Term
| Continuity vs. Discontinuity |
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Definition
| The psychological debate that asks the question, is development gradual or does it follow a sequence with distinct stages? Behaviorists like Vygotsky believed in continuity (gradual) and focused on quantitative changes (like height and weight). Piaget, Kohlberg, and Erikson believed in Discontinuity. |
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Term
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Definition
| The psychological debate that asks, do our personalities educe or change? Psychoanalysts say personalities are developed in the first five years of life and then stay. Change Theorists say personalities are modified by interactions. Developmental psychologists say some things like temperament and outgoingness stay stable, but social attitudes can change. |
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Definition
| The study of one group over a long period of time that evaluates the changes in the group. |
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Definition
| The study of how one factor affects several age groups in the same time. |
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Term
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Definition
| The fertilized ovum containing genetic instructions for a new person. |
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Definition
| A developing baby from 3-8 weeks old who's organs have developed and who's tissue is now specialized. |
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Definition
| From 9 weeks to birth, a developing baby who's organ systems now interact and are refining. |
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Definition
| Chemicals that can cause birth defects to babies still in the womb. One example is alcohol. |
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Term
| Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) |
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Definition
| A syndrome that affects babies still in the womb. It occurs when the mother drinks alcohol. It results in a lower intelligence, a smaller head, and misshapen eyes for the baby. |
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Definition
| A term for newborns who have the basic reflexes for rooting, sucking, and grasping to help them survive. |
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Term
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Definition
| Fitting new information into an existing Schema. |
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Term
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Definition
| Modifying a schema to incorporate new information. |
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Term
| Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development |
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Definition
Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational
(My Mnemonic device is: Someday, Pigs Could Fly. |
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Term
| Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget's Theory) |
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Definition
| Age: Birth - 2 yrs. The cognitive stage when a child experiences life through senses and actions. They lack the ability to understand object permanence and usually have stranger anxiety. |
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Term
| Preoperational Stage (Piaget's Theory) |
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Definition
| Age: 2 - 6/7. The cognitive stage when a child can represent things with words. They are intuitive rather than logical. They have no concept of conservation. They are egocentric, meaning they can't think from other's perspectives. |
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Term
| Concrete Operational Stage (Piaget's Theory) |
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Definition
| Age: 7 - 11. The cognitive stage when a child can understand conservation, understand mathematical transformations, and think logically and concretely. |
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Term
| Formal Operational Stage (Piaget's Theory) |
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Definition
| Age: 12 onwards. The cognitive stage when a child can think abstractly, use systematic reasoning, and has the potential for mature and formal reasoning. |
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Term
| Kohlberg's Stages of Morality |
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Definition
| Preconventional, Conventional, Postconventional |
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Term
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Definition
| Age: Before age 9. The stage of morality when the child's focus is on self-preservation. They over rules to avoid punishment and to get rewards. |
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Term
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Definition
| Age: Early Adolescence. The stage of morality when the child cares for others, upholds laws and social rules, but only because they are laws and rules. |
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Term
| Postconventional Morality |
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Definition
| Age: Formal Operational stage (See Piaget). The stage of morality when the person can use abstract reasoning, follow their own self-defined ethical principles, and the rights mutually agreed upon by people (for example, the Constitution). |
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Term
| Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development |
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Definition
Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Competence vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, Integrity vs. Despair.
My Mnemonic device: To All Igloo Colonies, Ice Is Good Illuminated. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ability to reason speedily. This decreases with age. |
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Term
| Crystallized Intelligence |
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Definition
| Accumulated knowledge (for example vocabulary). This increases with age. |
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Term
| Harlow's Monkey Experiment |
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Definition
| In the 1950s, Harlow experimented on several monkey babies. Their basic conclusion was that attachment is not solely based on what provides nourishment. The baby monkeys preferred a soft mom without food rather than the metal mom with food. Attachment is also dependent on affection. (The attachment increased when the cloth mom also stroked and patted the monkeys.) |
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Term
| Ainsworth's Strange Situation Experiment |
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Definition
Mary Ainsworth experimented on babies' reactions to strange situations. She observed to basic responses:
1.) The baby was Securely Attached to their mother. When the mother was in the room, the baby explored. When the mother left, the baby cried. When the mother returned, the baby wanted contact.
2.) The baby was insecurely attached. When the mother was in the room, the baby did not explore. When the mother left, the baby was either upset or indifferent. When the mother returned, the baby was either indifferent or angry. |
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Term
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Definition
| Parents who have strict rules, expect them to be followed, and punish their children when they are not. |
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Definition
| Parents who set limits, explain their reasons, and make appropriate exceptions. |
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Definition
| Parents who don't have any rules or limits for their children. |
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Term
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Definition
| A study of cross-sectional groups that are assessed at least twice over time. The individuals are compared at the same age and are evaluated for similarity. This study tries to see if the difference is because of age or the "cohort effect." |
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Term
| Biographical/Retrospective Study |
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Definition
| This study examines the development of one person over time. |
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