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developmental psychology

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branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

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chromosomes

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threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

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DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

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a molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

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genes

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the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA

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heredity

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the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

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genome

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the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes

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environment

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every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to social support in later life

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interaction

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the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

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zygote

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the fertilized egg; it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo

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embryo

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the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month

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identical twins

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twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two, creating two genetically identical siblings

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fraternal twins

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twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than non-twin brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment

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fetus

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the development human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

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teratogen

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an agent, such as a chemical or virus, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

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fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

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physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman's heavy drinking. In severe cases, symptoms include noticeable facial misproportions

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reflex

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an unlearned, automatic response to a sensory stimulus

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temperament

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a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

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maturation

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biological growth process leading to orderly changes in behavior, independent of experience

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critical period

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a period early in life when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences is needed for proper development

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schema

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a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information

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cognition

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all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

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sensorimotor stage

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in Piaget's theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities

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object performance

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the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

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preoperational stage

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in Piaget's theory, the stage (from about 2 to 6 or 7 years of age) in which a child learns to use language but cannot yet perform the mental operations of concrete logic

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conservation

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the principle (which Piaget believed to be a part of concrete operational reasoning) that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in shapes

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egocentrism

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in Piaget's theory, the preoperational child's difficulty taking another's point of view

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theory of mind

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people's ideas about their own and others' mental states --- about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict

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autism

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a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by deficient communication, social interaction, and understanding of others' state of mind

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concrete operational stage

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in Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 6 or 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events

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formal operational stage

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in Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning about age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts

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stranger anxiety

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the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning, by about 8 months of age

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attachment

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an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver, and showing distress on separation

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basic trust

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according to Erik Erikson, a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers

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adolescence

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the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence

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puberty

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the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing

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menarche

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the first menstrual period

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identity

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our sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescent's task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles

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social identity

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the "we" aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to "Who am I?" that comes from our group memberships

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intimacy

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in Erikson's theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships; a primary developmental task in early adulthood

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emerging adulthood

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a period from about age 18 to the mid-twenties, when many Western cultures are no longer adolescents but have not yet achieved full independence as adults

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menopause

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the end of menstruation. In everyday use, it can also mean the biological transition a woman experiences from before to after the end of menstruation

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crystallized intelligence

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accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age

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fluid intelligence

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ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood

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social clock

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the culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement

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Of the following, the best way to separate the effects of genes and environment in research is to study

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identical twins raised in different environments

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Temperament refers to a person's characteristic

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emotional reactivity and intensity

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Most human traits are

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influenced by many genes acting together

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Chromosomes are composed of small segments of

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DNA called genes

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When the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another (such as heredity), we say there is a(n) __________ between the two factors.

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interaction

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Piaget held that egocentrism is characteristic of the

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preoperational stage

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During which stage of cognitive development do children begin to show object permanence?

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sensorimotor

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Babies will vigorously root for a nipple when

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their cheek is touched

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The Harlows' studies of attachment in monkeys showed that

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a cloth mother produced the greatest attachment response

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The developmental theorist who suggested that securely attached children develop an attitude of basic trust is

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Erikson

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In preconventional morality, the person

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obeys to avoid punishment or gain concrete rewards

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According to Piaget, the ability to reason abstractly is characteristic of the stage of

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formal operations

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Which of following statements concerning the effects of aging is true?

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The aging process can be significantly affected by the individual's activity patterns.

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The end of menstruation is called

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menopause

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Adolescence is marked by the onset of

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puberty

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Stranger anxiety develops soon after

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the concept of object permanence

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Before Piaget, people were more likely to believe that

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the child's mind is a miniature model of the adult's

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Which is the correct order of stages of prenatal development?

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zygote, embryo, fetus

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The term critical period refers to

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a restricted time for learning

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Which of the following was NOT found by the Harlows in socially deprived monkeys?

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They showed abnormal physical development.

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Whose stage theory of moral development was based on how people reasoned about ethical dilemmas?

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Kohlberg

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The social clock refers to

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typical ages for starting a career, marrying, and so on.

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In Erikson's theory, individuals generally focus on developing __________ during adolescence and then __________ during young adulthood.

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identity; intimacy

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The emotional impact of menopause on a woman depends on

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her expectations and attitudes

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After their grown children have left home, most couples experience

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greater happiness and enjoyment in their relationship

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A person's accumulation of stored information, called __________ intelligence, generally __________ with age.

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crystallized; increases

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Stage theories have been criticized because they fault to consider the development may be significantly affected by

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all of these factors: variations in the social clock, each individual's experiences, and each individual's historical and cultural setting

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A child whose mother drank heavily when she was pregnant is at heightened risk of

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being born with the physical and cognitive abnormalities of fetal alcohol syndrome

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The average age at which puberty begins is _____ in boys; in girls, it is _____.

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13; 11

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An older person who can remember his or her life with a sense of satisfaction and completion has attained Erikson's stage of

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integrity

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