Human Development Flashcards
(105 cards)
1
Q
What is developmental psychology? What three things does it focus on?
A
Psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout our lives.
- Nature and nurture
- Continuity and stages (what parts of development are gradual and continuous? what parts change abruptly in separate stages?)
- Stability and change ( what traits persist through our lives? How we change with age?)
2
Q
What are zygotes? What does it go through from 2 weeks?
A
The fertilized egg
Goes through a two week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo
3
Q
The zygote’s inner cells become what?
A
The embryo, the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month
4
Q
What forms the placenta? What does it do?
A
The zygote’s outer cells
It is the life link that transfers nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the embryo
5
Q
What is a fetus?
A
The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth
Latin for offspring or young one
6
Q
What are the durations for each: zygote, embryo, and fetus
A
Zygote: conception to 2 weeks
Embryo: 2 to 9 weeks
Fetus: 9 weeks to birth
7
Q
What are teratogens?
A
They are agents such as chemicals and viruses that can damage the embryo or fetus
8
Q
What is fetal alcohol syndrome? (FAS)
A
Physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by heavy drinking during pregnancy
Signs can include an out of proportion head and abnormal face features
9
Q
What is fetal alcohol syndrome? (FAS)
A
Physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by heavy drinking during pregnancy
Signs can include an out of proportion head and abnormal face features
10
Q
What is the rooting reflex?
A
It is an involuntary muscle response to stimulation of their mouth or cheek, helps them find the nipple.
11
Q
What is habituation?
A
A decrease in responsiveness due to over stimulation.
12
Q
What is maturation?
A
The orderly sequence of biological growth, enable orderly changes in behavior
13
Q
When do you have the most of your brain cells?
A
The very first day you were born
14
Q
Where is brain growth most rapid from ages 3-6
A
The frontal lobes, which enable rational planning
15
Q
What are the last areas of the brain to develop?
A
The association areas linked with thinking, memory, and language
16
Q
Who is a very important developmental psychologist?
A
Jean Piaget
17
Q
What is cognition?
A
All the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
18
Q
According to Piaget, what is the driving force behind our intellectual progression?
A
Our struggle to make sense of our experiences.
19
Q
What are schemas?
A
Concepts that organize and interpret our experiences
20
Q
What two concepts did Piaget propose to explain how we use and adjust our schemas?
A
Assimilate: we interpret our experiences in terms out our current understandings (schemas)
Accommodate: adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information.
21
Q
What are the four stages of cognitive development Piaget came up with?
A
Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete operational
Formal operational
22
Q
What is the sensorimotor stage?
A
Begins from birth to age 2, babies take in the world through their senses and actions/motor activities
23
Q
What is object permanence?
A
The awareness that objects continue to exist even when not perceived
24
Q
What is the preoperational stage?
A
Begins from age 2 to about 6 or 7, a child learns to use language, but is still too young to perform mental operations
Also egocentrism is prescribed
Ex.: a preoperational child wouldn’t understand why milk being poured in a tall, narrow glass seems like “more” than compared to being in a shorter, wider glass.
25
What is conservation?
The principle that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape.
26
What is symbolic thinking?
When you represent things with words and images
27
What does egocentric mean?
Difficulty taking another’s point of view
Ex.: a child makes themself “invisible” by putting his hands over his eyes
28
What is the theory of mind?
People’s ideas about their own and others’ mental states and what these behaviors might predict
Better def tbh: you are able to take another’s perspective and acknowledge others have feelings
29
What is the concrete operational stage?
Begins from 6 or 7 to 11 years old, children gain the mental operations enabling them to think logically about concrete events.
30
What is the formal operational stage?
Begins at age 12, children begin to think logically about abstract concepts
31
According to Vygotsky, why do children increasingly think in works and use words to solve problems by age 7?
They internalize their culture’s language and rely on inner speech.
32
What is the difference between Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s emphasis on children’s cognitive development?
Piaget emphasized how the child’s mind grows through interaction with the physical environment
Vygotsky emphasized how the child’s mind grows through interaction with the social environment
33
What is the zone of proximal development?
The zone of what a child is able to do with and without assistance
Ex.: when learning to ride a bike, it’s the developmental zone in which a child can ride with training wheels or a steadying parental hand.
34
What is stranger anxiety?
Begins by about eight months of age, infants, display fear of strangers
35
What is attachment?
Attachment is an emotional tie with another person
It is shown in young children who seek closeness with their caregivers and show distress on separation
36
Describe Harry Harlow‘s experiment on the attachment of monkeys
Harry Harlow separated, infant monkeys from their mothers shortly after birth and raise them in individual cages which included a cheese cloth, baby blanket. When their blankets were taken away, the monkeys became distress, the intense attachment to the blanket, contradicted the idea that attachment derives from the association with nourishment.
Then Harry Harlow created two artificial mothers, one being a bare wire cylinder with a wooden head and an attached feeding bottle and the other, a cylinder wrapped with terry cloth. The Monkees preferred the comfy cloth, mother.
37
Besides body contact, what else is important in forming an attachment?
Familiarity
38
What is the critical period?
It is an optimal period when certain events must take place to facilitate proper development.
Ex.: Fro goslings, ducklings, or chicks, the critical period falls in the hours shortly after hatching, for the first object they see is normally their mother. From then on, the young ones follow her and her alone.
39
Konrad Lorenz explored this rigid attachment process, called imprinting. What is imprinting?
Imprinting is the process by which certain animals form strong attachment during an early life critical period.
Lorenz wondered what would the ducklings do if he was the first moving creature they observed? What they did was follow him around everywhere; where ever Lorenz went, the ducklings were to follow.
40
Do human children imprint?
Children do not imprint. However, they do become attached during a less precisely defined sensitive period.
41
Describe Mary Ainsworth’s two types of attachment.
Secure attachment- when infants were in their mother’s presence, they played comfortably, happily exploring their new environment. When the mother leaves, they become distressed. When she returns, they seek contact with her. After, they go back to playing independently
Insecure attachment- infants display anxiety or avoidance of trusting relationships. They are less likely to explore their surroundings. They may even cling to their mother. When she leaves, they either cry loudly and remain upset, or seem indifferent to her departure and return.
42
What is temperament?
Temperament is a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.
43
What is Erickson‘s basic trust?
It is a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy. Erickson theorized that infants with sensitive, loving caregivers form a lifelong attitude of trust rather than fear.
44
What is self-concept?
Self-concept is all of our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, “who am I?”
45
What is the difference between self-concept and self-esteem?
Self-concept is all of the thoughts and we have about ourselves
Self esteem is how they feel about who they are, or how we feel about who we are.
46
What is the authoritarian style?
Parents impose rules, and expect obedience.
Ex.: “don’t interrupt” “keep your room clean” “don’t stay out late or you’ll be grounded” “because I said so”
47
What is the permissive parenting style?
Parents submit to their children’s desires. They make a few demands and use little punishment.
48
What is the authoritative parenting style?
Parents are both demanding and responsive. They exert control by setting rules and enforcing them, but they also explain the reasons for rules. Especially with older children, they encourage open discussion when making the rules and allow exceptions.
49
According to Baumrind, what kind of parents do kids who have a high self-esteem tend to have?
Authoritative parents.
50
What is the difference between sex and gender?
Sex is your biological status defined by your chromosomes and anatomy
Gender pertains to the roles and characteristics by which a culture defines male and female
51
Which gender tends to be more aggressive?
Men
52
Explain the power differences people perceive between genders.
Most people perceive men to be dominant, forceful, and independent.
Most people perceive women to be submissive, nurturing, and socially connected.
53
Which gender prefers working with people?
Women.
54
What did Carol Gilligan find about gender and social connectedness?
Gilligan found that females tend to differ from males both in being less concerned with viewing themselves as separate individuals and being more concerned with making connections. Indeed, later research has found that females are more interdependent than males, and this surfaces early.
55
What are gender roles?
Gender rules are a set of expected behaviors for males or females.
56
What does role mean?
A role pertains to a set of expectations about a social position, defining how those in that position ought to behave.
57
What is gender identity?
Gender identity is our sense of being male or female.
58
What is the social learning theory?
The social learning theory is the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being awarded or punished .
Ex.: Big boys don’t cry, Alex.
59
What is gender typing?
The acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.
60
What is transgender?
People who’s gender identity differs from that associated with their birth sex
61
What is sexual orientation?
The direction one’s sexual attraction.
62
What is adolescence?
Adolescence is the transition period from childhood to adulthood .
63
What is puberty?
The time when we mature sexually.
64
What are the psychological effects on boys who mature early?
For boys, early maturation has mixed effects. Boys who are stronger and more athletic during their early teen years tend to be more popular, self-assured, and independent, though also are more at risk for alcohol use, delinquency, and premature sexual activity.
65
What are the psychological effects on girls who mature early?
For girls, early maturation can be a challenge. She may begin associating with older adolescents, or may suffer teasing or sexual harassment.
66
What happens to the neurons in your brain during adolescence?
Until puberty, brain cells increase their connections. Then, during adolescence, comes a selective pruning of unused neurons and connections. What we don’t use, we lose.
67
What lobe of the brain matures during adolescence?
The frontal lobes.
68
During early teens, what is reasoning like?
Teens reason from their gut and weigh the immediate benefits more heavily. They seek thrills and rewards, but they can’t locate the brake pedal controlling their impulses.
69
In Kohlberg’s levels of moral thinking, what is the pre-conventional morality level? What is the focus and give an example.
Occurs before age 9
The focus : self interest; obey rules to avoid punishment or gain concrete rewards.
Ex.: if you save your wife, you’ll be a hero.
70
In Kohlberg‘s levels of moral thinking, what is the conventional morality level? What is the focus? Give an example.
(Early adolescence)
Focus: uphold laws and rules to gain social approval or maintain social order
Ex.: “if you steal the drug, everyone will think you are a criminal”
71
According to Erickson, what is the main crisis during adolescence?
Adolescence, wonder “who am I as an individual?” “What do I want to do with my life?” “What values should I live by?” “What do I believe in?” Erickson called this an adolescent’s search for identity.
72
In Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development, what is the infancy stage (1)? What is the issue? Give a description of task.
Stage: infancy (to 1 year)
Issue: trust vs mistrust
Desc.: if needs are dependable met, infants develop a sense of basic trust.
73
In Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development, what is the toddlerhood stage (2)? What is the issue give a description of task.
Stage: toddlerhood (1-3 years)
Issue: autonomy (independence) vs shame and doubt
Desc.: toddlers learn to exercise their will and do things for themselves, or they doubt their abilities.
74
In Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development, what is the preschool stage (3)? What is the issue give a description of task.
Stage: preschool (3-6 years)
Issue: initiative vs. guilt
Desc.: preschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about their efforts to be independent.
75
In Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development, what is the elementary school stage (4)? What is the issue? Give a description of task.
Stage: elementary school (6 years to puberty)
Issue: competence vs inferiority
Desc.: children learn the pleasure of applying themselves to tasks, or they feel inferior
76
In Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development, what is the adolescence stage (5)? What is the issue?Give a description of task.
Stage: adolescence ( teen years into 20’s)
Issue: identity vs role confusion
Desc.: teenagers work at refining a sense of self by testing roles, and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are.
77
In Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development, what is the young adulthood stage (6)? What is the issue? Give a description of task.
Stage: young adulthood (20s to early 40s)
Issue: intimacy vs isolation
Desc.: struggle to form close relationships, and to gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially isolated
78
In Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development, what is the middle adulthood stage (7)? What is the issue? give a description of task.
Stage: middle adulthood stage (40s to 60s)
Issue: generativity vs stagnation
Desc.: in middle age, people discover a sense of contributing to the world, usually through family and work, or they may feel a lack of purpose.
79
In Erickson’s stages of psychosocial development, what is the late adulthood stage (8)? What is the issue? give a description of task.
Stage: late adulthood (60s and up)
Issue: integrity vs despair
Desc.: reflecting on his or her life, an older adult may feel the sense of satisfaction or failure.
80
What is identity?
identity is our sense of self
According to Erickson, the adolescent’s task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles.
81
What is social identity?
The “we“ aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to “who am I?“ that comes from our group memberships.
82
What is intimacy?
It is the ability to form emotionally close relationships.
83
In western cultures, what happens to the child-parent relationship as adolescents form their identity?
They begin to pull away from their parents.
84
What goes hand-in-hand with positive parent-teen relationships?
Positive peer relations.
85
What is emerging adulthood?
It is a period from the late teens to mid 20s, bridging the gap between adolescent dependence and full independence and responsible adulthood.
86
What is the X chromosome?
A sex chromosome found in both men and women
Females have two, males have one
An X chromosome from each parent produces a female child
87
What is the Y chromosome?
The sex chromosome only found in males
When paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child
88
What is testosterone?
The most important male sex hormone
Both males and females have it, but males have more
It stimulates the growth of the male sex organs and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.
89
What is puberty?
The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing
90
What is the difference between primary sex characteristics and secondary sex characteristics?
Primary: reproductive organs like the ovaries, testes, and external genitalia that make sexual reproduction possible.
Secondary: non reproductive sexual traits, such as breasts, hips, male voice quality, body hair.
91
What is menarche?
The first menstrual period.
92
What are AIDS?
A life threatening sexually transmitted infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
It depletes the immune system leaving the person vulnerable to infections
93
What is sexual orientation?
Sexual attraction toward members of your own sex, the other sex, or both sexes
94
What is menopause?
The time the menstrual cycle ends, usually within a few years of age 50
Her ability to reproduce declines
95
What happens to strength and stamina as you age?
Muscle strength, reaction time, and stamina diminish in late adulthood.
96
Why is physical activity important for older adults?
It enhances muscles, bones , and energy
It also prevents obesity and heart disease
97
What happens to your immune system as you age?
The immune system weakens
98
What happens to neural processing as you age?
It lags or slows
99
What are cross sectional studies and longitudinal studies?
Cross sectional: comparing people of different ages
Longitudinal: restudying the same people over time
100
Is there a mid life crisis for most people?
Welll not really, it all happens at a different point for people.
101
What is terminal decline of mental abilities ?
The cognitive decline in the final few years of life
102
What is the social clock?
It is the definition of “the right time” .
It is the preferred timing of social events like marriage, parenthood, and retirement.
103
In kohlberg’s levels of moral thinking, what is the post conventional morality stage? What is the focus & give an example.
(Adolescence and beyond)
Focus: actions reflect belief in basic rights and self defined ethical principles
Ex.: people have a right to live
104
Despite how quick or slow we are, remembering also depends on the type of info we are trying to retrieve. What kind of info would we probably not remember well?
Nonsense syllables and unimportant events
105
How do developmental milestones work in regards to infants motor development?
They can occur or begin at different ages, however, the order of the milestones should remain the same.
