Genetics & Prenatal Development
This branch of psychology studies how people change physically, cognitively, and socially across the lifespan.
What is developmental psychology?
The newborn reflex triggered when a baby turns its head toward a touch on the cheek.
What is the rooting reflex?
The psychologist who proposed that children actively construct knowledge through stages.
Who is Jean Piaget?
The stage that marks the transition from late childhood to adulthood.
What is adolescence?
The period between the late teens and mid-twenties marked by exploration and instability
What is emerging adulthood?
The basic unit of heredity that encodes instructions for making proteins.
What is a gene?
The reflex that causes a baby to grip an adult’s finger tightly.
What is the grasping reflex?
In Piaget’s conservation task, a five-year-old insists that a tall, thin glass holds more water than a short, wide one because they lack this concept
What is conservation?
The stage of life when sexual maturity is reached.
What is puberty?
The gradual decline of testosterone in men, associated with lower libido and energy.
What is andropause?
The complete set of genes inherited from both parents.
What is the genotype?
The emotional bond that forms between an infant and their caregiver.
What is attachment?
If Johnny still believes that the ball that was thrown across the room, still exists, what is this concept?
What is object permanence?
According to Kohlberg, this level of moral reasoning is based on avoiding punishment and seeking rewards.
What is the preconventional level?
The end of menstruation and fertility in women
What is menopause?
The observable traits and behaviors that result from the interaction of genetics and environment
What is the phenotype?
In Ainsworth’s research, infants who explore freely when caregivers are present but show distress when they leave are displaying this attachment style.
What is secure attachment?
In Piaget’s liquid conservation task, a five-year-old typically says this container has more water.
What is the tall, thin container?
A person who obeys the law simply because it’s the law demonstrates this level of moral reasoning.
What is the conventional level?
According to Erikson, middle adulthood centers around this psychosocial conflict
What is generativity vs. stagnation?
The study of how environmental factors can turn genes “on” or “off” without altering DNA itself.
What is epigenetics?
Infants who avoid or ignore their caregiver upon return demonstrate this attachment style.
What is avoidant attachment?
Rory follows speed limits simply because laws should be obeyed. He is at this level of Kohlberg’s moral reasoning.
What is the conventional level?
When someone’s moral decisions are guided by justice and universal principles, they are operating at this level
What is the postconventional level?
The parenting style that is demanding but unresponsive to a child’s needs.
What is authoritarian?
This stage of prenatal development occurs during weeks 3–8 and is most vulnerable to teratogens.
What is the embryonic period?
This attachment style involves contradictory behavior—seeking closeness yet fearing it
What is disorganized attachment?
According to Erikson, Morgan—who struggles with closeness and feels isolated—faces this psychosocial conflict
What is intimacy vs. isolation?
This brain region, responsible for impulse control and reasoning, continues to mature during adolescence.
What is the frontal lobe?
The parenting style that is warm but imposes few rules or limits.
What is permissive?
The stage where rapid cell division occurs and the zygote implants into the uterine wall.
What is the germinal period?
The inborn predisposition to behave and react consistently in a particular way
What is temperament?
According to Erikson, failure to form close relationships in early adulthood leads to this outcome.
What is isolation?
Early-maturing girls are at higher risk for these two types of challenges.
What are body image issues and risky behaviors?
The parenting style linked with the most positive child outcomes—confidence and responsibility
What is authoritative?
Harmful agents like alcohol, nicotine, or radiation that can cause birth defects.
What are teratogens?
According to Thomas and Chess, this temperament describes infants who are calm but struggle with new experiences.
What is slow-to-warm-up?
How many Psychosocial stages of life did Erik Erikson theorize?
What is 8
What medication can be taken to prevent the development of specific body parts due to puberty.
What are puberty blockers.
Erikson’s final stage, which focuses on reflecting on one’s life with satisfaction or regret
What is integrity vs. despair?
Provides nourishment, oxygen, and waste removal for the fetus.
What is the Umbilical Cord
Jordan, age 2, attends daycare regularly. When Jordan’s mother drops him off, he clings briefly and looks a bit sad but quickly begins playing once reassured. When she returns at the end of the day, Jordan runs to her, smiles, and hugs her tightly before showing her the toys he played with.
What is Secure Attachment.
Carlos is 30 years old and has a stable job but avoids long-term relationships and states "I don't want to get close to people, I may get hurt. What psychosocial stage is Carlos in?
Intimacy v. Isolation
How many years do girls typically develop in advance prior to boys during puberty?
What is 2 years.
A person in this stage of grief may not be able to accept the reality of their plight of death or loss. They may say things such as "I don't really have cancer, the doctors don't know the truth"
What is Denial
Filters out harmful agents from the pregnant person's blood.
What is the placenta.
Ava, age 2, becomes extremely distressed whenever her father leaves the room. At daycare drop-off, she cries uncontrollably and refuses to play, even when comforted by her teacher. When her father returns, Ava runs to him but then pushes him away angrily while still crying.
What is Anxious Attachment.
What is Qualitative
When is the peak age of height spurts for young boys?
What is the age of 14.
What is the life expectancy for men in the U.S.?
What is 73.