Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes
Chromosomes
Molecule containing genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
DNA
Biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA
Genes
Generic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring
Heredity
Complete instructions for making organism; consisting of all genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes
Genome
Every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to social support later in life
Environment
Interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (environment) depends on another factor (heredity)
Interaction
Study of environment influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
Epigenetics
Fertilized egg; enters a two week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo
Zygote
Developing human organism from about two weeks after fertilization through the second month
Embryo
Developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth
Fetus
An agent, such as a chemical or virus, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm
Teratogen
Physical and mental abnormalities in children caused by pregnant woman’s heavy drinking. In severe cases, signs include a small, out of proportion head and abnormal facial features
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus
Reflex
Persons characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
Temperament
Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical siblings
Identical (monozygotic) twins
Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than nontwin brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment
Fraternal (dizygotic) twins
Biological growth processes leading to orderly changes in behavior, mostly independent of experience
Maturation
Period early in life when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences is needed for proper development
Critical period
All mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Cognition
Concept or framework that organizes and interprets information
Schema
Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas
Assimilation
Adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information
Accommodation
In Piaget’s theory the stage (from birth to 2) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities
Sensorimotor stage
Awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived
Object permanence
In Piaget’s theory, the stage (from 2-7) when a child learns to use language but cannot yet perform the mental operations of concrete logic
Preoperational stage
The principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in shapes
Conversation
In Piaget’s theory, the preoperational child’s difficulty taking another’s point of view
Egocentrism
Peoples ideas about their own and others’ mental states - about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict
Theory of mind
Disorder that appear in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors
Autism spectrum disorder
In Piaget’s theory, the stage of cognitive development (7-11) when children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events
Concrete operational stage
In Piaget’s theory, the stage of cognitive development (12) when people begin to think logically about abstract concepts
Formal operational stage
Fear of strangers that infants (8 months) display
Stranger anxiety
Emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to their caregiver and showing distress on separation
Attachment
According to Erik erikson, sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers
Basic trust
Transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence
Adolescence
Period of sexual maturation, when a person becomes capable of reproducing
Puberty
Our sense of self; according to erikson, the adolescent’s task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and blending various roles
Identity
The we aspect of our self concept; part of our answer to who am I that comes from our group memberships
Social identity
In erikson’s theory, ability to form close, loving relationships; primary development task in early adulthood
Intimacy
Period from 18- mid twenties when many in western cultures are no longer adolescent but have not yet achieved full independence as adults
Emerging adulthood
End of menstruation. Biological transition a woman experiences from before until after end of menstruation
Menopause
Research in which people of different ages are compared
Cross-sectional study
Research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period
Longitudinal study
Culturally preferred timing of social events like marriage, parenthood, and retirement
Social clock