Developmental Psychology Flashcards

Sensorimotor (0-2), Preoperational (2-7), Concrete Operational (7-11), Formal Operational (12+).

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight. Develops during the sensorimotor stage, around 8 months.

A preoperational child's inability to see the world from another person's perspective, demonstrated by the three-mountain task.

The understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or appearance. Children master this in the concrete operational stage.

Trust vs. Mistrust (infancy), Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (toddlerhood), Initiative vs. Guilt (preschool).

The adolescent stage in which teens work to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self.

Secure attachment, insecure-avoidant attachment, and insecure-anxious/ambivalent attachment, identified through the Strange Situation experiment.

Harlow showed that infant monkeys preferred a soft cloth 'mother' over a wire one with food, demonstrating that contact comfort is more important than nourishment for attachment.

Preconventional (self-interest), Conventional (social approval and law/order), Postconventional (universal ethical principles).

Harmful agents (drugs, viruses, chemicals) that can cross the placental barrier and cause birth defects during prenatal development.

Germinal (0-2 weeks, zygote implants), Embryonic (2-8 weeks, major organs form), Fetal (9 weeks-birth, growth and maturation).

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment/experience (nurture) to development. Most psychologists now see them as interacting.

A time window during which certain experiences must occur for normal development. Example: language acquisition is easiest before puberty.

Assimilation is interpreting new experiences using existing schemas. Accommodation is modifying existing schemas to incorporate new information.

The gap between what a child can do independently and what they can do with guidance. Learning occurs best within this zone through scaffolding.

An infant's inborn behavioral style and emotional reactivity. Thomas and Chess identified three types: easy, difficult, and slow-to-warm-up.