Chapter 9 - Critical and Sensitive Periods in Development

Question 1

what is CRITICAL period

Answer 1

a period in life where certain things have to happen in order for development to occur
sensitivity to environmental factors that can affect development

Question 2

what is a sensitive period

Answer 2

periods in time which are particuarly suited to learning things due to the nature of the brain
- optimal times for development to take place such as language development

Question 3

what is experience expectant learning

Answer 3

occurs during sensitive periods and refers to experiments necessary for learning to occur

Question 4

what is experience dependant learning

Answer 4

learning which occurs at any given time in an indicuduals life as a result of experience

Question 5

what are teratogans

Answer 5

any toxic substance that can harm an unborn child

Question 6

what are developmental norms

Answer 6

used to indicate the average age at which individuals reach certain goals`

Question 7

what are inborn reflexes

Answer 7

a set of unlearned automatic reflexes/responses to stimuli that babies are born with

Question 8

What is maturation

Answer 8

a predetermined biologial sequence of behaviours which occurs at certain ages. For example. rolling over, reaching for a toy, walking and talking

Question 9

what is the difference between learning and maturation?

Answer 9

Learning is a relatively permanant change in behavious due to experience, whereas maturation is genetic and requires no experience. The link between the two includes, learning can’t happen if their bodies and brains are physically ready

Question 10

what is cognitive development

Answer 10

development of our mental abilities throughout lifespan. for example level of maths in year 8 vs year 11

Question 11

What is social and emotional development

Answer 11

development of social skills and emotional skills. social eg making friends emotional eg acceptable to cry or laugh etc

Question 12

stages of lifespan development

Answer 12

infancy, childhood, preschool & school aged, adolesence, early adult hood, middle age, old age

Question 13

physical development example for infancy, adolesence, middle age

Answer 13

infancy - brain and body growth, understanding and beginning to communicate through languae, self recognition
adolesents- growth spirt, sexual maturity, logical and thinking skills, work on self identity
middle age- physical decline, areas of expertise, work on self identity