Chapter 10 Human Development

study of how behavior changes over the life span

situation in which the effects of genes depend on the environment in which they are expressed

tendency of individuals with certain genetic predispositions to seek out and create environments that permit the expression of those predispositions

activation or deactivation of genes by environmental experiences throughout development

research design that examines people of different ages at a single point in time

effect observed in a sample of participants that results from individuals in the sample growing up at the same time

research design that examines development in the same group of people on multiple occasions over time

false assumption that because one event occurred before another event it must have caused that event

prior to birth

fertillized egg

ball of identical cells early in pregnancy that haven’t yet begun to take on any specific function in a body part

second to eighth week of prenatal development, during which limbs, facial features, and major organs of the body take form

period of prenatal development from ninth week until birth after all major organs are established and physical maturation is the primary change

an environmental factor that can exert a negative impact on prenatal development

condition resulting from high levels of prenatal alcohol exposure, causing learning disabilities, physical growth retardation, facial malformations, and behavioral disorders

bodily motion that occurs as a result of self-initiated force that moves the bones and muscles

the transition between childhood and adulthood commonly associated with the teenage years

the achievement of sexual maturation resulting in the potential to reproduce

a physical feature such as the reproductive organs and genitals that distinguish the sexes

a sex-differentiating characteristic that doesn’t relate directly to reproduction, such as breast enlargement in women and deepening voices in men

start of menstruation

boys’ first ejaculation

the termination of menstruation, marking the end of a woman’s reproductive potential

study of how children acquire the ability to learn, think, reason, communicate, and remember

Piagetian process of absorbing new experience into current knowledge structures

Piagetian process of altering a belief to make it more compatible with experience

Vygotskian learning mechanism in which parents provide initial assistance in children’s learning but gradually remove structure as children become more competent

phase of learning during which children can benefit from instruction

ability to reason about what other people know or believe

a fear of strangers developing at eight or nine months of age

basic emotional style that appears early in development and is largely genetic in origin

the strong emotional connection we share with those to whom we feel closest

positive emotions afforded by touch

environment that provides children with basic needs for affection and discipline

ability to inhibit an impulse to act

individuals’ sense of being male or female

a set of behaviors that tend to be associated with being male or female

our sense of who we are, as well as our life goals and priorities

dilemma concerning an individual’s relations to other people

period of life between the ages of 18 and 25 when many aspects of emotional development, identity, and personality become solidified

supposed phase of adulthood characterized by emotional distress about the aging process and an attempt to regain youth

alleged period of depression in mothers following the departure of their grown children from the home