Children's Developmental Psychology (Test Nov. 21st, 2024) Flashcards
Developmental psychology
The study of how people change physically and mentally throughout life.
Three major points of debate in human development
-Nature vs nurture: genes vs environment
-Continuity vs stages: Gradual development or clear stages
-Stability vs change: What changes and stays the same throughout the course of your life
Research methods
-Cross-sectional: Participants of different ages are studied at the same time
-Longitudinal study: One group of people is studied over the course of their lives
Twins
-Fraternal: Develop from two sets of eggs and sperm. Same or different gender.
-Identical: Develop from same egg and sperm. Same gender.
-Twins, particularly separated, are often used to study nature vs nurture (cross-sectional or longitudinal) and provide most of our knowledge in the field.
Teratogens
Any outside agent that interferes with prenatal development. Ex. alcohol
Congenital
Any issue one is born with.
Maturation
A human’s automatic and orderly mental and physical development. A poor environment can slow this, but a good one can’t speed it up.
Prenatal
The time before a child is born.
Neural maturation
You are born with all of your brain cells and your brain organizes them as you grow. Billions of neural pathways are formed as a child when exposed to knowledge and activities.
Pruning
Neural pathways that aren’t used are shut down.
By 15 months old
A child is typically able to roll over, crawl, and walk. Potty training varies.
Until age 3…
You don’t usually form permanent, conscious, recallable memories until age 3 (infantile amnesia). Subconscious learning develops faster.
Rooting reflex
Until about 3 weeks old, when you touch a babies mouth they will turn towards the contact (in search of the nipple). After 3 weeks, it becomes more voluntary.
Types of motor skills
Gross- Using large muscle movements. Ex. Jumping
Fine- Small muscle movements. Ex. Writing
Attachment
Humans attach by forming relationships, not imprinting on the first thing they see like animals.
Secure vs insecure attachment
You can achieve a secure attachment with a responsive mother. Unresponsive parents will cause insecure attachment. When a baby reacts to a smile or expects a response when upset, that means they have a healthier attachment.
Secure attachment style
Low avoidance and anxiety. Basic trust or mistrust is one of the first things a baby learns, showing them that the world can be predictable and reliable.
More exposure to things like the same shows and books can create fondness in a child.
Anxious/ambivalent attachment style
Low avoidance and high anxiety. Constantly craves acceptance but are always looking to be rejected.
Avoidant attachment style
Low anxiety and high avoidance. Maintaining distance from others.
Fearful attachment style
High avoidance and high anxiety. They believe they are unlovable and that others won’t accept them.
Average age of the abused child
9 years old and getting younger. It was 11 not long ago.
Temperment
The genetic predisposition to emotional intensity. It can make attachment difficult and isn’t necessarily the parents fault.