Unit 9

Developmental Psychology – The study of physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the lifespan.

Zygotes – The fertilized egg that undergoes rapid cell division before developing into an embryo.

Embryo – The developing human organism from about 2 weeks to 8 weeks after fertilization.

Fetus – The developing human from 9 weeks after conception to birth.

Teratogens – Harmful substances (e.g., drugs, viruses) that can cause birth defects.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – A condition caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy, leading to physical and cognitive impairments.

Habituation – Decreased response to repeated stimuli over time.

Maturation – Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior.

Jean Piaget – Psychologist known for his theory of cognitive development in children.

Schemas – Mental frameworks that help organize and interpret information.

Assimilation – Incorporating new experiences into existing schemas.

Accommodation – Adjusting schemas to incorporate new information.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – A developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication.

Lev Vygotsky – Psychologist who emphasized social interaction’s role in cognitive development.

Stranger Anxiety – Fear of unfamiliar people, typically appearing around 8 months.

Separation Anxiety – Distress infants feel when separated from caregivers.

Attachment – Emotional bond between a child and caregiver.

Harry and Margaret Harlow – Psychologists known for their monkey attachment experiments.

Critical Period – A specific time in development when certain skills or abilities must be learned.

Konrad Lorenz – Studied imprinting in animals.

Imprinting – A process where certain animals form strong attachments early in life.

Mary Ainsworth – Psychologist known for the "Strange Situation" study on attachment styles.

Temperament – A person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Basic Trust – A sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy, formed in infancy.

Self-concept – A person’s understanding and evaluation of who they are.

Diana Baumrind – Psychologist known for identifying parenting styles.

Gender – The social and cultural traits associated with masculinity and femininity.

Carol Gilligan – Psychologist who criticized Kohlberg’s moral development theory, emphasizing differences in male and female moral reasoning.

Gender Role – Expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits assigned to males and females by society.

Gender Identity – One’s personal sense of being male, female, or another gender.

Social Learning Theory – The idea that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating others.

Gender Typing – The acquisition of traditional masculine or feminine roles.

Transgender – A term for people whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth.

Adolescence – The transition period from childhood to adulthood, marked by puberty.

Lawrence Kohlberg – Psychologist known for his theory of moral development.

Erik Erikson – Psychologist who created the psychosocial development theory, emphasizing identity formation.

Identity – One’s sense of self, formed during adolescence.

Social Identity – The part of self-concept that comes from group membership.

Emerging Adulthood – The transitional period between adolescence and full adulthood, typically in the late teens to mid-20s.

X & Y Chromosome – The sex chromosomes that determine biological sex (XX = female, XY = male).

Testosterone – The primary male sex hormone, influencing male development.

Puberty – The period of sexual maturation when a person becomes capable of reproduction.

Primary Sex Characteristic – The reproductive organs and structures directly involved in reproduction.

Secondary Sex Characteristics – Non-reproductive traits (e.g., body hair, voice changes) that develop during puberty.

Menarche – A female’s first menstrual period.

Sexual Orientation – A person’s enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction.

Menopause – The natural end of menstruation and reproductive capability in women.

Cross-sectional Study – A study that compares people of different ages at one point in time.

Longitudinal Study – A study that follows the same group of people over time to observe changes.

Social Clock – The culturally preferred timing of major life events (e.g., marriage, retirement).