Chapters 10.1 and 10.2 Flashcards
(39 cards)
Developmental psychology
is the study of human physical, cognitive, social and behavioural characteristics across the lifespan
cross sectional design
is used to measure and compare samples of people at different ages at a given point in time
cohort effect
are differences between people that result from being born in different time periods
longitudinal design
follows the development of the same set of individuals through time
sensitive period
is a window of time during which exposure to a specific type of environment stimulation is needed for normal development of a specific ability
zygote
the initial cell formed when the nuclei of egg and sperm fuse
germinal stage
the first stage of prenatal development
- spans from conception to 2 weeks
embryonic stage
spans weeks 2 to 8
- embryo begins to develop major physical structures
fetal stage
spans weeks 8 to birth
- the skeletal, organ and nervous systems become more developed and specialized
teratogens
substances such as drugs or environmental toxins impair the process of fetal development
fetal brain development `
- myelination occurs
infant creates up to 4000 new neutrons per second - missing connections between neurones
fetal alcohol syndrome
involves abnormaliites in mental functioning, growth and facial development
preterm infants
are children who are born earlier than 36 weeks
- typically have underdeveloped brains and lungs
synaptogenesis
describes the forming of new synaptic connections
synaptic pruning
is the loss of weak nerve cell connections
cognitive development
is the study of changes in memory, thought, and reasoning processes that occur throughout the lifespan
assimilation
is a conservative process, whereby people fit new information into the belief systems that they already posses
accommodation
is a creative process whereby people modify their belief structures based on experience
sensorimotor stage
occurs from birth to two years, during which infants thinking about and exploring the world are based on immediate sensory experiences
object permanence
the ability to understand that objects exist even when they can not be directly perceived
pre operational stage
- ages 2 to 7
- this stage is devoted to language development, using symbols pretend play, and mastering the concept of conservation
conservation
is the knowledge that the quantity or amount of an object is not the same as a physical arrangement and appearance of that object
concrete operational stage
ages 7 to 11
- when children develop skills in logical thinking and manipulating numbers
formal operational stage
ages 11 to adulthood
- involves the development of advanced cognitive processes such as abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking