Developmental Psychology

Reflex

Involuntary reaction or response

maturation

internally programed growth of a child due to nature, not nurture

lawrence Kohlberg

psychologist who researched moral development

Assimilation

Change brought about because of new information

Object permanence

understand that an object exists even when it cannot be seen or touched

social Clock

culturally preferred timing of events- marriage, parenthood, and retirement

attachment

emotional ties that form between people, especially between a child and their parents

menopause

end of menstruation for women around late 40's and early 50's

Contact comfort

a basic instinctual need to touch and be touched by something soft

rooting reflex

an infants response to turn and suck when touched on the face

ego integrity

belief that life is meaningful and worthwhile even when physical abilities are not what they used to be

Primary Sex Characteristics

characteristics that are directly involved in reproduction

Secondary sex Characteristics

characteristics that distinguish males from females, but not in reproduction

egocentrism

inability to see another person's point of veiw

ageism

prejudice against the senior citizens

Alzheimers

progressive brain disorder that causes loss of memory, and language

Harry Harlow

psychologist who concluded contact comfort was even stronger than the need to eat

Jean piaget

psychologist who researched cognitive development

Imprinting

Process by which some animals form immediate attachments during a critical period- think ducks, or process of forming immediate attachments during a critical period

konrad lorenz

Psychologist who experimented with imprinting with animals

Developmental Psychology

Psychology field that studies how people grow and change throughout life

critical period

a point in which a person is best suited for learning a particular skill, or behavior