Themes and Methods
This type of development claims that development happens over time
What is continuous development?
Substances that can cause abnormalities in a fetus
What are teratogens?
Quick and automatic responses to stimuli
What are reflexes?
The stage from birth to 2 years that involves sensory and motor interaction
What is the sensorimotor stage?
The mental frameworks used to organize knowledge
What are schemas?
This type of development claims that development occurs in distinct stages
Using large muscles for activities like running and jumping
What is gross motor coordination?
A baby turning its head and sucking when its cheek is touched
What is the rooting reflex?
The stage where children use symbols and engage in pretend play (around 2-7)
What is the preoperational stage?
Taking in new info by fitting it into existing schemas
What is assimilation?
This debate focuses on whether genetics or environment matters more.
What is nature vs nurture?
The first menstrual cycle marking puberty in females
What is menarche?
Learning that happens during a critical period like baby animals following their parent
What is imprinting?
The basic cognitive structure of collected knowledge about a concept or entity
What are schemas?
Changing schemas to fit new information
What is accommodation?
This type of development studies how one grows throughout their life
What is lifespan development?
A time when learning a skill is easiest, but still possible later on
What is a sensitive period?
Used to test depth perception in infants
What is the visual cliff?
The stage involving abstract and complex thinking (12 and up)
What is the formal operational stage?
The understanding that other people have different thoughts and feelings
What is theory of mind?
This debate ponders whether personality traits stay the same over time or not
What is stability and change?
A rapid period of physical growth during adolescence
What is a growth spurt?
The biological process of becoming fully developed
What is maturation?
Understanding that objects still exist even when unseen
What is object permanence?
The belief that objects (like clouds or toys) have feelings
What is animism?