PSYA02: Chapter 11 - Human Development

The study of how humans change and stay the same throughout their lives, from birth to death. It covers areas like how our senses develop, how we think and talk, and how we feel and interact.

Important for normal development. The earliest experiences a human has, even before birth, shape who they become.

The time before birth when a baby develops inside the mother's womb. It's a period of rapid growth and crucial for laying the foundation for later development.

The process of creating new brain cells. It happens most intensely before birth but continues throughout life, though at a slower pace.

The process of coating nerve fibers with a fatty substance called myelin, which helps nerve signals travel faster and more efficiently, leading to improved brain function and coordination.

The formation of connections between neurons, allowing them to communicate and work together. It's crucial for learning, memory, and all brain functions.

The process of eliminating unnecessary or weak connections between neurons. This helps refine brain circuits and optimize brain function as we learn and grow.

Substances that can harm a developing fetus. They can cause physical deformities, developmental delays, and other health problems.

The period right after birth, when a newborn is still adjusting to life outside the womb.

The process by which our senses detect physical signals from the world around us.

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information to make sense of the world.

A research technique where infants are shown different stimuli, and researchers observe which ones they spend more time looking at.

A developmental principle describing the order in which motor skills emerge, starting from the head and moving down to the feet.

A developmental principle describing the order in which motor skills emerge, starting from the center of the body and moving outwards.

The ability to see clearly. Infants' visual acuity improves rapidly during the first months of life.

The process of understanding and thinking. It develops throughout childhood and adolescence.

The first stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, lasting from birth to about 2 years old. During this stage, infants learn through sensory experiences and actions.

The second stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, lasting from around 2 to 7 years old. Children begin to use symbols (like language) and think more abstractly.

An assessment tool used to evaluate a child's understanding of others' mental states, including their beliefs and perspectives.

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and increased brain activity. It's important for memory consolidation and learning.

The ability to understand that other people have different thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives, even if those thoughts are different from our own.

A type of false belief task where someone hides an object and then the location of the object is changed without the person's knowledge.

A type of false belief task where a container is expected to hold one item, but contains a different item.

The strong emotional bond between a child and their primary caregiver, often a parent. This bond provides security, comfort, and support in early development.

The transition from focusing primarily on oneself (egocentric) to understanding and considering others (sociocentric). It's a key development in social understanding and communication.

Individual differences in how strongly a child is attached to their caregiver and how they behave in response to separation and reunion.

Research methods used to measure and understand the different patterns of attachment that children develop with their caregivers.

The extent to which an infant uses their caregiver as a secure base and how they react to reunions with their caregiver after short separations.

A research method used to assess attachment security in infants, involving a series of separations and reunions with the caregiver.

A pattern of attachment characterized by the infant using the caregiver as a secure base for exploration and seeking comfort from them during distress.

A pattern of attachment characterized by the infant showing inconsistent or ambivalent behaviors towards the caregiver, often displaying anxiety and distress.

The way young children describe themselves, typically focusing on positive attributes and physical characteristics.

The gradual decline in positivity bias in self-perception as children enter school age.

The relative stability of an individual's self-esteem across the lifespan, despite fluctuations in specific areas.

The tendency for individuals with lower self-esteem in childhood to continue having lower self-esteem in adulthood.