unit 4a Development Flashcards
Chronological Development
The various periods of life and the typical years of life these happen.
Continuous Development
The idea that changes with age are cumulative and occur gradually.
Discontinuous Development
The idea that development takes place in unique stages, which happen at specific times of ages.
Lifespan Development
The study of patterns of growth, change, and stability in behavior that occur throughout the entire life span.
Stability and Change
Stability refers to traits and behaviors that remain more or less constant throughout a person’s life, while change refers to traits and behaviors that are more fluid and flexible.
Nature and Nurture
The debate of whether genetics or environment is primarily responsible for driving behavior.
Teratogens
Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.
Fine Motor Coordination
Using small muscle groups for controlled movements, particularly in object manipulation.
Maturation
The emergence of psychological and behavioral characteristics over time; a process occurring in stages which are governed by genes.
Reflexes
Involuntary, automatic responses to sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.
Rooting Reflex
A baby’s tendency, when touched on the cheek, to open the mouth and search for the nipple.
Visual Cliff
A laboratory test of depth perception for infants and young animals.
Critical Periods
Times in the developmental sequence during which a person must experience certain kinds of social or sensory experiences for the normal development of a particular behavior.
Sensitive Periods
Times in development when a person is particularly open to learning a certain skill.
Imprinting
Growth Spurt
A relatively sudden and rapid period of physical growth during puberty.
Puberty
The period of maturation during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.
Primary Sex Characteristics
Secondary Sex Characteristics
Menarche
Spermarche
Menopause
Schemas
Assimilation
