Biological
This brain region takes the longest to develop and is most associated with the regulation of emotions, behavior, and activation of other brain regions in response to stress
PRE-FRONTAL CORTEX
The specific term for the combination of these four components: inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, planning
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
The attachment style characterization when the child is upset when the parent leaves them alone in a strange place, but then easily comforted upon the parent’s return.
SECURE
This is the characterization of the type of stress present when you get nervous before a big test, but the challenge helps you stay focused and perform well.
POSITIVE STRESS
This period of development has been identified as a sensitive period for identity development
ADOLESCENCE
This “layer above” is characterized by context-driven changes to gene expression, rather than changes to DNA itself
EPIGENETICS
Performance on this tasty self-regulation task is both an indicator of later success in life AND changes depending on how reliable the experimenter is
MARSHMALLOW TASK
The key element of developing attachment security, characterized by a caregiver responding appropriately and promptly to the child’s needs (although the specifics of what this looks like will vary widely).
SENSITIVITY
This is defined as the capacity of a dynamic system to adapt successfully through multisystem processes to challenges that threaten the function, survival, or development of the system (it helps us manage stress)
RESILIENCE
This is grown by the human embryo (therefore sharing the embryo’s DNA) to enable provision of the nutrients needed to come to full term (by digging into the pregnant person’s uterus), and is responded to by the pregnant person’s body as an intruder
PLACENTA
The ability of the brain to reorganize synaptic connections, heightened in different regions of the brain at different times of development
NEUROPLASTICITY
The two main psychological factors that influence biological stress activation
CONTROL AND PREDICTABILITY
The parenting style characterization when a parent sets clear, strict rules and also provides emotional support.
AUTHORITATIVE
This is the sociometric status that shy kids most often fall info
NEGLECTED
These are the original two dimensions of identity development, as outlined by Erikson’s and Marcia’s theoretical models
EXPLORATION AND COMMITMENT
This hormone regulates activity of the HPA axis, promotes positive social interaction, and is used in the treatment of depression
OXYTOCIN
The age at which children start demonstrating that they notice racial differences (i.e., looking more at faces that match the race of their caregivers)
3 MONTHS
Also known as “skin-to-skin,” this very early parenting behavior is associated with child respiratory health, child glucose stability, parent confidence, and longer breastfeeding times.
KANGAROO CARE
This is both a central principle of developmental psychopathology and also of Bronfenbrenner’s BioEcological Theory
MULTIPLE LEVELS
This is a psychological phenomenon/emotion that exists as a chronic stressor, being related to cognitive decline in old age and more deadly than smoking cigarettes
LONELINESS
This brain region is most associated with dopamine production and most important for sensitivity to reward
STRIATUM
In the sticky mittens study, infants learned through interactions that blocks could be used for multiple functions, including: being picked up, being moved or dropped, and being put in the mouth. This is the term for these functions.
AFFORDANCES
The name of the assessment commonly used to characterize attachment style
STRANGE SITUATION
The term for spontaneous rhythmic coordination of actions, emotions, thoughts, and physiological processes across time between two or more individuals (i.e., caregiver and child)
SYNCHRONY
These are the three key components of the psychological construct of critical consciousness
REFLECTION, MOTIVATION & ACTION