CH 4 Human Development (Terms) Flashcards
Human Development
Scientific study of age-related changes across physical, cognitive, social and behavioural domains
Multidisciplinary
Includes developmental psychology
Developmental Psychology
The study of how behaviour and mental processes change over a lifespan
ex. language and self-control development
Lifespan Perspective
Changes occur within the entire duration of the human lifespan (not just child-adulthood)
Post-hoc Fallacy
The false assumptions that because on event occurred before another, it must have caused it
- Correlation ≠ Causation
ex. parent notices ADHD symptoms in a child after several years of playing video games
Bidirectional Influences
Parents influence children; Children influence parents
ex. Temperaments & personality relationship with parenting style
- Many relationships are bidirectional throughout development
Critical Periods
Specific periods in development when an organism is especially sensitive to the presence/absence of some particular kind of experience
Sensitive Period
A span of months or years during which a child may be particularly responsive to specific forms of experience or particularly influenced by their absence
Epigenome
The sum total of inherited and acquired molecular modifications to the genome that leads to changes in gene regulation without changing the DNA sequence of the genome
Cohorts
Groups of individuals who are born within a particular span of years and share the same historical experiences at the same point in their development
Cohort Effect
Effect observed in a sample of participants that results from individuals in the sample growing up at the same time
Can confound the ability to attribute differences to age
Cross-sectional Research Design (definition, advantage, disadvantages)
Research focused on age-related changes
Investigates people of different ages at a single point in time
- Advantage: Convenient
- Disadvantage: Cannot disentangle cohort vs. aging effects
Longitudinal Research Design (definition, advantage, disadvantages)
Research focused on age-related changes
Investigates development in the same group of people on multiple occasions over time
- Advantage: Watching age unfold
- Disadvantage: Limited knowledge of other cohorts, time/resources, and attrition
Cohort-Sequential Research Design (2)
Research focused on age-related changes
Investigates several age cohorts followed and tested longitudinally
- Combines cross-sectional and longitudinal research
Conception (3)
- Ovum is fertilized by sperm
- Gametes contain 23 unpaired chromosomes ➡️ combine at conception to form Zygote
- Zygote divides into more cells and moves towards uterus ➡️ blastocyst implants
Germinal Stage (4)
- 1st stage of Prenatal Development
Conception to Implantation
- Zygotes rapidly divides ➡️ blastocyst
- Implantation and placental development
Embryonic Stage (4)
- 2nd stage of Prenatal Development
Implantation to end of week 8
- Foundational structure building for all parts of the body
- Neural tube is formed
Fetal Stage (4)
- 3rd stage of Prenatal Development
Week 9 to Birth
- Increases in size
- Refinement of organ systems: brain and lungs
Neuronal Proliferation
Neurons are generated
Migration
Movement of brain cells to permanent location
Teratogens (4)
Environmental factors that can exert a negative impact on prenatal development
- Teratogens can have differing effects depending on the timing of exposure; brain is particularly susceptible
- Viral infections, drugs, environmental chemicals, diet, age, chronic illness, mental health
ex. Alchohol ➡️ FASD
Genetic Disorders (3)
Result from DNA mutations or wrong amount of genetic material
- Autosomal or sex-linked (ex. sickle-cell disease, Huntington’s disease)
- Chromosomal errors (e.g., Down syndrome)
Preterm Infants (3)
Born to live before 27 weeks
- Babies born before 22 weeks rarely survive
- Viability point: 23-25 weeks
Reflexes
Automatic motor responses to stimuli
Motor behaviours (3)
Bodily motions that occur a a result of self-initiated force that moves the bones and muscles
- Depends on brain, nervous system, and physical (bodily systems) development
- Experience and cultural factors also play a role in development
Fine Motor Skills
The ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists
Gross Motor Skills
The movements we make with large muscles (legs, arms and torso)
Puberty
Collective term for the changes in both seen and unseen, that result in sexual maturity