chp4 Flashcards
4.2.1 Three Major Stages of Prenatal Development
The three major stages of prenatal development are the period of the zygote, the period of th
- 4.2.1.1 The Period of the Zygote
The period of the zygote begins at conception and lasts until the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterine wall.
4.2.1.2 The Period of the Embryo
The period of the embryo begins with implantation and lasts until about the eighth week of pregnancy. During this time, all major bodily structures are formed.
4.2.1.3 The Period of the Fetus
The period of the fetus is the final stage, beginning from the ninth week of gestation until birth. This period is characterized by significant growth and the refinement of bodily structures.
4.2.2.1 Alcohol
Alcohol is known to be harmful to a developing fetus, classified as a teratogen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise pregnant individuals to abstain from alcohol entirely, extending to those trying to conceive. This precaution is due to the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and other negative impacts on infants post-birth.
4.3.1.2Assimilation, Accommodation, and Equilibration
Piaget’s theory of cognitive development emphasizes assimilation, accommodation, and equilibration.
Assimilation involves integrating new information into existing schemas,
while accommodation is about modifying schemas to fit new information.
Equilibration is the process of balancing assimilation and accommodation, driving cognitive development as we strive to align internal mental representations with the external world.
4.3.1.3 Stages of Cognitive Development
- Sensorimotor Stage (0 to 2 years): In this stage, infants learn about the world through their senses and motor activities.
. 2. Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 years): Children in this stage begin to use language and symbols, but their thinking is still very concrete
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3. Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 11 years): Children start to think logically about concrete events and can perform operations on tangible objects and events.
- Formal Operational Stage (12 years and up): In this final stage, adolescents can think abstractly and hypothetically. They can consider multiple possibilities and use deductive reasoning to solve problems.
4.3.2.1 Attachment Styles: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth
John Bowlby proposed Attachment Theory, suggesting children develop attachments with caregivers for survival, impacting relationships lifelong. Mary Ainsworth expanded by creating the ‘Strange Situation’ experiment, identifying three attachment styles: Secure, Insecure Avoidant, and Insecure Ambivalent/Resistant. These styles profoundly influence individuals’ relationships and interactions.
4.4.2.1 Identity Formation
- Identity Diffusion: This is the status of individuals who have not yet experienced a crisis or made any commitments.
- Identity Foreclosure: These individuals have made a commitment but have not experienced a crisis.
- Identity Moratorium: This is the status of individuals who are in the midst of a crisis but whose commitments are either absent or are only vaguely defined.
- Identity Achievement: These individuals have undergone a crisis and made a commitment.
4.5.2 Social Development
Social development involves learning values, skills, and knowledge for positive relationships and contributions to society. It’s taught directly by caregivers and indirectly through social interactions and culture. Throughout life, each stage—from infancy to old age—poses distinct challenges and achievements: infancy focuses on interaction, adolescence on identity, adulthood on role changes, and old age on adaptation and mortality.
4.6 Development: A Lifespan Perspective
The lifespan perspective views human development from conception to death, emphasizing lifelong growth, losses, and the influence of historical, cultural, and social contexts. Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory, comprising eight stages, outlines key challenges at each stage of life.
The stages are:
- Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood)
- Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool)
- Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age)
- Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence)
- Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood)
- Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood)
- Integrity vs. Despair (Late Adulthood)
4.7 Research Methods in Developmental Psychology.
Research methods in developmental psychology aim to unravel the complexities of human development. Key methods include observational studies, case studies, surveys, experiments, longitudinal studies, and cross-sectional studies. Each method offers unique insights, but also comes with its own limitations. The choice of method depends on the research question and practical considerations.
