erikson, development that encompasses changes both in the understanding individuals have of themselves as members of society and in their comprehension of the meaning of the behavior of other people.

Front 109

role buffering

Back 109

A situation where achievement in one role that an adult plays, e.g., parent, reduces the impact of disappointment that may occur in another role, e.g., professional career.

Front 110

role overload

Back 110

The stress of multiple obligations, e.g., parental, spousal, and vacational.

Front 111

scaffolding

Back 111

A sensitive structuring of the young child's participation in leaning encounters.

Front 112

secondary prevention

Back 112

Actions that avert harm in the immediate situation and reduce the danger of high-risk situations.

Front 113

self-concept

Back 113

A person's identity or set of beliefs about what one is like as an individual.

Front 114

social mediation

Back 114

A function of speech through which a person's cognitive skills are refined and extended.

Front 115

static reasoning

Back 115

The belief that the world is unchanging and is always in the state in which they currently encounter it.

Front 116

symbolic function

Back 116

A child's ability to use a mental symbol, a word, or an object to stand for, or represent, something that is not physically present.

Front 117

tertiary prevention

Back 117

Action taken after an adverse event occurs and aimed at reducing the harm, or preventing the disability from getting worse.

Front 118

zone of proximal development (ZPD)

Back 118

Vygotsky's terms for a range of skills that a person can exercise with assistance but is not quite ready to perform independently.