Ch 4: Infancy Flashcards
Neonate’s brain is about __% of an adult’s; by age two, it’s __%
25, 70
tiny gaps between neurons across which neural communication takes place
synpases
how do neurons communicate across synapses?
via neurotransmitters
what are the three parts of the limbic system?
hypothalamus. thalamus, hippocampus
specialization of functions in the two hemispheres of the brain
lateralization
what is the function of the left hemisphere of the brain?
specialized for languages and for processing things in a step-by-step way
function of the right hemisphere of the brain?
spatial reasoning, processing things in a holistic, integrative way
when are infants at highest risk for sudden infants death syndrome?
2-4 months of age
are deaths by SIDS more common in countries where cosleeping is the norm (non-Western countries) or where it’s less common (US and other Western countries)?
deaths by SIDS occur more frequently where cosleeping is less common
what year of life has highest risk of death in the entire lifespan?
first year
ability to discern the relative distance of objects in an environment
depth perception
ability to combine the images of the two eyes into one image
binocular vision
integration and coordination of information from the various senses
intermodal perception
focus on how cognitive abilities change with age in stage sequence of development, pioneered by Piaget
cognitive-development approach
According to Piaget, the driving force behind development from one stage to the next is ___
maturation
concept that an innate, biologically based program is the driving force of development
maturation
what are the two processes involved in the use of schemes?
assimilation and accommodation
what are the stages of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development?
sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operations, formal operations
awareness that objects (including people) continue to exist even when we are not in direct sensory or motor contact with them
object permanence
stage of Piaget’s cognitive development where one learns how to coordinate the activities of the senses with motor functions
- the first two years of cognitive development
sensorimotor stage
approaches to understanding cognitive functioning that focuses on cognitive processes that exist at all ages, rather than viewing cognitive development in terms of discontinuous stages (like Piaget did)
information processing approach
theoretical principle that children develop best if there is a good fit between the temperament of the child and environmental demands
goodness-of-fit
basic emotions, like anger, sadness, fear, surprise, happiness
primary emotions
emotions that require social learning, such as shame, embarrassment, and guilt
secondary emotions
in Erikson’s psychosocial theory, the first stage of development, during infancy, in which the central crisis is the need to establish a stable attachment to a caregiver
trust vs mistrust
Bowlby’s theory of emotional and social development, focusing on the crucial importance of the infant’s relationship with the primary caregiver
attachment theory
