Chapter 9 Psychology Life Span Development
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
developmental psychology
answer
the study of age related changes in behavior, mental processes, and stages of growth from conception to death
question
maturation
answer
the continuing influence of heredity throughout development -age related physical and behavioral changes characteristic of a species
question
critical period
answer
a time of special sensitivity to specific types of learning which shapes the capacity for future development
question
cross sectional design
answer
a research technique that measures individuals of various ages at one point in time and provides info about age differences
question
longitudinal design
answer
a research design that measures a single individual or group of individuals over an extended period and gives info about age changes
question
germinal period
answer
the first stage of prenatal development beginning with ovulation and followed by conception and implantation in the uterus -first 2 weeks of pregnancy
question
embryonic period
answer
the second stage of prenatal development which begins after uterine implantation and lasts through the eight week
question
fetal period
answer
the third and final stage of prenatal development (eight weeks to birth) characterized by rapid weight gain in the fetus and the fine detailing of bodily organs and systems
question
epigenetics
answer
the study of heritable changes in gene function that are influenced by environmental factors rather than changes in the DNA sequence
question
teratogen
answer
an environmental agent that causes damage during prenatal development
question
fetal alcohol syndrom
answer
a combo of birth defects including organ deformities and mental, motor, and or growth retardation that results from maternal alcohol abuse
question
puberty
answer
the biological changes during adolescence that lead to an adult sized body and sexual maturity
question
emerging adulthood
answer
age period from approximately 18-25 in which individuals have left the dependency of childhood by not yet assumed adult responsibilities
question
ageism
answer
prejudice or discrimination based on physical age -similar to racism and sexism in its negative stereotypes
question
age-related positive effect
answer
a relative preference in older adults for positive over negative info in attention and memory
question
schemA
answer
the cognitive structures, framework, or blue prints of knowledge regarding objects, people, and situation which grow and differentiate with experience
question
assimilation
answer
in Piaget's theory, applying existing mental patterns to new info -new info is incorporated into existing schemas -works in tandem with accommodation
question
accommodation
answer
according to Piaget, the process of adjusting existing mental patterns or developing new ones to better fit with new info -works in tandem with assimilation
question
sensorimotor stage
answer
Piaget's first stage of cognitive development in which schemas are developed through sensory and motor activities
question
object permanence
answer
the Piagetian term for an infant's recognition that objects and people continue to exist when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched directly
question
pre operational stage
answer
Piaget;s second stage of cognitive development (roughly ages 2-7) characterized by the ability to employ significant language and to think symbolically but the child lacks operations and thinking is egocentric and animistic
question
egocentrism
answer
in cognitive development the inability to take the perspective of another person -a hallmark of Piaget's pre operational stage
question
concrete operational stage
answer
Piaget's third stage of cognitive development in which the child can perform mental operations on concrete objects and understand reversibility of conservation, but thinking is tied to concrete, tangible objects and events
question
conservation
answer
according to Piaget, the understanding that certain physical characteristics (such as volume) remain unchanged even though appearance may change
question
formal operational stage
answer
Piaget's fourth stage of cognitive development (around age 11 and beyond) characterized by abstract and hypothetical thinking
question
zone of proximal development
answer
In Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development, the area between what children can accomplish on their own and what they can accomplish with the help of others who are more competent
question
developmental psychology studies 3 key issues
answer
-nature or nurture -stage or continuity -stability or change
question
Piaget's 4 stages
answer
-sensorimotor stage -preoperational stage -concrete operational stage -formal operational stage
