Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory Theory that asserts that social Adolescence Ability to think abstractly and use scientific
scientific reasoning
interaction is central to cognitive development.
Domains that focus on growth of the body and brain, sensory
capacities, motor skills, and health are parts of physical development.
Learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning, and
creativity make up cognitive development. Emotions, personality, and
social relationships are aspects of psychosocial development.
Infancy & Toddlerhood Physical growth and development of motor
skills are rapid. Self-awareness develops. Shift from dependence
toward autonomy occurs.
Adolescence Immature thinking persists in some attitudes and
behaviors. Peer group may exert a positive or negative influence.
Physical growth and other changes are rapid and profound.
Evolutionary Theory Those that encourage reproduction are chosen
more frequently than genes that extend life since aging is an evolved
feature.
Middle Adulthood Creative output may decline but improve in quality.
Infancy & Toddlerhood The brain grows in complexity and is highly
sensitive to environmental influence
Emerging & Young Adulthood Thought and moral judgments
become more complex. Lifestyle choices influence health. Personality
traits and styles become relatively stable, but changes in personality
may be influenced by life stages and events.
Early Childhood Cognitive immaturity results in some illogical ideas
about the world. Memory and language improve.
Middle Adulthood Slow deterioration of sensory abilities, health,
stamina, and strength may begin, but individual differences are wide.
Creative output may decline but improve in quality.
Psychoanalytic Perspectives that proposed, behavior is controlled by
powerful unconscious urges.
Late Adulthood Most people are mentally alert. Slowing of reaction
time affects some aspects of functioning. Develop more flexible
strategies to cope with personal losses and impending death.
Five-factor model Theoretical model of personality, developed and
tested by Costa and McCrae.
Adulthood stage it represents a period of time during which they can
figure out who they are and what they want to be.
Prenatal period Basic body structures and organs form; brain growth
spurt begins. it responds to mother’s voice and develops a preference
for it.
Mid-life review Introspective examination that often occurs in middle
age, leading to re-appraisal and revision of values and priorities.
Early childhood Independence, initiative, and self-control increase.
Identity assimilation a way of trying to incorporate new knowledge
into an already formed self-concept.
Adulthood stage Influence of genes, as well as behavioral and
environmental factors can result in epigenetic
Piagetian approach During sensorimotor stage, infants’ schemes
become more elaborate.  Emerging & Young adulthood Intimate relationships and personal
Social-Contextual approach Social interactions with adults contribute
to cognitive competence through shared activities that help children
learn skills, knowledge, and values important in their culture.
Genetic-programming theories explanations for biological aging as
being the product of a genetic set timeframe for development.
develops.
Generativity Erikson’s term for concern of mature adults for finding
meaning through contributing to society and leaving a legacy for future
generations.
Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory Development occurs through
interaction between a developing person and five surrounding,
interlocking contextual systems of influences
Maturation It's the progression of a natural series of physical and
psychological changes.
Cognitive Perspectives It focuses on thought processes and the
behavior that reflects those processes. This perspective encompasses
both organismic and mechanistically influenced theories.
Mid-life crisis In certain models of normative crisis, tough time in life
caused by the reviewing and reassessing one's past, usually taking
place in the early to middle of the 40s.
Primary aging gradual, inescapable physiological aging degeneration
over the course of life.
Programmed senescence theory The sequential turning on and off
of specific genes is what causes aging. It is the period of time where
the consequent age-related deficits start to show.
RecenteringThe mechanism underlying the switch to an adult self-
image.
Variable-rate theories theories that explain biological aging as the
result of biological system damage processes that are unique to each
individual.
Continuity theory The aging theory put forth by Atchley, that asserts
that people must maintain a balance of continuity and change in both
the internal and external structures of their lives in order to age
successfully.
Early childhood Appetite diminishes, and sleep problems are
common
Information-Processing Approach researchers measure mental
processes through habituation and other signs of visual and perceptual
abilities .
Middle Childhood Growth slows. Egocentrism diminishes. Children
begin to think logically but concretely. Coregulation reflects gradual
shift in control from parents to child.
Free-radical theory Oxygen radical damage builds up over time,
causing cells and eventually organs to stop working.
Learning perspectives Argued that development was the result of
learning, a relatively long-lasting change based on experience or
adaptation to the environment.
Emerging Adulthood Proposed transitional period between
adolescence and adulthood commonly found in industrialized
countries.
Psychoanalytic Perspectives that emphasis on the interaction of
innate and experiential factors.
lifestyles are established but may not be lasting.