PSYC 1000 Chapter 10: Chapter 10

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1000
• Professor: Paula Barata

Document Summary

Developmental psychology: the studying of human physical, cognitive, social, and behavioural characteristics across the lifespan. Sensitive period: a window of time during which exposure to a specific type of environmental stimulation is needed for normal development of a specific development of a specific ability. Zygotes to infants: from one cell to billions. Teratogens: substances, such as drugs or environmental toxins, that impair the process of development. Fetal alcohol syndrome: abnormalities in mental functioning, growth, and facial development in the offspring of women who use alcohol during pregnancy. Preterm infants: infants born earlier than 36 weeks. Reflexes: involuntary muscular reactions to specific types of stimulation. Synaptic pruning: the loss of weak nerve cell connections. Cognitive development: the study of changes in memory; thought, and reasoning processes that occur throughout the lifespan. Assimilation: a conservative process, whereby people fit new information into the belief system they already possess. Accommodation: a creative process whereby people modify their belief structures based on experience.