Question

During development, a time span that is optimal for certain capacities to emerge and in which the individual is especially responsive to environmental influences, both positive and negative is called

• A. Sensitive period
• B. Nature-nurture controversy
• C. Maturation
• D. Normative development

Hint:

Sensitive Period = Optimal developmental window for specific skills (e.g., language in early childhood).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Developmental psychology differentiates between rigid biological critical periods and flexible sensitive developmental windows.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In human developmental biology:
A Sensitive Period is a biologically determined time window in which an individual's brain development is exceptionally receptive to specific environmental experiences (such as language acquisition or social attachment).
If the appropriate environmental stimuli are absent during this period, development can still occur later, but it is much more difficult and less optimal.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, this optimal time span is called a Sensitive period, corresponding to option (A).