Physical
The automatic and sequential process of development that results from genetic signals.
Maturation
The developmental psychologist best known for his theory of the four stages of cognitive development.
Jean Piaget
The psychologist best known for his stages of Psychosocial Development.
Erik Erikson
The developmental psychologist best known for his three levels of moral development.
Lawrence Kohlberg
In prenatal development, a fertilized egg is known as a ______________.
zygote
A stage or point in development during which a person is best suited to learn a particular skill or behavior pattern.
Critical Period
The stage in which object permanence first develops.
Sensorimotor Stage
The stage of psychosocial development for infancy is...
Trust vs. Mistrust
Jimmy decides not to steal his sister's cookie because he believes he would be punished. His reasoning would put him at which level of moral development?
Preconventional
According to experiments done by Harry and Margaret Harlow with baby rhesus monkeys, ________________ is the most important factor in forming an attachment bond.
contact comfort
An involuntary reaction or response in infants, such as sucking or swallowing.
A reflex
The principle that an object can change shape but still contain the same amount of matter is called _________________. This idea is first understood in the concrete operational stage.
conservation
Feelings of _________________ are the emotional ties that form between people, like an infant and their parents.
attachment
A homeless man falls off the bridge and into the water, without a second thought Jason jumps in to save him because saving a human life is worth more than the personal risk. This type of reasoning would place Jason at which level of moral development?
Postconventional
A _______________ is any non-genetic stimuli or condition from the environment that can harm a growing baby in the prenatal period.
teratogen
___________ refers to the specific developmental changes that occur during early adolescence.
Puberty
Egocentrism and animism are common characteristics during which stage of cognitive development?
Preoperational Stage
The stage of psychosocial development for adolescence is...
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Kayla decides to donate blood because all her friends are doing it and she doesn't want to look selfish. Her moral reasoning would place her at which level of moral development?
Conventional
A critical period for brain development during the prenatal period is the _____________ period.
embryonic
The end of menstruation for women that usually occurs in the late 40's or early 50's.
Menopause
Stage of cognitive development in which someone would be capable of understanding calculus.
Formal Operational Stage
The stage of psychosocial development for middle adulthood is...
Generativity vs. Stagnation
This level of moral reasoning is attained at the same time as the formal operational stage of cognitive development.
Postconventional
During adolescence the brain gets rid of unused neural connections so it can rewire and function more efficiently. This process is known as...
Pruning/Synaptic Pruning