Abnormal Psychology

• Synaptogenesis


  The process by which neurons form connections with other neurons to create neural networks
• Maternal factors that can influence prenatal development

  • Nutrition
  • Age
  • Stress
• Paternal factors that can influence prenatal development

  • Age
• Methods for monitoring prenatal development

  • Ultrasound
  • Amniocentesis
  • Blood test
• Ecological theory of perception


  Perception is determined by the interaction between the child's individual characteristics and the environment
• Apgar scale


  A scale used to assess a newborn's physical and neurological health
• Stages of childbirth


  • Dilation
  • Expulsion
  • Crowning
• Rooting reflex


  A reflex in which the baby opens their mouth and turns their head in response to a touch on their cheek
• Gross motor skill


  Large, whole-body movements that involve the use of large muscle groups (e.g. crawling)
• Fontanelle


  A soft spot on a baby's skull where the bones have not yet fused
• Thelen's dynamic systems theory

  Motor development occurs as a result of the interaction between the child's individual characteristics, the task at hand, and the environment
• Piaget's sensorimotor stage


  Period from birth to age 2, during which children develop the ability to coordinate sensory information with motor activity
• Information-processing approach


  Key cognitive processes involved in learning and development: perception, attention, memory, and problem-solving
• Cognitive neuroscience approach


  Uses brain imaging techniques to study the neural basis of cognitive processes
• Social-contextual approach


  Emphasizes the role of social and cultural contexts in shaping cognitive development
• Language development in first 3 years


  • Infants initially use telegraphic speech, which is characterized by the use of short, simple sentences
• Nativist perspective on language development

  Infants are born with a fully-formed language system
• Criticism of nativist perspective: It does not take into account the role of social and cultural contexts in language development
• Risk factors for child maltreatment

  • Poverty
  • Substance abuse
  • Education level of parents
• Social referencing


  Children can learn about social norms and expectations from their peers by observing the emotions and behaviors of others