Chapter 10 Flashcards
Development Psychology
is the studt of human physical, cognitive, social and behavioural characteristics
Methods for Measuring Developmental Trends: Cross-Sectional Design, Longitudinal Design
Cohort Effects
cross-sectional: is used to measure and compare samples of people at different ages at a given point in time
longitudinal design: follows development of the same set of individuals though time
cohort effects: differences between people that result from being born in different time periods.
Patterns of Development: Stages and Continuity
Stage Development (Abrupt Transitions):
Example: Learning to walk. A baby moves from crawling to walking in a relatively short period, marking a clear developmental stage.
Continuous Development (Slow, Gradual Changes):
Example: Language development. A child gradually improves vocabulary and sentence structure over time without sudden shifts.
Change Over Time:
Example: Personality traits. A person may become more emotionally stable or conscientious as they age, reflecting changes in behavior and thinking as life experiences accumulate.
Teratogen
A teratogen is any substance, such as drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or environmental toxins, that can harm a developing fetus during pregnancy by interfering with normal growth and development.
Alcohol: Can cause an epigenetic effect, altering gene expression and leading to developmental issues like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Cigarettes: Smoking can lead to low birth weight, premature birth, and developmental delays.
Stress: High levels of stress during pregnancy can negatively impact fetal development, potentially leading to emotional and cognitive issues later in life.
Premature Birth
Preterm infants are born earlier than 36 weeks
- 25 weeks: 50% survival
- 30 weeks: 95% survival
NIDCAP: treatment to help premature babies
Sensory before birth
At 4 months gestation: The brain starts receiving signals from the eyes and ears, meaning basic sensory pathways are forming.
By 7-8 months gestation: The fetus can actively listen, recognizing sounds like the mother’s voice, and responding to external noises.
Vision at birth
At birth: Newborns can see clearly up to about 30 cm (12 inches), which is roughly the distance to a caregiver’s face when being held.
By 12 months: Vision improves significantly, reaching 20/20 clarity.
Smell at birth
- cringe at foul odors
- discriminate mothers breastmilk
When do babies acquire depth perception
7-8 months
Types of Reflexes
Rooting Reflex: When the corner of a baby’s mouth is stroked or touched, they turn their head toward the stimulus and open their mouth to suck, helping them latch onto a nipple.
Moro/Startle Reflex: If a baby feels a sudden loss of support (like falling), they throw their arms out, arch their back, and then bring their arms back in, as if to grab hold of something.
Grasping Reflex: When you touch a baby’s palm, they instinctively close their hand and grasp your finger tightly.
Stepping Reflex: When a baby’s feet touch a solid surface, they make stepping motions as if trying to walk, even though they can’t yet support their own weight.
Sucking and Swallowing Reflex: When something touches the roof of a baby’s mouth, they automatically begin sucking, which is essential for feeding.
Tonic Neck Reflex: When a baby turns their head to one side, the arm on that side stretches out, and the opposite arm bends at the elbow, resembling a fencer’s position.
The Processes of Synaptic Pruning
is the brain’s process of eliminating extra or unused neural connections (synapses) during development.
Key Points:
Purpose: Synaptic pruning helps the brain become more efficient by removing weaker, less-used connections and strengthening the important ones.
When It Happens: This process occurs mostly during early childhood and adolescence but continues into early adulthood.
The Sensitive Period
a window of time during which exposure to a specific type of environmental stimulation is needed for normal development
Language fluency
* Perception
* Balance
* Recognition of parents
* Identifying with a particular culture
