developmental psychology

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

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

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

A structure that allows an embryo to be nourished with the mother's blood supply

the moment at which a female becomes pregnant

growth process from conception to birth

agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman's heavy drinking

process of testing DNA to determine the chance a person has, or might pass on, a genetic disorder

rooting, sucking, swallowing

biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience

development of motor abilities including balance and posture as well as whole-body movements such as crawling

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.

Four stage theory of cognitive development: 1. sensorimotor, 2. preoperational, 3. concrete operational, and 4. formal operational. He said that the two basic processes work in tandem to achieve cognitive growth-assimilation and accomodation

Concepts or mental frameworks that organize and interpret information.

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information

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

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

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

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

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

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

The tendency to focus on just one feature of a problem, neglecting other important aspects.

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 the forms of objects

Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life.

the belief of the preoperational child that all objects are made by people

in Piaget's theory, the inability of the young child to mentally reverse an action

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

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

capacity to understand hypothetical concepts

neurologically based disorders that are revealed in a clinically significant way during a child's developing years

the idea that early attachments with parents and other caregivers can shape relationships for a person's whole life

1905-1981; Field: development; Contributions: realized that touch is preferred in development; Studies: Rhesus monkeys, studied attachment of infant monkeys (wire mothers v. cloth mothers)

Stimulation and reassurance derived from the physical touch of a caregiver

the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life

1913-1999; Field: development; Contributions: compared effects of maternal separation, devised patterns of attachment; Studies: The Strange Situation-observation of parent/child attachment

a behavioral test developed by Mary Ainsworth that is used to determine a child's attachment style

a relationship in which an infant obtains both comfort and confidence from the presence of his or her caregiver

the attachment style for a minority of infants; the infant may exhibit insecure attachment through various behaviors, such as avoiding contact with the caregiver, or by alternating between approach and avoidance behaviors

her theory of parenting styles had three main types (permissive, authoratative, & authoritarian)

Trust versus Mistrust (Infancy)

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

organs specifically needed for reproduction

nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair

Uneven growth of body parts during puberty, with hands and feet growing first

identity diffusion, identity foreclosure, identity moratorium, identity achievement

adolescents' belief that they are the focus of everyone else's attention and concern

type of thought common to adolescents in which young people believe themselves to be unique and protected from harm

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

moral development; presented boys moral dilemmas and studied their responses and reasoning processes in making moral decisions. Most famous moral dilemma is "Heinz" who has an ill wife and cannot afford the medication. Should he steal the medication and why?

first level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development in which the child's behavior is governed by the consequences of the behavior

second level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development in which the child's behavior is governed by conforming to the society's norms of behavior

third level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development in which the person's behavior is governed by moral principles that have been decided on by the individual and that may be in disagreement with accepted social norms

An abnormal condition marked by multiple cognitive defects that include memory impairment.

A form of dementia characterized by an increase in Lewy body cells in the brain. Symptoms include visual hallucinations, momentary loss of attention, falling, and fainting.

a progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, finally, physical functioning

our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age

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

psychologist who created the 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance