PSY 1102 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Prenatal Development, Mental Age

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1102
• Professor: Victor Emerson

Document Summary

Developmental psychology: a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span. Prenatal development: zygote: conception to 2 weeks, embryo: 2 weeks through 8 weeks, fetus: 9 weeks to birth. Teratogens: agents, such as chemical and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development causing harm. Fetal alcohol syndrome (fas): physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman"s heavy drinking. In severe cases, symptoms include noticeable facial misproportions. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner. Maturation: the orderly sequence of biological growth decrees many of our commonalties. Most rapid growth from ages 3 to 6 is in the frontal lobes. Cognition: all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating. Schema: a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information. Assimilation: interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas.