AP Psych Unit 6

the debate about which early traits and characteristics persist through life or change

focuses on whether the changes people undergo over the life span are gradual or abrupt

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

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

The process of developing the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions associated with a particular gender.

a set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for males or for females

a set of expected behaviors for males or for females

our sense of being male or female

a set of behaviors organized around how either a male or female should think and behave

Reflex that causes a newborn to grasp vigorously any object touching the palm or fingers or placed in the hand

Infant reflex where a baby will startle in response to a loud sound or sudden movement.

a baby's tendency, when touched on the cheek, to turn toward the touch, open the mouth, and search for the nipple

Reflex that causes newborn babies to make little stepping motions if they are held upright with their feet just touching a surface

Reflex in which a newborn fans out the toes when the sole of the foot is touched

adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

the inability to see the world through anyone else's eyes

the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.

In Piaget's theory, the preoperational child's belief that human beings make everything in nature.

the ability to read another person's intentions

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

the idea that something can retain or conserve a characteristic while something else changes.

the support for learning and problem solving that encourages independence and growth

the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help

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

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

infants who seem unresponsive to the parent when they are present, are usually not distressed when she leaves, and avoid the parent when they return

clung to mom; reluctant to explore with toys; high levels of distress when mom left; hard to comfort when mom came back

characterized by the child's odd behavior when faced with the parent; type of attachment seen most often with kids that are abused

Erikson's first stage during the first year of life, infants learn to trust when they are cared for in a consistent warm manner

Erikson's stage in which a toddler learns to exercise will and to do things independently; failure to do so causes shame and doubt

Erikson's third stage in which the child finds independence in planning, playing and other activities

Erikson's stage between 6 and 11 years, when the child learns to be productive

Erikson's stage during which teenagers and young adults search for and become their true selves

Erikson's stage in which individuals form deeply personal relationships, marry, begin families

Erikson's stage of social development in which middle-aged people begin to devote themselves more to fulfilling one's potential and doing public service

Erikson's final stage in which those near the end of life look back and evaluate their lives

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

the first menstrual period

first ejaculation

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

The other people who, in an adolescent's egocentric belief, are watching and taking note of his or her appearance, ideas, and behavior. This belief makes many teenagers very self-conscious.

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

the status of adolescents who prematurely commit to an identity without adequately exploring alternatives

Describes a person actively attempting to develop a unique set of values and an understanding of self in society

Erikson's term for the attainment of identity, or the point at which a person understands who he or she is as a unique individual, in accord with past experiences and future plans

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

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

a sharp decline in mental functioning that tends to occur in late adulthood, a few years or months before death