AP Psych Unit 9: Developmental Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies physical, congnitive, 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

the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

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

physical and cognitive abnormalitles in children caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking. In severe cases, signs include a small, out-of-proportion head and abnormal facial features

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

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

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

a concept or framework that organizes and interprets 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 during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities

the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

In piaget’s theory, the stage during which a child learns to use language but doesn’t yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic

the principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects

in Piaget’s theory the prepoerational child’s difficulty taking another’s point of view

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

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors

in piaget’s theory the stage of cognitive development 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 during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts

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

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

an optimal period early in the life of an organism when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development

the process by which certain animals form strong attachments during an early life critical period

a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

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

all our thoughts and feeling about ourselves in answer to the question "who am I?”

the socially constructed roles and characteristics by which a culture defines male or female

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt to destroy

a set of expected behaviors for males of for females

a set of expectations about a socials position, defining how those in the position ought to behave

our sense of being male or female

the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine side

an umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from that associated with their brith sex

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

our sense of self; according to Erikson, the asolescent’s task is to solify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles

the “we” aspect of out self-concept; the part of our answer to “who am I” that cormes from our group memberships

in Erikson’s theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships, a primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood

for some people in modern cultures, a period from the alte teen to mid-tewnties. bridging the gap between adolescent dependence and full independence and responsible adulthood

the sex chromosome found in both men and women.

The sex chromosome found only in males.

the most important of the male sex hormones. Both males and females have it, but the additional testostrone in males stumulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty

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

the body structures that make sexual reproduction possible

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

the first menstrual period

a life-threatening sexually transmitted infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS depletes the immune system, leaving the person vulnerable to infections.

an enduring sexual attraction towards members of either one’s own sex (homosexual) the other sex (heterosexual), or both (bisexual)

the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines

a study in which people of different ages are compared with one another

research in which the same people are restudied and retesting over a long period

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