Ch 6 - Understanding Human Development

Explanations based on research about why people act and behave the way they do and how they change over time.

• developmental theories

• developmental guesses

• developmental solutions

• developmental explanations

The way people change and improve in their ability to think and learn throughout life.

• physical development

• cognitive development

• mental development

A theory based on the belief that individuals' behavior is determined by forces in the environment that are beyond their control.

• constructivism

• developmentalism

• behaviorism

Refers to physical changes in size, such as gains in height and weight.

• changes

• growth

• traits

Physical skills involving smaller muscles in the body, such as hands and wrists. Examples include picking up objects, writing, and keyboarding.

• gross-motor skills

• fine-motor skills

Development that includes the areas of relationships and feelings.

• social-emotional development

• cognitive development

• physical development

Advances in physical abilities.

• social-emotional development

• cognitive development

• physical development

The theory that states that people tend to repeat behaviors that have a positive result or are reinforced.

• physical conditioning

• operant conditioning

• classical conditioning

The gradual increase in skills and abilities that occurs over a lifetime.

• development

• growth

• mental

  well-being

All of the actions or processes involving thought and knowledge.

• operant

  conditioning

• cognition

• behavioral

  conditioning