| Term | Definition |
|---|
| nature | theory that holds that physical and cognitive development is gentically determined |
| nurture | theory that holds that physcial and cognitive development is determined by environmental factors |
| behavior genetics | a new field, combining psychology and biology, that studies the influences of heredity and environment on behavior |
| longitudinal study | research technique in which the same participants are tested or observed repeatedly over a period of time |
| cross-sectional study | research technique in which participants, often of different ages, are tested or observed during a limited time span or only once |
| cohort | group of individuals born in the same period |
| zygote | one celled organism formed by the union of a sperm and an ovum |
| mitosis | process of cell division in which each cell contains the same genetic information as other cells |
| embryo | a developing organism during the stage when the major organ systems are formed |
| Chromosomes | segements of genetic material located in the nucleus of each cell |
| genes | units of hereditary material that line the chromosomes and provide information concerning the form and function each cell |
| deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | chemical name for the genetic material located in the nucleus of each cell |
| polygenic inheritance | principle of heredity whereby complex traits, such as intelligence and personality are determine by many genes |
| fetus | the developing baby from about the 9th week after conception until birth |
| placenta | organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy, it produces hormones that maintain pregnancy, transmits noursihment to the fetus, and filters out certain harmful substances |
| teratogen | Any biological, chemical, or physical agent capable of causign birth defects |
| critical period | a specific time during development when damage may occur or certain processes should take place |
| fetal alcohol syndrom | Condition found in some children born to mothers who drank during pregnancy, charcterized by lower birth weight, small head circumference, and mental retardation |
| Ultrasound Procedure | Projection of sound waves onto the fetus, uterus, and placenta to constuct a sonogram |
| Sonogram | outline picture constructed through use of the ultrasound procedure |
| Aminocentesis | Withdrawal and analysis of aminiotic fluid to detect genetic abormalities in the fetus |
| anoxia | redution or lack of oxygen |
| rooting reflex | reflex in which the infant turns its head int he direction of a touch on its face |
| palmer or grasp reflex | reflex consisting of a very strong hold on any object placed in placed int he palm |
| moro reflex | startle reflex in response to a loud noise or the sensation of being dropped |
| Babinski reflex | reflex in which the infants toes fan upward when the bottom of the foot is stroked |
| maturation | biological unfolding of the genetic plan for an individual's development |
| Precocious | Developing motor and cognitive abilities at an early age |
| psychosocial crisis | development problem or obstacle that is created when a psychological need conflicts with the demands of society |
| basic trust versus basic mistrust | erikson's first psychosocial crisis, learned if environment can be trust through primary caregiver |
| Autonomy versus shame and doubt | Erikson's second psychosocial crisis, children develop a sense of whether their behavior is under their own own control or under the control of external forces |
| autonomy | the feeling of being able to act independently and having personal control over one's actions |
| initiative versus guilt | erikson's third psychosocial crisis (3-7 yrs), children begin to evaluate the consequences of their behavior |
| indusry versus inferiority | eriksons fourth psychosocial crisis (7 to 10 years) in which children begin to acquire the knowledge and skills that will enable them to become productive members of society |
| attachment | intense reciprocal relationship formed by two people, usually a child and an adults |
| contact comfort | preference for holding or clinging to objects, such as blankets or teddy bears, that yeild physical comfort and warmth |
| ethological theory of attachment | theory stating attachment eveloved because of its adaptive value to the infant |
| Peer Group | Group of neighborhood childrent, classmates, or selected friends of the same age |
| cognitive development | changes that occur in our thought processes throughout life |
| assimilation | piaget's term for the process of incorporating information into existing schemas |
| Accommondation | Alteration of existing schemas to understand new information |
| object permanence | recognition that objects continue to exist even though they cannot be directly sensed |
| mental reprensentation | an internal representation of an object or event that is not present |
| preoperational stage | piaget's second stage of cognitive development, in which the child begins to think about objects that are not physcially present |
| Symbolic representation | Using a mental throught or activity as a substitute for an actual object |
| egocentrism | inability to see a situation or event from another person's point of view |
| convetional role conformity | kohlberg's second stage of moral development ( ages 10-13) in which rules and standards are internalized and behaviors are performed in order to please others |
| adolescence | The years between approximately age 12 - 20 years |
| Pubescence | Period of rapid growth, maturation of sexual organs, and appearnace |
| Puberty | The time at which an individual achieves full sexual maturity |
| Secular Trend | Tendency of members of one generation to begin puberty at an earleir age than their parents |
| Primary sex characterisitcs | characteristics directly related to reproduction |
| menarche | beginning of menstruation |
| secondary sex characteristics | sex related characteristics that develop during adolescense and are not directly related to reproduction |
| formal operational stage | piaget's final stage of intellectual development, characterized by abstract thinking achieved during adolescence or adulthood |
| personal fable | feeling shared by many adolescents that one is not subject to the same rules as other people |
| imaginary audience | the adolescent's assumption that everyone else is concerned with his or her appearance and behavior |
| identity versus identity confusion | erikson's fifth psychosocial crisis, in which the adolescent faces the task of determining his or her identity and role in society |
| identity achievement | adoption of a set of well chosen values and goals |
| foreclosure | uncritical acceptance of parentaql values and desires; hampers the development of a unique identity |
| negative identitiy | adoption of behaviors that are the opposite of what is expected |
| identity diffusion | failure to develop an identitiy because of lack of goals and general apathy |
| moratorium | period during whcih an adolescent may try several identities without intending to settle on a specific one |
| Early adulthood | period from approximately age 20 to age 40 |
| Fluid intelligence | Intelligence involving the ability to see new relationships, solve new problems, form new concepts, adn use new information |
| crystallized intelligence | intelligence involving the ability to retrieve and use information that has been learned and stored |
| intimacy versus isolation | Erikson's sixth psychosocial crisis, the young adult faces the task of establishing a stong commitment to other or havign to deal with isolation |
| middle adulthood | period from approxiately age 40 to age 65 |
| presbyopia | Farsightedness that normaly develops during middle adulthood; stiffening of the lens results in difficulty in focusiing on near objects |
Combine with other sets
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