stranger anxiety
the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beggining by about 8 months of age
attachment
an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on seperation
critical period
an optimal period shortly after birth when an organism's exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces proper development
imprinting
the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life
basic trust
according to Erik Erikson a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responisive care givers
self concept
a sense of one's identity and personal worth
adolescence
the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence
puberty
the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing
primary sex characteristics
the body structures (ovaries, testes, and the external genitala) that make sexual reproduction possible
secondary sex characteristics
nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as femal breasts and hips, male voice quality and hair
menarche
the first menstual period
identity
one's sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescent's task is to solidify a self by testing and integrading various roles
intimacy
in Erikson's theory, the ability to from close, loving relationships; a primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood
menopause
the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines
alzheimer's disease
a progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and finally, physical funtioning
cross sectional study
a study of different ages are compared with one another
longitudinal study
research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period
crystalized intelligence
one's accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age
fluid intelligence
one's ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood
social clock
the culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement