Lifespan Psychology - Chapter 3

temperment

A baby's general approach to the world and behavioral orientation.

obesity

A body weight that exceeds by 20% what is considered to be appropriate for one's age.

sudden infant death sydrome

A condition of unknown cause resulting in the sudden and unexpected death of an infant.

ADHD

A disorder that causes children to be highly distractible and energetic. It is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain leading to difficulties in regulating attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

myelin

A fatty material deposited around axons.

myelinated

A layer of fat that can surround the axon.

meconium

A newborn's first bowel movement.

prepubertal growth spurt

A rapid increase in height and weight preceding puberty (at about age 10 to 12).

reflexes

A response controlled by the automatic nervous system, over which an individual as no willful control.

mental health

A state of psychological well-being in which an individual is able to behave according to cultural standards.

perinatal deaths

A term that includes deaths from 20 weeks gestation to 4 weeks of birth.

apgar score

An evolution method for assessing the health status of a newborn.

connnections

An individual's relationships with others and feelings as though one belongs.

competence

An individual's skills, abilities, and proficiency within a specific domain, such as school, relationships, or sports,

idiopathic protracted apnea

An interruption in breathing during sleep.

psychotropic medication

Any medication capable of altering cognition, or behavior.

individual difference

Any quality, trait, or characteristic that distinguishes one person from others.

childproofing

Arranging and adapting housing and physical space to met safety concerns for infants.

congenital abnormalities

Birth defects or chromosomal abnormalities that are incompatible with life.

proximodistal growth pattern

Changes first in the center, innermost area of the body and then move outward to the ends of extremities.

cephalocaudal growth pattern

Changes occur in the head region of the body, both internally and externally in advance of those occurring toward the abdominal region;

neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that carry information to other neurons.

cell body

Contains the parts of the cell to keep it alive and functioning (such as the nucleus).

hitching

Crawling or creeping backward using the buttocks rather than the hands and knees.

neonatal death

Death of a baby during the neonatal period (birth to 2 weeks of age).

stillbirth

Death of a fetus before birth due to any one of several reasons.

confidence

Having a certainty in one's ability.

character

Having a moral compass and integrity.

caring

Having empathy and concern for others.

creeping

Locomotion by moving the hands and knees with the abdomen off the surface.

crawling

Locomotion with the abdomen on a surface.

Babinski relflex

Named for its discoverer, this reflex occurs when the sole of the baby's foot is stroked along the outer edge. In response, the neonate's toes spread wide in a fanning action, relax somewhat, curl forward tightly closed, and return to their original position.

co-sleeping

Parents and children sleep in the same bed.

dendrites

Receives information from other neurons.

rhythm

Regular body movements.

vestigial reflexes

Several reflexes present at birth that seem to be relics of adaptive experiences sometime in our vast evolutionary past.

visual acuity

Sharpness or clarity of vision.

pediatric psychology

Studies interactions and relationships among health, illness, physical development, cognitive development, and socioemotional development across the life-span.

axon

Takes information from the neuron away to be sent to other neurons.

strength

The ability to exert force.

hand skills

The ability to explore and manipulate a wide variety of objects with the hands.

balance

The ability to maintain equilibrium and stability.

perceptual skill

The ability to perceive through sight and sight; especially those skills related to motor skill development, such as depth perception and pattern perception, that emerge in infancy.

coordination

The ability to use various muscle groups together to accomplish specific actions.

bilateral coordination 2

The cooperative, integrated use of both sides of the body in performing motor acts.

bilateral coordination

The coordinated, integrated use of both sides of the body in performing motor acts.

precision

The dexterity and accuracy of movements.

slow-to-warm-up temperment

The display of quiet activity levels, somewhat fussy, and wary around others and situations.

pruning

The elimination of unnecessary excess neuron connections between millions of neuron cells over time.

colostrum

The first liquid secreted by the mammary glands, full of antibodies and nutrition.

phenomenism

The first stage for understanding of illness "as an external concrete phenomenon that is spatially and temporally remote from the condition of illness."

flexibility

The freedom to bend or move the body in various directions.

neuron

The information processing cell of the nervous system.

vernix

The lubricating, creamlike substance that has formed during the fetal period.

miscarriage

The natural loss of an embryo, usually before the tenth week of pregnancy.

deciduous teeth

The primary or first set of 16 teeth that erupt when an infant is between 5 and 7 and 1/2 months of age.

impulsion

The rate at which body movement begins from a stationary position.

speed

The rate of movement once the body is in action.

difficult temperment

The resisting of the physical handling, cradling, crying inconsolably, and showing irregular sleeping and eating patterns.

contagion

The second stage for understanding illness as "caused by people or objects that are proximate to, but not touching, the child."

dentition

The shedding of one set of teeth and eruption of another.

synapses

The tiny gaps between neurons.

palmar (hand) and plantar (foot) grasping reflex

These reflex movements are produced by touching or stroking the palm of the newborn's hands or soles of its feet. Both fingers and toes curl in the grasping manner in response. The strength of these reflexes is remarkable.

adaptive reflexes

This group of reflexes aids the neonate to locate and obtain food, thus helping to ensure survival.

rooting reflex

This is a searching reflex motion that helps the neonate to locate a breast or bottle nipple. It occurs when the baby's cheeks are stroked or the corner of its mouth is touched. The baby turns its head in the direction of the stimulation, and as it does so, opens its mouth. The baby's tongue begins to move forward and backward in its mouth.

moro reflexes

This reflex is associated with a sudden change in movement or support of the newborn. If a neonate is raised or lowered suddenly or if support of its head is released, the baby responds by raising its arms upward very quickly and curling its fingers. Moving of the legs accompanies these reflex motions.

sucking reflex

This reflex is closely associated with both the rooting and swallowing reflexes. It is produced when the soft palate in the baby's mouth is stimulated.

startle reflex

This reflex is most often elicited by loud noises and unexpected, sudden touching of the newborn's trunk area.

tonic neck reflex

This reflex usually occurs when the neonate on its back. The arms, legs, ad head move toward the characteristic "fencing" position in which the arm and leg on one side are extended, while those on the other side are extended, while those on the other side are flexed. The baby's head turns to one side, usually in the direction of its extended limbs.

swimming reflex

This usual reflex occurs when the neonate is submerged on its abdomen in water. The baby holds its breath and makes swimming motions with both legs and arms.

gross motor skills

Those motor acts that require the use of large muscle groups.

fine motor skills

Those motor acts that require the use of small muscle groups and hand-eye coordination.

cruising

Walking using the assistance of objects.

walking reflex

step-like motions of the legs occur reflexively when the neonate is held in an upright position and allowed to touch a flat surface with its feet. The legs respond by flexing alternately as if the child is walking.