Major Theories of Human Development

Question 1

assimilation

Answer 1

In Jean Piaget’s theory, incorporating new information and experiences in terms of existing schemas.

Question 2

attachment

Answer 2

A strong and enduring emotional bond between an infant or young animal and its caregiver or parent.

Question 3

authoritarian

Answer 3

One of Diana Baumrind’s styles of parenting, characterized by a low amount of responsiveness and a high amount of control.

Question 4

authoritative

Answer 4

One of Diana Baumrind’s styles of parenting, characterized by a high amount of responsiveness and moderate amount of control. Authoritative parenting is associated with better child adjustment than the other three parenting styles (authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved).

Question 5

concrete operations

Answer 5

The stage in Jean Piaget’s theory that lasts from ages 7 to 11. In this stage, children can use logical reasoning about concrete objects, but they lack the capacity for abstract thought.

Question 6

conservation

Answer 6

According to Jean Piaget’s theory, the principle that properties such as mass and volume remain the same even if their form changes.

Question 7

conventional morality

Answer 7

Lawrence Kohlberg’s second level of moral reasoning, in which moral decisions tend to be made on the basis of social norms or laws.

Question 8

egocentrism

Answer 8

Inability to see things from another’s perspective. According to Jean Piaget, children in the preoperational stage exhibited egocentrism in their thinking.

Question 9

imprinting

Answer 9

Quick learning that occurs within a sensitive period of the organism’s development and without obvious reinforcement for the learned behavior.

Question 10

moral reasoning

Answer 10

The process by which people make moral decisions and judgments.