AP Psych Development Vocab Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does accommodation refer to?

Adjusting existing schemas

Developing new schemas

Both A and B (correct)

Ignoring schemas

What is adolescence?

Transitional period between childhood and adulthood

What characterizes Alzheimer's Disease?

Major structure deterioration of the brain that leads to dementia

What is animism?

Belief that all things are living Signup and view all the answers

What does artificialism mean?

The belief of the preoperational child that all objects are made by people Signup and view all the answers

What is assimilation?

Child fits new info into existing way of knowing Signup and view all the answers

Define attachment.

Close, emotional bonds of affection that develop between infants and their caregivers Signup and view all the answers

What does authoritative parenting entail?

A parenting style based on recognized authority or knowledge and characterized by mutual respect Signup and view all the answers

What is authoritarian parenting?

My way or the highway; absolute authority Signup and view all the answers

What is autism?

Children born with this; usually identified after a few months and as late as three; type of mental retardation Signup and view all the answers

Cognition includes all the mental activities associated with _____, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

thinking Signup and view all the answers

What is the concrete operational stage according to Piaget?

Stage 3; ages 7-11; mental operations applied to concrete events; mastery of conservation and hierarchical classification Signup and view all the answers

What is conservation in cognitive development?

Awareness that physical quantities remain constant despite changes in shape or appearance Signup and view all the answers

What does the continuity vs. stages concept refer to in development?

Whether development is continuous or broken down into different sections in life Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical period in development?

If a child doesn't learn this by a certain point in time, he won't learn it Signup and view all the answers

Define cross-sectional study.

Compare groups of participants of differing ages at a single point in time Signup and view all the answers

What is crystallized intelligence?

Stable, accumulated knowledge Signup and view all the answers

What is dementia?

An abnormal condition marked by multiple cognitive deficits that include memory impairment Signup and view all the answers

What are developmental norms?

Indicate the median age at which individuals display various behaviors and abilities Signup and view all the answers

What is developmental psychology?

A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the lifespan Signup and view all the answers

Define egocentrism in psychology.

Thinking is characterized by limited ability to share another person's viewpoint Signup and view all the answers

What is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?

Collection of congenital problems associated with excessive alcohol use during pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

What is fluid intelligence?

Abstract reasoning declines Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the formal operational stage?

4th stage of Piaget's theory; ages 11 and up; mental operations applied to abstract ideas; logical and systematic thinking Signup and view all the answers

What is generativity?

Concern for the next generation Signup and view all the answers

What is habituation?

Gradual reduction in the strength of a response when a stimulus event is presented repeatedly Signup and view all the answers

Define identity in psychology.

Who am I? Signup and view all the answers

What is imprinting?

Soon after birth, establishes a long-lasting behavioral response and attachment to a specific individual or object Signup and view all the answers

What is infantile amnesia?

Certain point in time when an infant forgets being a baby Signup and view all the answers

Define intimacy in development.

Establish enduring, committed relationships Signup and view all the answers

What is a longitudinal study?

Investigators observe one group of participants repeatedly over a period of time Signup and view all the answers

What is maturation in development?

Development that reflects the gradual unfolding of one's genetic blueprint Signup and view all the answers

What does menarche refer to?

The first occurrence of menstruation Signup and view all the answers

What is menopause?

Gradual ending of menstruation Signup and view all the answers

Define object permanence.

Develops when a child recognizes that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer visible Signup and view all the answers

What is the preoperational stage in Piaget's theory?

Between ages 2 and 7; development of symbolic thought marked by irreversibility, centration, and egocentrism Signup and view all the answers

What are primary sex characteristics?

Structures necessary for reproduction Signup and view all the answers

Define puberty.

The stage during which sexual functions reach maturity, marking the beginning of adolescence Signup and view all the answers

What is the rooting reflex?

A baby's tendency, when touched on the cheek, to turn toward the touch, open the mouth, and search for the nipple Signup and view all the answers

What is a schema?

Child develops a system for understanding a situation or a way of knowing Signup and view all the answers

What are secondary sex characteristics?

Physical features that distinguish one sex from the other but are not essential for reproduction Signup and view all the answers

What is secure attachment?

Use mother as a secure base from which to venture out and explore the world Signup and view all the answers

What is self-concept?

A sense of one's identity and personal worth Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the sensorimotor stage?

Stage 1 of Piaget's theory; birth to 2 years; coordination of sensory input and motor responses; development of object permanence Signup and view all the answers

What is a social clock?

The culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement Signup and view all the answers

What is a stage theorist?

A theorist who believes in developmental periods during which characteristic patterns of behavior are exhibited and certain capacities become established Signup and view all the answers

What is separation anxiety?

Emotional distress seen in many infants when they are separated from people with whom they have formed an attachment Signup and view all the answers

What does the Strange Situation assess?

A test that evaluated infant reactions to attachment situations Signup and view all the answers

Define teratogens.

Any drug or substance that is capable of interfering with the development of a fetus Signup and view all the answers

What does the theory of mind refer to?

The ability to understand that oneself and others have minds that may not know or be feeling the same things Signup and view all the answers

What is the sequence of development represented by zygote, embryo, fetus?

Union of sperm and an egg; vital organs and bodily systems begin developing; developing organism Signup and view all the answers

Who is Rene Baillargeon?

Believed Piaget underestimated children and used visual tasks to assess development Signup and view all the answers

Who is Jay Belsky?

Conducted an evolutionary analysis of attachment, emphasizing the role of environment in development Signup and view all the answers

Who is Jean Piaget?

Developed theories on the four stages of cognitive development Signup and view all the answers

Who is John Bowlby?

Developed attachment theory influenced by evolutionary theories Signup and view all the answers

Who is Lawrence Kohlberg?

Studied moral development and how young individuals develop a sense of right and wrong Signup and view all the answers

Who is Elisabeth Kubler-Ross?

Developed the five stages of loss related to death and dying Signup and view all the answers

Who is Mary Ainsworth?

Studied infant reactions in strange situations and identified three types of attachments Signup and view all the answers

Who is Erik Erikson?

Proposed an eight-stage theory of psychosocial development Signup and view all the answers

Who is Harry Harlow?

Studied attachment through monkeys and emphasized the importance of comfort Signup and view all the answers

Who is Jerome Kagan?

Researcher who studied temperament, identifying inhibited and uninhibited types Signup and view all the answers

What is dishabituation?

Occurs if a new stimulus elicits an increase in the strength of a habituated response Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Development Vocabulary in Psychology

Accommodation: Adjusting existing schemas or developing new ones when faced with new information.
Adolescence: The transitional phase between childhood and adulthood, typically marked by significant cognitive and emotional changes.
Alzheimer's Disease: A neurodegenerative condition leading to brain deterioration and dementia, affecting memory and cognitive function.
Animism: The belief that all objects and things possess life and emotions.
Artificialism: A preoperational child's belief that all objects are created by human beings.
Assimilation: The process by which children incorporate new information into existing cognitive frameworks.
Attachment: The emotional bond that forms between infants and their caregivers, essential for social and emotional development.
Authoritative Parenting: A style characterized by mutual respect and recognition of authority; promotes healthy development.
Authoritarian Parenting: A style defined by strict obedience and an authoritative approach; suffocates children's autonomy.
Autism: A developmental disorder usually identified in early childhood, characterized by challenges in social interaction and communication.
Cognition: Encompasses all mental processes related to knowledge, memory, and communication.
Concrete Operational Stage: Piaget's third stage (ages 7-11), where children master logical operations concerning concrete situations but struggle with abstract thinking.
Conservation: Understanding that quantity remains unchanged despite transformations in shape or appearance.
Continuity vs. Stages: Debate on whether development is gradual or occurs through distinct stages.
Critical Period: A specific time frame in which certain skills or knowledge must be acquired; failure to do so may hinder future learning.
Cross-Sectional Study: Research method comparing different age groups at a single point in time to assess developmental differences.
Crystallized Intelligence: Knowledge accumulated over time, remaining stable as individuals age.
Dementia: Cognitive decline characterized by impaired memory and reasoning abilities.
Developmental Norm: Statistical average age at which specific milestones or behaviors typically occur in children.
Developmental Psychology: The field concerned with how people develop and change physically, cognitively, and socially throughout their lives.
Egocentrism: A cognitive limitation in children's ability to understand perspectives different from their own.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): Birth defects resulting from maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, leading to developmental issues.
Fluid Intelligence: The ability to reason and solve novel problems; tends to decline with age.
Formal Operational Stage: Piaget's fourth stage (ages 11 and up), where abstract reasoning and systematic planning develop.
Generativity: Concern for the well-being and development of future generations, often explored in adulthood.
Habituation: Decreased response to a stimulus after repeated exposure.
Identity: A person's perception of who they are, shaped by personal experiences and social interactions.
Imprinting: A critical learning process that occurs shortly after birth, where young animals establish a strong attachment to a caregiver or specific object.
Infantile Amnesia: The phenomenon where individuals have no recollection of their early childhood memories.
Intimacy: The capacity to establish enduring and committed interpersonal relationships.
Longitudinal Study: Research method observing the same individuals over a long period to track developmental changes.
Maturation: The natural progression of development aligned with genetic programming and biological processes.
Menarche: The onset of menstruation, marking an important milestone in female puberty.
Menopause: The phase marking the end of a woman’s reproductive capability and menstruation.
Object Permanence: The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not perceived visually.
Preoperational Stage: Piaget's second stage (ages 2-7), characterized by symbolic thought but marked by egocentrism and irreversibility.
Primary Sex Characteristics: Reproductive organs and structures necessary for procreation.
Puberty: The developmental stage when sexual maturity is reached, signaling the transition into adolescence.
Rooting Reflex: A newborn’s instinctive response to turn towards a touch on the cheek and seek out nourishment.
Schema: A cognitive structure that helps individuals organize and interpret information and experiences.
Secondary Sex Characteristics: Features that distinguish genders but are not directly involved in reproduction.
Secure Attachment: A type of attachment where children feel safe to explore the world while knowing they can return to their caregiver.
Self-Concept: An individual's understanding of their identity and personal value.
Sensorimotor Stage: Piaget's first stage (ages birth-2), focused on sensory experiences and motor activities, leading to the development of object permanence.
Social Clock: A societal timetable that dictates the typical age for major life events such as marriage and parenthood.
Stage Theorist: A theorist advocating that development occurs in specific stages characterized by certain behaviors and capacities.
Separation Anxiety: Emotional distress exhibited by infants when they are separated from their primary caregivers.
Strange Situation: A research method observing infants' behaviors and attachments in unfamiliar situations.
Teratogens: Substances that can cause birth defects or developmental issues when a fetus is exposed during pregnancy.
Theory of Mind: The understanding that oneself and others have separate mental states and perspectives.
Zygote, Embryo, Fetus: Stages of prenatal development, from conception through organ formation and growth.
Rene Baillargeon: A researcher who challenged Piaget's views on children's cognitive abilities.
Jay Belsky: Explored attachment through an evolutionary lens, emphasizing environmental characteristics in child-rearing.
Jean Piaget: Developed the theory of cognitive development with four distinct stages.
John Bowlby: Formulated attachment theory, highlighting its evolutionary significance in child development.
Lawrence Kohlberg: Studied moral development, proposing stages of understanding right and wrong.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: Identified five stages of grief and loss, providing insight into emotional responses to death.
Mary Ainsworth: Pioneered attachment research through the Strange Situation procedure.
Erik Erikson: Proposed an eight-stage theory of psychosocial development, each featuring a unique conflict.
Harry Harlow: Researched attachment and comfort, demonstrating its importance through studies with monkeys.
Jerome Kagan: Investigated temperament in children, focusing on inhibited and uninhibited behavioral patterns.
Dishabituation: The renewal of a habituated response when a new stimulus is introduced.

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Test your knowledge of key vocabulary in developmental psychology with these AP Psychology flashcards. Each term is defined clearly, helping you understand essential concepts like accommodation, adolescence, and Alzheimer's Disease. Perfect for exam preparation!