Glossary Chapter 1

Question 1

a group of people born at around
the same time in the same place

Answer 1

cohort

Question 2

gradual development in which
achievements at one level build on
those of previous levels

Answer 2

continuous change

Question 3

development that occurs in distinct steps or stages, with each stage bringing about behavior that is assumed to be qualitatively different from behavior at earlier stages

Answer 3

discontinuous change

Question 4

a specific time during development when a particular event has its greatest consequences and the presence of certain kinds of environmental stimuli is necessary for
development to proceed normally

Answer 4

critical period

Question 5

a point in development when organisms are particularly susceptible to certain kinds of stimuli in their environments, but the absence of those stimuli does not
always produce irreversible consequences

Answer 5

sensitive period

Question 6

the predetermined unfolding of
genetic information

Answer 6

maturation

Question 7

a formal technique for promoting the frequency of desirable behaviors and decreasing the incidence of unwanted ones

Answer 7

behavior modification