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Psychology 5/e Book Cover
Psychology, 5/e
Lester M. Sdorow, Arcadia University
Cheryl A. Rickabaugh, University of Redlands
Human Development


accommodation  The cognitive process that revises existing schemas to incorporate new information.
adolescence  The transition period lasting from the onset of puberty to the beginning of adulthood.
adulthood  The period beginning when the individual assumes responsibility for her or his own life.
assimilation  The cognitive process that interprets new information in light of existing schemas.
authoritative parenting  An effective style of parenting, in which the parent is warm and loving, yet sets well-defined limits that he or she enforces in an appropriate manner.
autonomy versus shame and doubt  Erikson's developmental stage in which success is achieved by gaining a degree of independence from one's parents.
childhood  The period that extends from birth until the onset of puberty.
cohort  A group of people of the same age group.
concrete operational stage  The Piagetian stage, extending from 7 to 11 years of age, during which the child learns to reason logically about objects that are physically present.
conservation  The realization that changing the form of a substance does not change its amount.
conventional level  In Kohlberg's theory, the level of moral reasoning characterized by concern with upholding laws and conventional values and by favoring obedience to authority.
cross-sectional research  A research design in which groups of participants of different ages are compared at the same point in time.
crystallized intelligence  The form of intelligence that reflects knowledge acquired through schooling and in everyday life.
developmental psychology  The field that studies physical, perceptual, cognitive, and psychosocial changes across the life span.
egocentrism  The inability to perceive reality from the perspective of another person.
embryonic stage  The prenatal period that lasts from the end of the second week through the eighth week.
fetal alcohol syndrome  A disorder, marked by physical defects and mental retardation, that can afflict the offspring of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy.
fetal stage  The prenatal period that lasts from the end of the eighth week through birth.
fluid intelligence  The form of intelligence that reflects reasoning ability, memory capacity, and speed of information processing.
formal operational stage  The Piagetian stage, beginning at about age 11, marked by the ability to use abstract reasoning and to solve problems by testing hypotheses.
gender roles  The behaviors that are considered appropriate for females or males in a given culture.
gender schema theory  A theory of gender-role development that combines aspects of social learning theory and the cognitive perspective.
generativity versus stagnation  Erikson's developmental stage in which success is achieved by becoming less self-absorbed and more concerned with the well-being of others.
germinal stage  The prenatal period that lasts from conception through the second week.
identity versus role confusion  Erikson's developmental stage in which success is achieved by establishing a sense of personal identity.
industry versus inferiority  Erikson's developmental stage in which success is achieved by developing a sense of competency.
infancy  The period that extends from birth through 2 years of age.
initiative versus guilt  Erikson's developmental stage in which success is achieved by behaving in a spontaneous but socially appropriate way.
integrity versus despair  Erikson's developmental stage in which success is achieved by reflecting back on one's life and finding that it has been meaningful.
intimacy versus isolation  Erikson's developmental stage in which success is achieved by establishing a relationship with a strong sense of emotional attachment and personal commitment.
longitudinal research  A research design in which the same group of participants is tested or observed repeatedly over a period of time.
maturation  The sequential unfolding of inherited predispositions in physical and motor development.
menarche  The beginning of menstruation, usually occurring between the ages of 11 and 13.
object permanence  The realization that objects exist even when they are no longer visible.
postconventional level  In Kohlberg's theory, the level of moral reasoning characterized by concern with obeying mutually agreed upon laws and by the need to uphold human dignity.
preconventional level  In Kohlberg's theory, the level of moral reasoning characterized by concern with the consequences that behavior has for oneself.
preoperational stage  The Piagetian stage, extending from 2 to 7 years of age, during which the child's use of language becomes more sophisticated but the child has difficulty with the logical mental manipulation of information.
puberty  The period of rapid physical change that occurs during adolescence, including the development of the ability to reproduce sexually.
schema  A cognitive structure that guides people's perception and information processing that incorporates the characteristics of particular persons, objects, events, procedures, or situations.
sensorimotor stage  The Piagetian stage, from birth through the second year, during which the infant learns to coordinate sensory experiences and motor behaviors.
social attachment  A strong emotional relationship between an infant and a caregiver.
social clock  The typical or expected timing of major life events in a given culture.
social learning theory  A theory of learning that assumes that people learn behaviors mainly through observation and mental processing of information.
spermarche  The first ejaculation, usually occurring between the ages of 13 and 15.
teratogen  A noxious substance, such as a virus or drug, that can cause prenatal defects.
transitive inference  The application of previously learned relationships to infer new relationships.
trust versus mistrust  Erikson's developmental stage in which success is achieved by having a secure social attachment with a caregiver.








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